2010 - Wednesday, July 7 (Canada)

BC and Alberta, Canada
MEM-YVR, YEG-MEM
July 1 - 9

• We left the Sandman Hotel at 9:30 and drove back west via Hwy 1 toward Banff N.P. There were great views of the Rockies from the city and driving on the highway - very similar to the view from Denver toward the US Rocky Mountains.
• Entered Banff NP and went to the town of Banff. We went to the Cave and Basin, but it was closed for renovations so we kept on through the town to Bow Falls, along the Bow River. Checked out the falls and got some photos, then had lunch at Timber Food Co, a restaurant downtown. Nick had a pot pie and salad and Brad had a ham and cheese panini with fries. It was a decent meal; surprisingly not overpriced like most places we've been eating. After eating, we stopped at the Post to mail a card (1.05$ CDN) and got gas (30$) then left the town of Banff via 93 toward Jasper N.P.
• Drove about 70 km through Banff NP to Lake Louise, but there were so many people there that we just had to get the hell out. It's named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, daughter of Queen Victoria. Elevation here is 5,680 feet. We continued on to Moraine Lake, which sits in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, on the old version of the Canadian 20$ bill. Peak elevation here is 11,200 feet, making it the 3rd tallest in Banff.
• We followed Hwy 93 through Icefields Parkway, known as the most scenic highway in the world. The color of the lakes and rivers (almost an emerald color) comes from the minerals in the water. We saw lots of wildlife (including several deer and mountain goats). Stopped at Sunwaptha Falls and took a short walk through the woods to the falls, which were really beautiful. Water cascades down and through very narrow canyons. We took some pictures and then got back on the road.
• We finally arrived in Jasper National Park, still on the Icefields Parkway. The area, comprised of about 200 square miles, is one of the largest icefields south of the Arctic Circle. In the park, we checked out Jonas Creek campground, which was pretty bad, so we just settled on Honeymoon Lake campground.
• Mileage: 395 Km, 1905 km total
• Beer of the day: Canadian Molson, Pilsner, and 2 bottles of sauvignon blanc.
• Dinner was salad with sausages, sun-dried tomatoes and vinaigrette.
• Dark at 11 PM.