rocky mountains Archives - Keeping With The Times

Emerald Lake, British Columbia

September 19, 2015 by Barb 6 Comments

The whole trip was amazing, but our final destination was Emerald Lake, B.C. … what words could I possibly add to this …
View of the cabins …
The following photo shows where an avalanche occurs almost every year …
There is the main lodge Emerald Lake Lodge for dining and warming up by a fire, but our accommodations were an amazing little cabin with no tv, no internet, and no cell service. It was like we were on another planet and was so cozy. Every time we walked up to it, I affectionately referred to it as our little Hobbit Hole … yes … right on the lake.
Looking through a window from the main lodge … goodness, I love B.C. These pots reminded me of some kind of hanging bamboo …… our room!
breakfast is served … From the canoe …

I know … serious photo dump, and I still have more. We walked around the lake and I have a ton of mossy mushroom shots to share … but I’ll leave that for next week :) but, here’s a bit of top-down faffoolery with the flora and fauna I foraged:

Sunwapta Falls and Old Man Mountain

September 18, 2015 by Barb 3 Comments

A torrent of plunging water not far from the Icefields Parkway, Sunwapta Falls is just one of the many waterfalls in Jasper created by hanging valleys.
Hanging valleys were formed when glacier ice receded 8000 years ago, leaving behind broad U-shaped valleys. Larger valleys were carved deeper than smaller ones and in places where the two meet, the smaller valleys “hang” at a higher elevation. This is an excellent place to find waterfalls. At Sunwapta Falls, the smaller “hanging” Chaba Valley and larger Athabasca Valley join in a spectacular stepping waterfall that has carved a deep limestone gorge out of the rock some metres below the footbridge.

Parks Canada

We made a quick stop at Sunwapta Falls … just another stunning waterfall in Jasper National Park.

The result of thousands of tourists making their way down to the falls …
Now I’m just throwing in Old Man Mountain, Roche Bonhomme, or Nanabusho which is visible from the Jasper townsite as well as various places along the highway.

It struck us funny because the first night we were having dinner in a restaurant in Jasper, Don looked up and said “oh, there’s a face up there!”

We joked that it was Brian Mulroney, stern jaw and all …

Some aboriginals refer to it as Nanabusho: a teacher, a brother of humans, and a reminder of spiritual connection to the land.

Next stop … Yoho National Park and Emerald Lake Lodge … Heaven on earth.

Highway 93A – The Old Banff/Jasper Highway

September 16, 2015 by Barb 8 Comments

Backing up a bit here … rather than taking the Icefields Parkway (HWY 93) to Athabasca Falls, we turned off onto the old Banff/Jasper Highway (HWY 93A), which parallels HWY 93 and ends up at the falls. It was a last minute decision and one we were astounded that we hadn’t considered before. It was spectacular.

If you like to avoid major highways in Jasper National Park for the peaceful meander of a Canadian Rockies backroad, then Highway 93A or “the old highway” is for you. Part of the original Banff/Jasper Highway, it now sees much lighter traffic.

Jasper National Park dot com

It was such an unexpected and delightful drive … we met approximately 2 cars and saw an older couple on bikes …
When we stopped to take a closer look at a lake peeking through the trees, this is what we were presented with …
I haven’t been able to identify the mountains …

It was a dull, drizzly day so most of my photos turned out kinda dark … however, I used several actions by Linda Sattgast from the “Fix Photos Fast” class she teaches at Digital Scrapper.

Just a few clicks to adjust exposure, contrast, and shadows/highlights. Two more clicks … one to flatten layers, and one of my own actions to “save for my blog” … done, done, and done!

Thanks for stopping by today!

See Sunwapta Falls and Old Man Mountain for Part VI

Athabasca Falls Jasper National Park

September 15, 2015 by Barb 3 Comments

Our next stop was Athabasca Falls.

The 23-metre Athabasca Falls is not very high by Canadian Rockies standards, but the size of the river makes it one of the most powerful falls to be found in the mountain national parks. Pouring over a layer of hard quartzite, the falls have cut into the softer limestone beneath, carving intricate features, including potholes and a short canyon.

Parks Canada

It’s deceptively quiet at the beginning … and the whole area is misty with spray …

… then eerie, because … people have slipped in and died here … It’s positively thunderous …
… and magnificent.

See Lake Annette for part IV

Our Canadian Rockies Getaway Part I

September 10, 2015 by Barb 14 Comments

The Canadian Rockies mountain range spans the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. With jagged, ice-capped peaks, including 3,954m Mt. Robson, it’s a region of dramatic wilderness, alpine lakes, diverse wildlife and many outdoor recreation sites. National parks include Yoho, home to Takakkaw waterfall, dropping a sheer 302m, Jasper, famed for its Athabasca Glacier, and Banff, site of glacier-fed Lake Louise.

My husband and I have lived most of our married life in Alberta, and every time we take a trip through the Canadian Rockies we are blown away by the beauty and majesty of it all.

This trip was a late 40th wedding anniversary celebration (we’re almost at 41 now), and it was pretty memorable.

We left early on September 4th, headed to Jasper National Park, where we stayed for two nights at Becker’s Roaring River Chalets, just off the Icefields Parkway and adjacent to the Athabasca River.