Banff and Canmore Day 4

   Another pretty early start... up and out by 8:30 to go on our last hike. Multiple people mentioned the Grassi Lakes hike in Canmore, so that's where we head. The 'easy' section was closed, so we got to experience the 'challenging' route. We all got to the lookout at the waterfall which was so so pretty.

  At the point, Madison waited there and Bailley, Abigail, and I pushed on upward. It took a while, but we made it to the Grassi Lakes. I've never seen water that clear, just spectacular.

  We turn around and head back down, collect Madison, and get back to the car. Now a quick drive to Banff to take our scheduled gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. 

  The views were great, probably the highest we've been. But wait, there's higher! We walk across the boardwalk to the even higher point to the old Comic Ray Observatory.  I ain't gonna lie, it was a really small area with quite the drop offs, so I wasn't very comfortable... but... we did it, all the way to the tippy top.

   Then a smooth gondola ride down, then a bus ride into downtown to get to Madison's tattoo appointment.  We hit a brewery for a bite and drinks, then Abigail and Bailley souvenir shopped while we waited on Madison to get done.

  Quite the physically active vacation... I think we got our moneys worth out of the Canadian Rockies on this trip. Spending time all together with the cool temperatures, beautiful streams and lakes, and majestic mountains made for a wonderful family vacation.

Banff and Canmore Day 3

   Today we got up early-ish to be at the hot springs in Banff when it opened. Success! We were some of the first in line. The natural hot springs was very nice and relaxing.. plus the views from the pool were super.

  Then we grabbed lunch at Chili's, violating my rule of no US chains while out of the country. Evidently it's famous and we 'had' to at least get a picture.

  After that we split up and just bummed around Canmore, looking at sights and souvenir shopping.

Jasper and Canmore Travel Day

  Well, last day in Jasper before driving back to Canmore. We stayed up the prior night to see the sunset... at 10:20pm! So we planned a later start, with the goal to rent canoes when they open at 9am. When renting the canoes, we asked where they were from. They were from Melbourne. In fact, it seemed like most of the workers were Australian. They said they wanted to work in the US, but it was much easier to get visa's in Canada rather than the US. Hopefully they'll make it to the US.

  The canoeing was great. No one else on the lake and water so beautiful and clear. There were geese and beautiful loons. Once we reached the far cove and started paddling back, we glimpse bears. In fact, three bears! A mamma and two cubs. We were all glad we saw them and extra glad we didn't see them on any hike (yet).

  After canoeing, the girls head to the spa area to enjoy the hot tub and saunas while I load the car and check out. After loading, I walk to the pool and just sit and try to take in the view as much as I can. Eventually the girls join me and we go to the car and head out. 

  Today was hitting all the places on the road from Jasper to Canmore that we skipped on the trip up. We hit Athabasca Falls...

... Sunwapta Salls

... then Peyto Lake. Wow, this was a stunner.

  Not only that, there was snow/ice... in early July.

  We see more bears on the drive back. In fact, of the three times, one caused a traffic jam, with people stopping in all the lanes and both shoulders of the road. Later at dinner I asked the waitress and she said everyone calls them "bear jams". Ha... very fitting.

  Then we finally make it to Lake Louise, one of the musts on the agenda. Signs all say parking is FULL. Undeterred, we still go toward the lake. Finally, just after the Fairmont, they wave us into the parking lot... and park. Yay! We walk to the Fairmont to the trailheads. Whew, crowded and loud. We pick the Fairview trail and start hiking up. And I do mean UP. Luckily(?) the _up_ really thinned out the crowds. In fact, it thinned us out a bit too, with Madison heading back to the car due to a combination of tough hike and mosquitos at full Amazon level. Bailley, Abigail, and I finally made it to the end, and yeah, it was a great view. 

  We then loaded up and headed the rest of the way down to Canmore. We unloaded again, then grabbed food at the pub below the airBnB. Time to collapse once again.

Jasper Day 1

  Another early start, and I do mean early... out the door at 7am. Breakfast was just bars and bananas as we drove a short ways to Maligne Canyon. 

  We get to the trailhead and park (like three cars, yay!) and as we're getting out of the car a lady walks by and say you can't get on the trail yet due to elk. I'm like... are there park rangers preventing it?... she looks at me and is like... no, the elk are blocking the trail. Not a joke, the elk were right at the entrance, you literally couldn't get to the trail. They were beautiful, but we waited them out and got to the trail while they meandered into the parking lot.

  What do you know... a gorgeous hike along a mountain stream with waterfalls. This hike was a moderate, roughly 6 mile hike that started with a drop down into the canyon, then following the stream with bridges that crossed over it.

  This hike really took it out of us. We were all tired and hungry. We drove into town and Bailley and Abigail went in to order pizza. Madison and I parked and went to buy Advil (and chocolates). I walked to a store to buy some local beer while they all waited on the pizza. Two huge pizzas and bruschetta... and we ate it all. That evidently provided just enough fuel to carry us to the beds for a nap LOL. 

Jasper Travel Day

   Today started early, grabbing a bite and getting gas to head up to Jasper. This is the only day with a hard time to arrive... spa appointments at the Fairmont in Jasper. It was an off and on rainy drive, but the scenery was just phenomenal. The Trans Canada Highway, specifically the Icefields Parkway, really was unbelievable. We made a rule that since we had to get to Jasper by a specific time, we wouldn't stop any, but rather mark places to stop on the drive back, when we could take our time. Well, we quickly broke that rule of course. So many great views and beautiful mountains and lakes with easy access just off the road.

  We made it to Jasper with plenty of time, so grabbed lunch in a diner, where we also took in the Canada Day parade.

  Then we checked into the Fairmont, unloaded bags in the room, and made our way to the spa. We all had some type of procedure and reconvened afterwards. Madison hit the sauna and steam room, while the rest of us went outside to the hut tub.

  

  We walked around the property and looked at all the amenities and just enjoyed the views before driving into town for a quick dinner.