Tuesday 9 April 2013

Travel: Highlights of the Canadian Rockies

In 2001 I spent five weeks travelling in Canada. I flew into Montreal, took a bus to Toronto, flew to Vancouver, did a 'Moose Tour' (http://www.moosenetwork.com) before meeting up with my best mate Ricki and driving to Vancouver Island and into NW USA driving through Washington (where we visited Mt.St. Helens), Oregon and North California.

Highlight 1 - Peyto Lake



When I show people the picture of Peyto Lake (above) they either don't believe it's a photo or they don't believe I was there. That's why I always show the one of me too! 

The lake is completely stunning and took my breath away. The amazing colour is apparently due to "significant amounts of glacial rock flour flowing into the lake, these suspended rock particles give the lake the bright turquoise colour" (Wikipedia).



Highlight 2 - Athabasca Glacier



Having used a video about the Athabasca glacier in my geography lessons (and copied the explanation of crevices using mars bars - I'm sure one of the students' favourite lessons!), I was excited about actually seeing it for my own eyes. Although not recommended, I even had a walk on the front of it. 


Serious face! That aside, blue ice is visible.

Not such a highlight was the evidence of glacial retreat, an event happening to glaciers all over the world. 


Left: Me in 2001.    Right: 2010


Highlight 3 - Moraine Lake & Lake Louise


Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park 8 miles outside the village of Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada. Another couple of beautiful lakes.

Lake Louise 

The Moose Bus backpacker tour was an absolute blast spent with a great bunch of people including 'Randy' our driver. 

I was also able to meet up with my mate Mark from my New Zealand/Australia backpacker adventure. In fact I stayed with Mark in Kelowna on my birthday, a wonderful and beautiful town perched on Lake Okanagan. 

So... Highlight 4 - Seeing my old buddy Mark and him letting me drive his Porsche along Lake Okanagan, then floating along down the Penticton River Channel with a few beers 



Happy 28th Birthday to me.




  

2 comments:

  1. the views are awesome..love it :)

    genem87 :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been to Lake Louise and the glacier as well Steve, what did you think of Toronto? Gav McMahon lives there!

    ReplyDelete