Icefields Parkway

 

June 26th

          This morning we went for a walk at a local park in Canmore but didn’t see anything too exciting.  We stopped at a bagel place and got a breakfast sandwich and  lunch to go.  We checked out of our hotel and headed for Lake Louise.  When we arrived there about 10:00am, it was a total mob scene.  It turns out there was no way to drive anywhere near the lake.  All the traffic was being diverted to a huge Park and Ride center out of town.  You had to make a reservation to get on a shuttle bus to go into town and the first available bus didn’t leave until 2:00pm.  There was no way we were going to sit around for four hours waiting for a bus.  Unfortunately we never got to see Lake Louise. 

          We were both disappointed but headed north and stopped at a trailhead nearby.  We got out of the car an immediately heard a Varied Thrush calling.  This is a very distinctive call but we were unable to see the bird.  As we were leaving this area we saw about six Clark’s Nutcrackers fly by.  Mike couldn’t get a photo.

          Next we took the Icefields Parkway to Jasper and saw some incredible scenery along the way including beautiful snow covered mountains, turquoise colored lakes, raging waterfalls, and the Athabasca Glacier.  We didn’t see too many birds today but the scenery was unforgettable.  As we got close to Jasper we saw a group of Mountain Goats that crossed the road right in front of us.

          We arrived in Jasper and are staying in a cute little cabin with knotty pine interior right on the banks of the Athabasca River.  We had dinner on the patio at the restaurant there and while we were enjoying dinner, three Elk wandered into the meadow near us.  Tomorrow we explore Jasper National Park.

(2 FOY species, total for Alberta 32) 

Varied Thrush

Clark's Nutcracker

p.s. - we have very bad wifi in our cabin so I am adding the pictures down by the Lodge.

                                           Athabasca Glacier area

                                           Athabasca Glacier 

                                           Athabasca Falls

                                           Athabasca Falls

                                           Mountain Goat

                                           Mountain Goat






Comments

  1. AnnJune 27, 2022 at 9:59 AM

    How are the bagels in Western Canada? Sounds like absolutely unforgettable scenery.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SharonJune 27, 2022 at 3:31 PM

    Wow wee!! You guys are having a wonderful experience!!! Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete

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