Peaks and Valleys of Jasper

Wapiti Campground, Jasper National Park

Since this was a no travel day we had all kinds of time to explore Jasper. After a very leisurely morning at the campsite, we finally packed up the bikes and headed into town. Much to our delight it was National Aboriginal Day in Jasper and the town park was filled with First Nation People in costume, tipis set up, drumming and other exhibitions going on. We rode our bike through town and then spent some time checking out all the happenings. It's the hottest day we've seen in a week so we thought a long bike ride through the backcountry would be fun. We rode a technical mountain bike trail (don't be impressed, it was an easy one about like Pioneer Trail in Nevada City) and spent a couple of hours going through meadows with wildflowers and butterflies, heavily wooded areas, around a couple of lakes, next to the fancy Jasper Lodge and finally past the Old Fort Point and back into town. Quite a nice little work-out! My favorite part was riding past all the turquoise lakes and seeing the kids scream with delight in trying to get into this very cold water. About half way through our bike ride we struck up a conversation with a Canadian couple from Jasper. Much to my surprise they said that Jasper received very little snow in the winter. In fact, they just swept their driveway and didn't really shovel at all. I'm considering moving here, but I think Ned is putting a kabosh on it. He thinks one day of the subzero and I'm back home.
After that workout we thought a nice reward would be to ride the tramway up to the peak of Whistlers. It lifted us up 3500 vertical feet for a breathtaking panorama of Jasper, the Columbia Icefield and we could just barely make out Mt. Robson, the highest point of the Canadian Rockies at 13,006 feet. From this perspective you could see a lot of yellow "dust" blowing about. Turns out it's the pollen from all the trees. I'm sure all the folks back home can relate to that!
Back at the campsite we were pouring over maps trying to figure a way out of here. The road south to Lake Louise was still closed and our options didn't look good for going east (flooding thru Calgary) or going west (a really long and out of the way option). I decided to bike up to the ranger station and get one last report. As luck would have it, while I was talking with him the road opened!! Sure hope that's true, but we'll find out soon enough tomorrow.
Later in the evening we were reading at the campsite, faced toward the creek. Something caught my eye and I saw a bear directly across from us on other side of the creek!! Wowza. He approached the swift water, took a long drink, but didn't look too interested in getting wet. Instead he very nonchalantly lumbered upstream moseying along. Guess who's making sure that ALL of our food and equipment is tucked nicely away tonight.