Jasper

Today we left for the famous Jasper National Park where we had three nights booked at the Wapiti Campground.

The drive had us go via the town of Hinton . It had a very nice board walk around a Beaver dam and lodge. 

Me and my mate Matt

Dragonfly spp - Leucorrhinia spp?

Beaver Lodge at Hinton

Soon after crossing the border into Jasper proper we saw our first African style safari traffic jam which we were to take a brief part. Two large antlered Elk were the cause and they were quite the sight! Many idiots decided that it was worth the photo to walk closely to the elk, some with children in arms presumably to use as a shield should the large animal and said antlers approached. Perhaps the risk was small however it can only be a negative thing to acclimatize these animals with close- approaching-on-foot-humans as the park’s border wasn’t too far away. The scenery of the mountains and lakes were worthy of a mention as they will be again and again and again.

Jasper scenery as we entered

Elk buck

Smaller Stag

Arriving at Wapiti camp ground three things were immediately apparent. First the heat – 31 degrees Celsius – unexpected  among the mountains of the Rockies. Second – the mosquitoes – they descended upon us and all like a cloud and forced them selves into the tent through the smallest gaps left in the poorly functioning zip on our tent. And third the mosquitoes, who attacked relentlessly every uncovered square centimeter of skin and had the audacity to pierce their proboscis through thin clothing as well. People we met gave up discussing the weather in favour of comparing bites and welts and describing in new numbers the insect pests. I spoke to one guy who had been coming to Jasper for over twenty years he concluded that they were the worst that he had ever seen. Travelling around the town you could identify campers through the raised red spots on the narrow gaps on their necks between the cover of hair and  the collars of their clothes.

On our first full day at Jasper we arose reasonably early and drove to Maligne Lake and took a short walk around part of the lake’s edge and adjacent forest. It was beautiful and the mosquitoes kept us company here too. 

Maligne Lake

Maligne Lake

Maligne Lake walk

Elk again

Road to Maligne Lake

We visited Maligne Canyon and enjoyed the short walk there before visiting Annette Lake where we went – wait for it – swimming. WE learned that only the most dedicated mosquito launches an underwater attack and much of the swarms don’t follow you too far from the bank.

Maligne Canyon

We went for a stroll around the Jasper township itself and particularly enjoyed the ‘Our Native Land’ store which had a good collection of prints, sculptures, clothing etc. We should have spent a little more money on some small prints etc but carrying them and / or transporting them is difficult.

I took the boys to the latest Spiderman film and quite enjoyed the new adventure. Megan and Millie had girl time and, in Millie’s words, ‘hit the shops’. 

They returned to the Native Land store and scored a guided interpretation of sculptures etc.

Finally a dusk drive close to Wapiti scored great views of a black Bear mother and her two cubs. She was a brown Black – a Cinnamon – but both her cubs were black in colour. Sadly it was too dark for convincing pics.

On Sunday the 15^th we decided to take a picnic breakfast and go directly to the tramway to get up above the treeline on Mt Whistler. 

Young Grizzly

Same grizzled Grizzly Bear

Before getting there we saw a Grizzly. It was feeding between the town and our campsite adjacent to a bike path. We  got some great views and some poor photos.

View from Tramway

Flowers - Mountain Avens [Dryas octopatella]?

High Elevation Flora - Moss Campion [Silene acautis]

Common Harebell?

Tom and Matt at the Mount

Summit surrounds

Golden mantled Ground Squirrel

Another shot of said sqirrel

Despite getting to the tramway early we could only get up after a wait of an hour or so. The ride was definitely worth it. It was cold at the top and breezy and the clothes I chose were only just suitable and the cloud came over and through – frequently compromising the views. Mammals were good and we got great views of Pica and my first Golden mantled Ground Squirrel. Could not find any Hoary Marmot though despite that is where the Whistler Mountain got its name – from their frequent high pitched call. Perhaps best of all, Matthew and I braved the cold walk to the near-summit where I got quite reasonable views of Ptarmigan -  another lifer!! Also worth mentioning were the displays of high altitude flowers that flourished despite the careless attitude of some tourists who fail to be able to read symbols warning them to stick to the path and to avoid trampling the sensitive flora. I actually asked one woman to return to the path as she seemed to be deliberately trampling plants. She replied in a French accent that hse didn’t like paths – that they scared her. Its nice that ignorant people are still trying to develop a sense of humour. I thought it was sad that she was raised without siblings.

We drove to Pyramid Lake before enjoying a rating family float down the icy Athabasca River. It was not exciting however there were a few opportunities to get wet and our guide took them on our behalf.

Maligne Lake

Upon our return to our camp we dined in the tent away from the mozziess.