Travelogue - Canadian Rockies - Part-2

You know, if you read the Part-1, this is the Part-2. Just kidding! Hey, Part-2 is a bit Fear Killer of Solo Travel...

As I write further, I want you to hold your breath and imagine a first time visitor to Banff National Park, deciding that one of the other weekends he would visit the Jasper National Park and be there to witness the amazing snow capped peaks and icefields during the month of January 2020. When the whole region is in its deep winter youth and gleaming with sunshine dancing on the peaks, fog you can kiss and clouds splashing you with cold water droplets….

Ah, Jasper it is Eh! This was the 2nd visit to Calgary in January of 2020 now, and I had the weekend to myself, figuring out I have the courage to brave the cold, I decided that I will drive up to Jasper a city whose local slogan is “Jasper. Wonderful. By Nature.” I must admit that for a couple times, maybe more than 100 times, this would have crossed my mind am I crazy, is this the right thing to do to drive down to Jasper…

After checking and being declined to join me on this trip by my work colleagues, I decided to venture out on my own, I usually don’t drop my plans and this time too, I was damn predictable and here you go…

I picked up my rental SUV AWD at 11:35AM on the Saturday morning, I know a lot later than expected… But you know that’s me, you can be better planned and pick up the same a night before, to start early. Started immediately after that towards Trans Canada Hwy AB-1 W, it was all hunky dory and I was driving in my usual driver persona and loving the drive, as soon as I took the turn after passing by Lake Louise, (not missing the Trailhead Café https://www.trailheadcafegr.com/, smoothest ever Cappuccino and Veggie Omlette...)

I must say for a moment my heart skipped a beat, as I turned on to Alberta 93 Exit towards Jasper/Rocky Mountain House and then further merged to AB-93N, this was not a usual drive…

As scary as it was for a first time Rocky Mountain Driver, the yellow board on the right screamed at the loudest, at least that is what my mind heard while reading it… Winter Conditions – Poor, Not Well Managed & Dangerous Conditions with no maintenance. I was damn scared Eh! And this is the real Canada, sometimes not always, unpredictable to the newbies, (read it as ME), who aren’t prepared for they are the true adventure loving explorers if left alone… When you are plan it, it is the usual.

But when you do not plan it… It is the most unusual and the excitement yet fear to see the unknown drive towards the already known paradise, that you have read in articles… Being the usual me, I did not stop and ventured head on into the wilderness that I witnessed throughout the drive up until Connaught Dr. Please remember guys, I am not scaring you, I just want you to be prepared as off an on once in every 30 minutes, I saw an incoming vehicle or gave way to a faster moving vehicle in my own lane… This gave me confidence that I am not alone going to Jasper and that the drive is ok, if not fully maintained roads because people were driving back too…

However, at mostly 95% of the on the way villages, hamlets, creeks, peaks, ski areas, lookout zones or even resorts on the way the Stickers on the green boards were shouting out loud, “Closed/ fermé”. Which added to the fear, what if… But you know that is the reason why you find the best of moments, shots and drives if you are a motivated and an adventurous traveler… Not to discount that you also get some snowstorms building up in the valleys, icefields and glaciers on the way as you go through them, I did witness these to the best possible ways, sudden yet humble, fierce yet accommodating a naive traveler like me.

Unplanned as it was, Beautiful as it can be, this drive opened all my senses and took me through some of the scariest moments… I did shout at times, to kill dominating silence of the valleys as I walked knee deep into the snowy icefields or the shores of the glaciers without the fear of losing myself in this True North, with no one around to save me in case anything happens, but my faith in my God & the path he is leading me to was stronger and stronger as I walked in and back to my SUV with the lights open… This is a drive of 230 Kilometers known as AB-93 N or The Icefields Parkway…

While on my drive to Jasper, I stopped a lot thinking it was a fair sunny day, not knowing what’s in store for me, as I came closer to my unknown destination, Jasper. I was caught in a snowstorm at a valley mid-way after Weeping Wall and before Parker Ridge, it’s called the “BIG BEND”. This valley was so quiet and the loop which I could see on the non-active GPS was a little scary as the road was 95% covered in snow and ice, you could only see some grey patches here and there of the actual road and the storm left me no choice but to trust my instincts and have faith in God…

Further on my way to Jasper the Athabasca Glacier (See Above) captured my curiosity and I was drawn to the Vastness of it. Only to know that it has receded a lot since 1890, as it is written on a small board just at the point where I kind off stopped my SUV. This was a dangerous preposition as the road had ended already and I wasn’t aware. I came to know only while walking my leg went knee deep, think about how slowly I would have walked with my heartbeat sounding like a thud on the wall at a frequency 4 times in 1 second… What if the SUV got buried that deep in the snow…? The more I though, the more worried I got, but this amazing view below of the Columbia Ice-field got me in heavenly thoughts, what a great moment is created by God to take off all my worries... (See Below)

After that I had no time to stop, I mustered all the courage as the sun started to hide behind the peaks playing hide and seek, I drove in a controlled manner and entered 16A Road merging into Connaught Dr. where I had booked my hotel last minute before starting from the Rental Location. If that wouldn’t have happened, then all this trip wouldn’t have materialized.

Reached Hotel Tonquin Inn https://decorehotels.com/tonquininn/, checked in & freshened up for the night life at Jasper, “Jasper In January” – ATCO Street Party with The Funk Hunters, Sumptuous Italian Dinner at Cassios https://www.cassios.ca/ and not to be missed Fireworks at Centennial Park…

With all the fun captured in my heart, I then slipped in my bed at the hotel… After a about 8 Hours of comfortable sleep, I was excited for the day ahead but as it was Sunday, I had to head back also, so I could join office comfortably on Monday…

Did a little bit of walking around the City, drove a bit towards Edmonton, and then back to Jasper only to find that a herd of Elks was sitting to welcome me by the roadside and a lot of wildlife photographers, were clicking pictures of the Elks sitting & posing as if no ones around… So, I stopped my SUV by the roadside and clicked a few pictures myself.

Headed back into the city, where I did a little of clicking again… had my fair share of shopping souvenirs and then had lunch, before I took the AB-93 S to Calgary at around 1:30PM.

Jasper in Early Morning... (See Above)

Again, an adventure, this time had some view on what to expect. However, you know mother nature has her way of surprising you… The Columbia Icefields area was under a bit of a storm, the BIG BEND was really messy with visibility dropping to a new low for me after yesterday and this time, I felt the road back was much better after Saskatchewan River Crossing… because of a lot of vehicles would have already crossed the AB-93 S with people returning back after a weekend… Though after around Silverhorn Creek the there were times I kind off lost control due to compact snow, black ice and visible patches of solid ice build ups… Steering cautiously through the road by Mistaya Mountain, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, I was laughing as there is a place that comes after Bow Lake, called Mosquito while you are approaching Mt. Hector… After which the AB-93 S merges back on to Trans-Canada Hwy AB-1… Mosquito (See the Board Below - It also says Closed)

Snowstorm buildup above, kept me awake...

One more thing for you to note, to my surprise this route does not have the mobile signals, both ways for you to even call for help and at a stretch you could be waiting to see another vehicle for an hour at times. There is no guarantee that even if you see one, the driver will stop, although as much as I know Canada, someone will never pass you by without asking if you are alright, even if that means that their vehicle will come to a slow stop because of icy conditions and they will reverse slowly to ask you if everything is fine or you need any help. Have a smile on your face with faith in your heart and tryout I am sure you will not be disappointed on Canadian Roads & Highways…

Specially this was a peak winter day, the heaps of snow peaking up to 4-5ft at times on the side and combination of snow and ice on the roads, while I was off my SUV, and was clicking a photo using my phones timer click option with my hands stretched all the way maximum to the sides, it caught someone’s attention as he was a lone driver passing by at the Columbia Icefield, he stopped and asked me… I said I am sorry, as I was clicking a photo… He smiled and bid goodbye with a genuine wave and disappeared into the snowstorm ahead of me already…

Inspired to do more such trips and be a motivated adventure traveler, I would say that there is more to come from this travelogue as what I have covered is just maybe I would TIP OF THE ICEBERG, understand the context as both Banff & Jasper National Parks are vast, huge and some of the peaks or lakes aren’t even explored yet by anyone it so seems…

What about you? Inspired Yet! Even if you answer is a No, I would agree to that for now, plan in April/May time and you will thank me for the above understanding. The reason I would not let you plan it now, as this will get a bit more messier during 1st half of Feb’2020, with freezing rain & snow falling from heavens in March & April as well…

So, hope you enjoyed reading and viewing some absolutely, marvelously, mesmerizing and beautiful pictures of my trips… With not just one but numerous more trip to come & with this desire, I embrace each moment once again in the windows of my eyes and open my heart to more such blessings to come our way, I urge you to break the barriers holding you back and travel far and wide… God be with us all till next time… CIAO… !!