breakfast and check out from hotel,, we're on the road in the pimp mobile for around 9:00. Taking the Trans Canada Highway as far as Louise then onto the Icefields Pathway with our eyes well peeled for bears.
Have to note here that the wildlife is VERY cultured in Canada, there are numerous crossings marked along the highway, each stating either Bears crossing, Caribou crossing or Elk crossing. How they know to read the signs and cross only in their designated spots is beyond me
- very clever!
We stop at a few scenic places for pics (and cigs in my case!) but our first real break is at Peyto lake, one of the most photographed spots due to its outstanding glacial colour. Its a bit of a hike up to the top but well worth it.
We drive then to the Columbia Icefields, the sky has hazed over but the view out to the glacier is still fairly clear
we take the bus out to the toe of the glacier then join a Brewsters tour coach to travel out on to the actual glacier.
The Brewsters tour was very informative and they showed us teh different glaciers that meet at this point (the triple continental divide)
we spend a while out messing about on the ice
after we leave the icefield the sun breaks through (isn't that always the way?) but we stop and enjoy a lovely soup in the icefield centre before the late afternoon drive to Sunwapta Falls where we're spending the night.
the weather has cleared up a lot so we walk out to the waterfalls before retiring to the resort for our evening meal
this was the only place in the tour where we were all sharing a room, consequently it was the smallest room and bathroom of the lot
never mind, only one night.
edited to add: nearly forgot to say we actually saw a real american grey wolf whilst driving to the icefields, he was loping through the trees at the side of the road but there were too many darn r.v's behind us to stop quickly, also he was probably gone in a split second anyway
day 8: Jasper