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mrscanada Jasper National Park - A travel report by Lyla
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Jasper National Park,  Canada - flag Canada -  Alberta
8726 readers

mrscanada's travel reports

This Jasper Isn't A Bear!

  17 votes
Page: 1 2
Jasper National Park is the fifth largest National Park in Canada (10,878 square km/4,200 square miles).

Jasper is 370 km west of Edmonton and that means you will be driving, (on the Yellowhead highway), for 4 hours until you reach the Park gates.



Jasper The Bear
Jasper The Bear
Hinton is a good place to take a break. About 10,000 people live here. We like to eat at the Apple Valley Restaurant when we stop here. If you are a hiker there are a lot of trails.

Many people think is the closest park to Edmonton but Banff and Jasper are about the same distance away. Jasper has more jagged mountains that Banff. The town is about a 15 minute drive from the Jasper Park Gate, (if you are driving from Edmonton).

The resort town of Jasper is one of the stops on the Canadian National Railways between Edmonton and Vancouver. You can visit here by train, car, or bus. There is a private airport for small planes. If you arrive by train Jasper the bear will be there to great you!!!

The town reminds me of an old frontier town and although there are a lot of tourists the town isn't as touristy as Banff. With the rugged mountains surrounding it and Athabasca River going through it is so beautiful.

People have homes here don't own them. They lease them from the Canadian Government for 100 years. After the 100 years is up they have to negotiate with the Government again. There is a campground, but most people just come here for the day to ski.

Favourite spots:
A Bear Having Lunch
A Bear Having Lunch
We always go and see Athabasca Falls. You have to climb a high mountain and get through a narrow gorge to see where the Athabasca River falls.

There are a lot of trails like the Lake Annette Loop, Valley Of Five Lakes, Lake Edith Loop, the Old Fort Trail and the Lake Edith Look. These are the best trails for hiking and having a picnic.

We took the cable car ride up Whistler Road. It's Canada's longest cable car ride because it takes you up 3000 feet in 7 minutes. My husband couldn't look while we were on it!

Sunwapta is a Stoney Indian word for turbulent river. At the falls, the Sunwapta River changes course from northwest to southwest and plunges in a cloud of spray into a deep canyon. In the winter, it freezes over and you will see natural ice sculptures form.

What's really great:
Jasper Park Gate
Jasper Park Gate
Mount Edith Cavell is a 15 minute drive from Jasper. The lake below the mountain is icy blue.

On the mountain, you'll see Angel Glacier.

We drove to Pyramid Lake to see the refection of Pyramid Mountain and then we went to the Maligne, (French for evil), to see Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake and Medicine Lake.

The explores gave it the name because it was very hard for them to cross the river that flows under the huge mountains.

Sights:
Skiing
Skiing
In the morning I try to do things that are both fun while I’m exercising.

In the morning we walk into town. You go around the lake and it takes about half an hour. Then we have a reason to have hot chocolate and a corn muffin before we walk back to the hotel.

It’s great to take a row boat on the lake and paddle around for a while. Sometimes I even try fishing. I did catch a small trout but it was too small so I threw it back in the water.

In the evening we make some time to have a few dances at the hotel.

Accommodations:
Pyramid Mountain
Pyramid Mountain
The Fairmont Jasper Park Hotel is built on a lake, and you stay in cabins. It is the most expensive place to stay.

You can walk around the lake to get to the town. It is about a 1/2 walk.

If you can't afford that hotel, there are over 3,500 bedrooms to choose from in 25 commercial operations, and over 300 private home accommodations.

Nightlife:
Athabasca Falls
Athabasca Falls
The Columbia Icefields is about half was between Lake Louise and Jasper, (a one hour drive). There are eight major glaciers including the Athabasca, Dome and Stutfield Glaciers. They are important because the melting water goes into the streams and rivers that pour into the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

It is one of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle. It is a 125 square mile ice field, The biggest one is called the Athabasca Glacier.

At one time you could walk on it but now you have to take a bus or a SnoCoach, (a big snowmobile).

You buy your tickets at the Parks Canada Information Desk. The build it is in has a full dining room, a cafeteria, aa café, a small hotel and gift shop.

When you arrive you get in the snowmobile and take a path that runs parallel to the Athabasca Glacier and then travels a short distance out onto the glacier.

Hangouts:
Cabin At The Lodge
Cabin At The Lodge
Enjoy The Park But Be Smart!

Travel in a group.

Watch for elk at all times and take a detour around them.

Don't feed the bears.

Keep your dog on a leash at all times.

An unleashed dog may prompt an elk to become aggressive as they view the dog as a predator (wolf or coyote).

Wear a bear bell, carry pepper spray, a walking stick or an umbrella as protection.

Raise your arms or any big object, (jacket or umbrella), to make yourself appear larger than you are.

Never turn your back or run back but stand still.

Climb a tree or a large rock, between you and the animal.

On your way back it's polite to warn other hikers of the animal that is ahead and report the incident to the Park Warden Office.

If you are knocked down or fall get up and try to move to cover you to protect yourself. Never pretend to are dead. Animals feast on dead meat!

All of Alberta's National Parks are open all year long and offer summer and winter sports.

Restaurants:
Mount Edith Cavell
Mount Edith Cavell
We like to eat at Anthony's Restaurant. They serve fresh mountain trout.

The Country Inn Restaurant serves home style meals.

Ember's Steakhouse serves great roast beef and steaks.

My favorite place to eat is at Papa George's Café. It's in the Astoria Hotel it’s the oldest restaurant in Jasper (built in 1925). They serve all types of food, but I love to eat the Greek food.

Other recommendations:
B & B
B & B
We drove to Pyramid Lake to see the refection of Pyramid Mountain and then we went to the Maligne, (French for evil), to see Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake and Medicine Lake. The explores gave it the name because it was very hard for them to cross the river that flows under the huge mountains.

Spirit Island is a place we love to go to. You get there from Maline Lake. It takes a little over an hour round trip to see the majestic mountains and the lush forests.

Miette Hot Springs has sulphur in the water so we never go there. If you aren't allergic to sulphur you would enjoy a hot soothing dip.

Published on Monday September 18th, 2006


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Tue, Feb 13 2007 - 05:23 PM rating by travler

I would love to come here one day.

Fri, Sep 22 2006 - 03:49 AM rating by gloriajames

Nice report and some great pics! Loved the pyramid mt and bear pics!

Tue, Sep 19 2006 - 05:05 PM rating by eirekay

Great Report! Yosemite is the same way-people lease their vacation homes, rather than own them. Sounds like a wonderful trip!

Tue, Sep 19 2006 - 03:44 PM rating by quikflikchiq

hi - this report is good but i think its wrong to upload photos that you didnt take on to this site. it takes the focus away from your travels and adventures which is what i come to read about

Tue, Sep 19 2006 - 07:18 AM rating by davidx

This is great stuff again. if only travel insurance was cheaper but Canada + over 65 + pre-existing medical condition = TROUBLE.
.

Mon, Sep 18 2006 - 11:10 AM rating by rangutan

WoW, 10th report! I love your reports, written from an insider view and very usefull to other travellers. I hope though that some of the pictures can eventually be replaced by own originals.

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