Day 8 Journey to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway

We left Banff in low cloud, rain and at a cool 5 degrees for a journey of nearly 300km to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway.

Out first stop was Bow Lake and Crowsfoot Glacier, though it wasn't possible to see the glacier the lake put in a brief appearance through the cloud.

Then to Peyto Lake at Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway at 2115m. It is snow covered for 9 months of the year.

We were pretty cold even though well wrapped up. Not a bit like home at the moment!

Back on to the Icefields Parkway, a wide, long and often empty road.

 

Past Waterfowl Lake, just stopped briefly for a quick photo in the rain. No waterfowl insight!

Through the Saskatchewan Valley

Where we ate our picnic in the car over looking the river.

Past the Weeping Wall, a 1000ft cliff face with lots of waterfalls

In true Canadian style a supersized crow

and a supersized hairpin bend, aptly named Big Bend which I didn't manage to get a photo of!

Then to Athabasca Glacier with signs dating back to the 1930's showing how much the glacier has receded and how this process has speeded up recently, very sobering.

It was 3 degrees here with icy wind and driving rain.

Then to the Sunwapta Waterfalls, with an interesting walk down through the tree roots.

Flowing in to the Athabasca River

A brief glimpse of Mount Kerkeslin, through the clouds, which is the highest peak in the Malign range.

On to the largest waterfalls, the Athabasca Falls, very impressive and loud. Some great walkways around the falls with some lovely views

and some very interesting rocks...and a very interesting Neil, of course!

 

We arrived in Jasper at around 5pm. Our Airbnb hosts live downstairs from our apartment. We went to their restaurant for dinner. There are no cooking facilities in any rental property in Jasper, apparently against the law. So we'll be eating out for the 3 nights of our stay here.