Tuesday, March 11, 2008

9th March - 11th March Jasper to Lake Louise

9th We checked out of the hostel and hired a car to drive down the scenic Icefields parkway.
As we drove we viewed Athabasker falls, amazing frozen waterfall. We stopped off at a few lookouts along the way including Goats and Glacies, Mt Fryatt & Brussels Peak. Lots of ice and snow at Sunwapta falls.
We drove to the Columbia Icefields to view the largest Glacier in the Rockies but the wind was dreadfull and wipping the snow up, so we just took a long distance photo

and headed off to view the weaping wall where some iceclimbers were climbing a frozen waterfall, David says rampant.
Finally made it to Lake Louise Hostel where we had accommodation for the next 3 nights.
Fantastic scenic drive through the parkway, hardly any other cars and no trucks. Another day of fantastic weather.
10th we headed up to the Chateau Lake Louise where we booked on to a sleigh ride.
We checked out the hotel and then headed out for our sleigh ride. Moe and Joe were the two horses that pulled us round the lake. It was a pleasant experience to travel by the sleigh around the Northern side of the lake to the bottom of the glacier where we also saw ice climbers climbing the frozen glacier fed waterfall.
We then headed back in to the village to buy some food and drinks. David managed to buy a 6 pack of Bow Valley Lager for $7.85. When we were on our way our we noticed a poster for yoga at the Lake Louise Community Recreation hall and decided to check it out. We arrived just in time and had a lovely class run by Jenny. Catriona did the class in her long johns and David did it in his cargo pants (too embarrassed to take them off and do it in his long johns.)
11th Slept in and then headed off to do the tramway walk up to the Great Divide Parking area where we were to meet later in the day for our dog sled ride. As we were walking it started to snow. The snow was very dry, powder like snow, not wet at all. When we arrived at the parking area the dogs were there being readied for their 12pm trip. They were getting very excited when they knew it was time to be hooked on to their sled. Our ride started at 2pm so we headed back down to the hostel for lunch before going back at 2pm for our turn.
David and I shared a sled which was pulled by 7 dogs.









It was alot of fun and very bumpy at points. The dogs were so excited to be running and one in particular was jumping up and down every time we stopped as it just wanted to keep running.



Catriona had a go at driving the sled along one section of the track which was a great experience.

PS Thanks to everyone who are posting comments. We are enjoying reading them.

4 comments:

Megan Diallo said...

That sounds fantastic! I am jealous - a sleigh ride & a dog sled ride.
We are camping in a couple of weekends and I suggested to Ibrahim that he get some stockings to keep warm - and he laughed and told me that girls wear stockings - So now I have to remember to call them leggings or long johns!! So at least david wasn't wearing stockings!!!

mum said...

I too am jealous, if I was a tad younger I would be off like a shot. It sounds and looks like a wonderful trip. As you know Catriona,Alaska and the Yukon was a dream of mine but wait till you get to Machu Pichu then I will be really jealous

mum said...

Posted comments before the pictures Lake Louise was frozen when we were there too sled ride looks exciting

Unknown said...

I want to go on a two horse open sleigh too!
Just thought Id let you know Jeremy married Sofia on Friday at the Registry Office in Paramatta.Mum, Trent,Joel and I went and one of their flatmates. Mum and I acted as Witnesses Jeremy hadnt planned for that one!Their Official wedding will be 11-13 June (yes it is a three day thing) in central Java. Natalie and I are going.