The Day of Serenity: Jasper

On Weds we left Sunwapta Falls for Jasper, which was less than an hour's drive. We arrived around midday and went to but a few supplies and some picnic lunch. We left straight for Maligne Canyon and Lake, both of which we had heard are beautiful. The lake is about 45 mins drive south east of Jasper and its a long slow road past pretty lakes on the way. 

Maligne Lake apparently means Evil Lake, as it was so difficult to cross....on horseback! We were amazed that they even tried to cross it, let along on horseback, as the lake is vast and deep and less than 5 degrees, so freezing cold.

Upon arriving at the lake we had a short picnic and then wandered to the boat house and hired a canoe to row around the lake rather than taking the organised boat tour. It was well worth it, the lake was peaceful and beautiful and it seemed surreal to be on the water surrounded by snow capped mountains. 

As we drove back from the lake, we noticed someone stop by the roadside looking int the bushes with his camera lens. We stopped to see what he was looking at and saw a beautiful mother black bear wandering along with 3 baby bears running along behind her. They were a handful, jumping, tumbling and playing all the way whilst she was doing her best to herd them along.

A few miles on, we stopped at the canyon to look at the view. It was deep and made me feel feint with vertigo! Nonetheless it was beautiful with raging waters at the bottom.

That evening, we wandered into Jasper for supper at Earls, a noisy modern bar. There were people sitting on balconies all around, overlooking the snowy mountains. It was a hot night and, for once, lost the alpine evening chill. Walking back to the hotel after supper through Jasper, the sun was low and the mountains had an amber glow. 

Also, a vital moment of our trip to point out, the moment when we needed spoons. You see, for our breakfast we bought granola and milk etc, but we didnt have any spoons! so on the way back from Earls we popped into a small supermarket and saw at the last minute plastic spoons for 5cents each.  Hallelujah! even though they were a bit of a rip off we still treasure them now. 

Jasper's high street is flanked by the railway and the most incredible freight trains go by, some of them taking 7 or 8 minutes to pass as they are miles long!

At one point along the route, we suddenly realised some large deer-like creatures in the middle of the road - Elks! These huge horse size animals were grazing on the bushes and trees planted down the middle of the road!

Gina, with an insert from Jazz

{Guess which ;) }