Canadian Rockies Rock!!!

une 22, Monday

Leaving Lake Louise headed north to Jasper via the Icefields. What a spectacular time and place!  We spent three nights and not enough days to do all we wanted. The rain let up and sun came up and we spent lots of time hiking. The kids set their personal best of 9.2 miles yesterday.  Then they wanted to canoe!  Which we did. We hiked up to Plain of Six Teahouse above Lake Louise at the foot of several peaks and glaciers. The views were spectacular and the whining was minimal!  With each step there was a new wonder to behold. The lake changed color throughout the day, showing us her gaudy and subdued. It was fantastic.  Unfortunately it was also the moment where our children eclipsed us. At five and seven we were more tired than they were by 9pm. And it was bright daylight and difficult to get them to go to bed. 

The day before we headed to Yoho National Park for a shorter hike to Laughing Falls. On the way we stopped to learn about the spiral tunnels of the Canada Pacific Railroad, which Rich rode in his youth.  It is a means for the trains to make a climb or descent without the danger of a steep grade. On the way back to the campsite we were fortunate enough to see a train using a tunnel. The pictures may be difficult to discern, but the train is going in and coming out at the same time. Rich and Reese were very excited. 

So we are packed up and on the road in record time this morning. The kids are eating leftover pizza for breakfast and we head out to the Icefields, the high country of Banff and Jasper. But before we head out Ruby pulled out her loose tooth. Let's hope the Canadian tooth fairy does a better job than the American tooth fairy.  She wasn't always reliable!

The Icefields are amazing!  We stopped at the Athabasca Glacier which is part of the Columbia Icefield. The Columbia Icefield drains into the Pacific, the Atlantic and Artic Oceans!!!!  The rate of recession is alarming and the National Park is even allowed to mention greenhouse gasses on their placards!

We stop and hiked a bit, but there is plenty to see from the windshield. We try to spot wildlife, and use people stopped with their cameras out as cues. 'Is it a selfie, or does he see something' we ask each other. The kids are hard at work on their Xplorer handbooks, anxious to get another dogtag.