THE GRAND FINALE—JASPER & ICEFIELDS PARKWAY
Trip Start
Jul 16, 2010
1
14
15
Trip End
Jul 31, 2010
Jasper, Alberta, Canada
Thursday, July 29, 2010
In Dawson Creek we stopped to get our picture taken at the "0 Mile Marker" of the Alaskan Highway. We had been on the Alcan for days and it was a milestone to finally leave the famous road and head further east into Canada. As we approach Grand Prairie we realized that we were meeting more and more traffic and leaving the wilderness that had been such a welcomed gift on this trip.
Man, Jasper is NICE! Riding into this city was like coming into Vail, CO. Everything was first class and crowded. Tons of tourists—much better dressed that we were for sure. We were definitely out of our element and probably looked dangerous to most people. We didn’t spend much time cruising the city because we still had miles to make up and we wanted to get into the Ice Fields National Park that set between Jasper and Banff. I have heard from several creditable sources that the Canadian Rockies making up the Ice Fields Park were the most beautiful mountains in the world. I’m no authority on scenic landscapes but this was some of the most beautiful real estate I have ever seen. We reached the park as the sun was setting and left it early the next morning so the pictures reflect the sun in different ways.
Peter the Great lead us to a tremendous camp site. When we arrived we instantly wished we could have spent a longer night there. Ample firewood was available for the campers, and exceptionally clean sites made for the perfect camping experience. I slept on a natural mattress of about 8” of moss under the trees. It was a short but perfect night and the last time we would camp together and enjoy Pete’s famous coffee. One week later as I make this report, I still can taste the blend and I miss Pete a lot.
