Cheeky Clarence

Hi, this is a new author!

   You need to hear about our adventures in Jasper and Banff National Parks and more importantly, see our photos, and Ian is busy at the moment.

   Ian left us in the last Blog at the Icefields centre where we treated ourselves to breakfast to escape the -5degree C temperature outside and because we had to wait for the Sun to come up to thaw out Big Bird so we could see through the windscreen.
   Following breakfast we headed out to the Columbia Icefields to get a closer look at the glacier. We donned all our clothes and looking like emperor penguins, waddled up the path towards the Glacier toe which grew colder and colder the closer we got. The Glacier was magnificent, and the markers showing the glacier recession up the valley made it all the more interesting. Beautiful as it was it was a relief to head back to the car and we blasted the heater to thaw out our fingers and toes once we got in.

   The waitress at breakfast had recommended we head up the Parker Ridge Trail to get a better view of the surrounds and so off we went. The trail wound its way through snow covered forest up to the sparse alpine plains at the top  of the mountain where we sat by a frozen lake to have a snack. Our information guide told us the lake was the birthplace of a river from which the water ran all the way to the Pacific. We said 'see you later water' and headed back down, taking in breathtaking views with every step.

   The benefits of camping in the coldest place in the National Park on the coldest night was that the day was beautifully clear and sunny. By the time we had decended, the Sun was starting to cut through the cold and light up the tops of the mountains. After a check of the weather; rain for the next 3 days; we thought we'd make the most of the Vitamin D and walk up another trail (gentle this time, one mountain a day is enough). We discovered a brilliant spot just shy of the Saskatchawan River Crossing with a trail which led (ironically) to a river crossing and up to a beautiful valley view. We took our time heading back, checking out some of the local geology which one of us really enjoyed. With the trailhead carpark to ourselves we decided to camp there the night.
   Little did we know that there was a local resident who wasn't shy of strangers. We called him Clarence the Crow, but dont ask us why. We were constantly on the lookout for him as he came very close to our dinner a few times and by the looks of his enormous belly he'd been successful at stealing food from other campers in the past. His loud squawking and lack of fear made it all the more comical when Ian chased him round and round the van, waving his spoon and yelling 'whadda ya think you're doing Clarence?!' Bits of our dinner flew off the spoon, splattering Clarence and surrounds and I think Clarence was secretly claiming victory knowing he was collecting fragments of his own dinner on his feathers.

   Another morning waking up to glorious mountain views and we headed off to Peyto Lake to get some more, yet different, glorious mountain views.
   The car park was full and it was 9am. That was the first sign that this was on the 'Banff National Parks must-see list' which was somewhere on the internet which we cant find.  Usually crowds are just plain annoying but the fact that the trail was covered in ice made it most amusing. Tourists fresh off the bus in flat (and very inappropriate for snow) shoes grasped hold of the handrails and pulled themselves forward inch by inch towards the lookout.
Jamie and Ian walked right by, hiking boots paying dividends.

The view of the lake was beautiful on such a clear morning and further up the trail even better views were gained (and less tourists).

   Alas, the nice weather departed and drizzle set in. We had decided on a walk up to the Bow Glacier Falls which is a waterfall falling down from the Bow Glacier. We donned wet weather gear, determined not to be put off and were rewarded with beautiful floating snow as we asceneded the glacial valley. Just as the novelty started to wear off the snow ceased and the sun peaked through, lighting up the fresh snow and giving us a beaut view of the falls. The still waters of the lake on the return offered mirrors of the mountains which looked unreal. High fives all round at the end of that hike.

   Continuing South we stopped briefly at Lake Louise for supplies and wifi. Finding a few campsites on the map, we set off towards them, only to be thwarted once again  by the 'Closed, Ferme' sign and locked gates. Frustration sets in at this point. Why didnt the information centre tell us? Why didnt the sign back at the highway tell us? But as always we shrug and move on, camping (illegally) at the trailhead for the Castle lookout hike.

   Undisturbed slumber again and we wonder if the National Parks people are more lenient towards illegal camping when they have closed all the official campsites or if there are just too many sites to check. Pancakes go down well before we head up the slope to Castle Lookout, and I mean slope. Lucky we've done a few of these before or my legs would've been cooked. 3.7 km upwards and we got to the end to find....fog. But it was kinda magical, and the endorphins you get from hauling your bum up a mountain always makes it lovely.

   Johnston Canyon Trail was next on the menu which we almost sprinted because it was paved and mostly flat. Another tourist hotspot, but gorgeous falls cascading down through limestone pools and canyons. Having had enought of the tourists we headed to a quiet pull out at Pilot Pond for some lunch and a meander. A sign indicated wolves were about but despite much (realistic) howling on our part, no sightings.

   Heading to Banff town, we eagerly looked forward to a chance to camp near town and maybe head out for some nightlife on a Friday night. Thwarted at the first step, the campgrounds in town were all full. We facepalmed for forgetting that fridays/weekends were busier and headed 15 mins out to Two Jack Lake who were more than happy to oblige a campspot.

With the Big Game on tonight we'll head into town late to find some free wifi. Tomorrow to Kootenay National Park and Radium Hotsprings.

Jamie, over 'n' out.