THE ULTIMATE BUCKET LIST

"I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list"

- Susan Sontag 

For those of you who maintain a bucket list of places to visit, cross out whatever you have listed as #1 and replace it with: Banff, Jasper and the Columbia Ice Fields. We're not kidding. If you do not have a bucket list, then just go there!

We first visited Banff, Canada in August of 2015 during our very first year of RV traveling. While there, we drove up the Icefield Parkway to see the collection of glaciers visible from the Columbia Ice Fields. Even though we did not get as north as Jasper during that trip, we kept hearing people say: "If you think Banff is beautiful, wait until you see Jasper!". That's when we decided to return sometime to visit all three places. 

The towns of Banff and Jasper are located in the province of Alberta, Canada and are contained within Banff and Jasper National Parks, which are adjacent to each other. This set up is uniquely different from US national parks, where surrounding towns are outside of and separate from the national park system. Although both US and Canadian national parks offer campgrounds, only Canada has full hook up services for RVs (water, electric and sewer). Since we prefer full convenience camping, we were excited to be able to camp right within Banff and Jasper National Parks. 

We saved most of the month of June for this part of the trip and stayed twelve days in each location in order to have plenty of time to explore.  Jasper National Park was our first stop and the most northern point of our entire 2018 trip. In fact, due to the longer daylight hours associated with the Summer Solstice, it was still light at 11:00pm. This created wonderfully long days with lots of Vitamin D!

Our campground was nestled in the middle of a pine tree forest located just outside of town. In contrast to the dark green trees were stark, snow covered mountain ranges intermixed with brilliant, clear turquoise water. 

In the past and to this day, major railroad routes pass through the town of Jasper delivering goods throughout Canada. Never-ending lines of cargo cars move through town on a daily basis. As we wandered about this alpine town and immersed ourselves in it's wonderland-like quality, we could almost imagine what it must be like to visit the Swiss Alps.

  JASPER  

 Into the Clouds 

Pyramid Mountain

  ATHABASCA FALLS  

 Athabasca Falls

Canyon Shapes

"Climb into the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into the trees."

                                         - John Muir 

After visiting Jasper National Park, we agreed that it was uniquely different than Banff, but not necessarily more spectacular - that is until we made the 4 1/2 hour drive south to Banff along the Icefields Parkway. This parkway runs right down the middle of the Canadian Rockies and the Columbia Icefields are located midway between the two towns.

The Icefields contain the largest collection of glaciers in the entire Rocky Mountains (US and Canada). These mountain glaciers are an important source of water for the northern hemisphere, feeding the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.   We had never traveled this part of the parkway before and it was literally jaw-dropping the entire way. Words cannot explain the spectacular views.  Photos cannot possibly capture the full grandeur and perspective. It has become our #1 in scenic drive and we have experienced many. 

  ICE FIELDS PARKWAY  

Along the Parkway

Halfway down the parkway, we arrived at the Columbia Ice Fields and spent a few hours there absorbing the incredible scenes around us. While Doug captured the view, Sue and Coco wandered around taking photos and drinking hot chocolate at the Visitor's Center. The temperature was a brisk 50 degrees with a strong wind, but Doug's painting ultimately prevailed.

Andromeda Glacier, Columbia Ice Fields

  COLUMBIA ICE FIELDS  

Athabasca Mountain

Athabasca Glacier

Dome Glacier

The photo above shows a sign dated 1843 marking an area once covered by the Andromeda Glacier, which now has retreated into the mountains. This marker was on top of a small incline and what isn't showing is the large parking lot, flat land and a the long windy road in between the marker and the glacier. The glaciers have continued to retreat at an alarming rate over the past 20 years. 

"Everything about this place inspired me. Every day was a new experience that I will never forget. I have officially fallen in love

 with this place called Banff." 

- Angela Brenan

After a day of admiring the 'best" of the Canadian Rockies, we arrived at our campground in Banff National Park, located on the top of Tunnel Mountain and right above the town.

From the Campground, Banff 

The view was spectacular all around and since we were again in a pine forest, Sue and Coco were able to take hikes right from the trailer to see beautiful vistas.  

After the Rain - Rundle Mountain 

  BANFF  

Banff is a quaint villa town bigger and less rustic than Jasper. It has cute upscale shops, restaurants and old hotels. Over 4 million people visit annually from all over the world. We particularly enjoyed eating buffalo burgers at "Buffalo Bill's" and soaking in the hot springs pool in the mountains just outside town. 

We also visited Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon, both located along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park.  

   LAKE LOUISE   

Lake Louise 

 Hidden Glacier, Lake Louise

   JOHNSTON CANYON   

 Through the Crevice

Spring Run-Off - Johnston Canyon

"Perseverance is failing 19 times 

and succeeding the 20th."

-Julie Andrews

One of Coco's favorite pastimes was chasing Columbian ground squirrels. These little creatures are a cross between a squirrel and a prairie dog. They can climb trees and also make burrows in the ground. They make little chirping sounds as they peek their heads out of their burrows. As you can imagine, Coco went nuts trying to chase them, only to have them disappear under her nose. It was like a game of "whack-a-mole".