Jasper
Thursday night, I had to say goodbye to Roslyn. It was a very hard thing to do, since I'm completely in love with her. Tears were shed, and promisses to see each other again as soon as possible made. I really, really hope I'll see her again soon. I love you, my Rose!
The goal was to get to Jasper, which takes a 27 hour busride from Yellowknife. I managed to get some sleep along the way, but not a lot. Worst of all: what to do when you arrive in Jasper at 4:15 AM? Lucky for me, it wasn't too cold and there was no rain, so I just hang around the visitors centre and even managed to get some more sleep. At 7:30, I took a cab to the Youth Hostel to drop my bags, do a bit of freshing up and rent a bicycle. I also posted a note asking if anyone is interested in joining me on the Rocky Mountains trip I planned and for which I have rented a car that I will pick up tomorrow. I hope so, as it would provide some company and would reduce the costs significantly.
I took the bike downtown, to get some information at the (now opened) visitors centre, and to check if the time I pick up the car really matters. It doesn't, so that is ok.
A lady in the visitors centre recomenced me a nice trail do do some mountain biking. Damn... That is hard work, especially uphill! I suddenly have huge respect for the people doing races in this sport... Anyway, a nice climb still awaits me, as the hostel - some 5 km outside Jasper - is at significantly higher ground than the downtown area. I guess I'll just have to take it slow, as I am getting pretty tired. I long for a shower and a nice long night of sleep in a bed.
Addition, done on june 14
Well, the bikeride back up to the hostel was hard work too. I had to step off the bike more than once. Halfway up, a pickup truck offered me a ride though, so I reached the hostel without being totally exhausted. I did take that shower and a change of clothes, and decided to head up the hill a bit further to take a ride in the Jasper tramway. It provides a very nice view of the area, overlooking six mountain ranges in the area. The climb to the top of Whistlers Mountain proved to be quite tiresome, as I had to hurry to be back in time for the last gondola down again. In terms of view, it was worth the climb however, and I took some very nice pictures.
I spend the rest of the evening quitetly reading, first outside on the deck, then inside, and then wend to sleep early.
June 11
I checked out of the hostel, and made a reservation for another hostel close by for the night from friday 17 to saturday 18 june. I picked up my rental car, a nice white Pontiac. First, I headed to view Medicine Lake and the famous Malinge lake, a bit futher up the road. Today, I also spotted my first big wildlife in the Rockies: Elk and mountain sheep.
In the afternoon, I drove up the famous Icefields Parkway, and made my way to the Columbia Icefields. I found a very nice campingspot almost under the glacier, right next to a wild stream rushing down the mountain. A small fire, a cup of tea, a rushing stream and a view on white-capped mountains... What more could you ask for?
The goal was to get to Jasper, which takes a 27 hour busride from Yellowknife. I managed to get some sleep along the way, but not a lot. Worst of all: what to do when you arrive in Jasper at 4:15 AM? Lucky for me, it wasn't too cold and there was no rain, so I just hang around the visitors centre and even managed to get some more sleep. At 7:30, I took a cab to the Youth Hostel to drop my bags, do a bit of freshing up and rent a bicycle. I also posted a note asking if anyone is interested in joining me on the Rocky Mountains trip I planned and for which I have rented a car that I will pick up tomorrow. I hope so, as it would provide some company and would reduce the costs significantly.
I took the bike downtown, to get some information at the (now opened) visitors centre, and to check if the time I pick up the car really matters. It doesn't, so that is ok.
A lady in the visitors centre recomenced me a nice trail do do some mountain biking. Damn... That is hard work, especially uphill! I suddenly have huge respect for the people doing races in this sport... Anyway, a nice climb still awaits me, as the hostel - some 5 km outside Jasper - is at significantly higher ground than the downtown area. I guess I'll just have to take it slow, as I am getting pretty tired. I long for a shower and a nice long night of sleep in a bed.
Addition, done on june 14
Well, the bikeride back up to the hostel was hard work too. I had to step off the bike more than once. Halfway up, a pickup truck offered me a ride though, so I reached the hostel without being totally exhausted. I did take that shower and a change of clothes, and decided to head up the hill a bit further to take a ride in the Jasper tramway. It provides a very nice view of the area, overlooking six mountain ranges in the area. The climb to the top of Whistlers Mountain proved to be quite tiresome, as I had to hurry to be back in time for the last gondola down again. In terms of view, it was worth the climb however, and I took some very nice pictures.
I spend the rest of the evening quitetly reading, first outside on the deck, then inside, and then wend to sleep early.
June 11
I checked out of the hostel, and made a reservation for another hostel close by for the night from friday 17 to saturday 18 june. I picked up my rental car, a nice white Pontiac. First, I headed to view Medicine Lake and the famous Malinge lake, a bit futher up the road. Today, I also spotted my first big wildlife in the Rockies: Elk and mountain sheep.
In the afternoon, I drove up the famous Icefields Parkway, and made my way to the Columbia Icefields. I found a very nice campingspot almost under the glacier, right next to a wild stream rushing down the mountain. A small fire, a cup of tea, a rushing stream and a view on white-capped mountains... What more could you ask for?
posted by André Somers at 12:51 PM
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