Radium Hot Springs (Kootenay National Park)

Our next trip was to Radium Hot Springs 3 hours from Calgary.

Once again the Friday was spent hanging out with Jax and Joel in Kananaskis, at the Delta Lodge, drinking a few to many beverages.

Saturday we were a bit slow to get started but we woke up very quickly when we drove right into a whiteout, soo much snow! it was a hair raising 30 minutes getting up Storm Mountain (appropriately named), but as soon as we made it over the other side the snow subsided and we were left with drizzle. The amount of wild deer, elk and bighorn sheep we saw was staggering, they were just everywhere.

The town of Radium itself was small and quiet, which suited us. We enjoyed a nice dip in the hotpools, and were amazed at the local population of Bighorn Sheep, come evening time they move down from the hills to take over the town, incredable stuff.

Sunday we took a small detour to Invermere and Fairmont. Invermere reminded us so much of Wanaka it was uncanny, with its pristine lake and stony beaches bordered with willows, a perfect place for a lunch stop.

Too soon we were heading back to Calgary, back up to Storm Mountain, this time with a lot less snow, looking out into the surrounding slopes, seeing the destruction of the forest fire that decimated the valley two decades ago.

 Olive Lake

 Bighorn sheep

Crazy persons house in Radium

More Bighorn Sheep

Invermere Lake

Gorge at Radium Hot Springs

Olive Lake, the next day without the snow

Kootenay River

For our weekend off we decided to go on a day trip north to Rocky Mountain House. We took the back road up along the foothills west of Calgary, highway 22X. The drive was very scenic and pleasant, except for the very strong northerly winds. It was nice to get out of the city and explore some more country side.

There wasn’t much going on in Rocky Mountain House so we ventured out past the town only to discover herds of Bison in the paddocks! These guys are impressive in their size and how the move around.

After a quick photo session we hopped back in Rangi to keep out of the icy northerly wind and headed east to Sylvan Lake. There was oil rigs, (rocking horses) scattered all over the farmland due to large oil reserves in the area.

On our way east we took a quick detour down a gravel road that went straight down to the lakefront, and by the looks of it, in winter continued out onto the lake! It was spring time now and we didn’t want to try our luck driving on the ice.

After a short stop in the township at Sylvan Lake we headed south down Deerfoot Trail (SH2), and then onto the quieter SH2A.

While making our way home we encountered an interesting sight. A frightened moose was charging down the paddock next to the road, before jumping a fence and crossing the road in front of us! It was a very strange and funny sight to behold.

Rail bridge over the North Saskatchewan River at Rocky Mountain House (note the metre or so of ice at the edge of the river)  

Bison Herd

Road end at Sylvan Lake, do we dare venture out??? Bugger that!

Lighthouse in Sylvan Lake Township

 

Kirsten practicing for the Stampede

Spooked Moose

Good thing we know how to read the sign

Jasper National Park

Last weekend Kirsten and I went to Jasper National Park. After an enjoyable night staying with Jax at the Delta Lodge in Kananaskis. We had a well deserved dip in the spa and ended up drinking a few too many wines and shotskis with Jax and her friends, so we were late to rise the next morning.

The day started clear and calm, and continued throughout the day. The entire drive was discovering one amazing view to another. We can see why this is such a popular tourist spot in summer.
Finally we arrived at our destination of Jasper, where we stayed at the Mount Robson Inn (the only place we could find accomodation on such short notice), which turned out to be a lovely place to stay.
Sunday saw us up early for a morning detour to Maligne lake, it was a race against the weather to get there before the snow packed in. We made it with no time to spare, and on our way back we were suprised to see a road maintenance worker moving stones off the highway with a hockey puck! only in Canada.
After grabbing a quick lunch back in Jasper it was off home for another 4 hours of sublime views and horizontal snow until we hit the prairies.

Glaciers

Bow Lake

Peyto Lake

Weeping Wall

Bow River

Athabasca Glacier

Rocky Mountain Sheep (kid)

Athabasca Falls

Steam Train at Jasper

Maligne Lake