Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 126 – Banff to Lake Louise and Kelowna, Canada

    Tuesday 1 August 2006
    Highlights: The Majestic Lake Louise

    Today we left the Canadian Rockies for the last time.   The highlight easily of this day was the stop at Lake Louise.

    The Chateau at Lake Louise costs $600 minimum per night (cost saver purchase).   I hiked around the lake towards the glacier for around 1 hour; at times it was hard to tell were the mountain/glacier end and the lake started.   This is one of the great sights in the world, stunning.   I could have hiked all day. The night stop in Kelowna was just an overnight stop not worth exploring at all (we got in late anyway).

  • World Trip 2006: Day 125 – Jasper to Banff, Canada

    Monday 31 July 2006
    Highlights: Gondola Mountain Ride, magnificent Chateau Banff, Dinner show

    A fantastic day of exploring and laughing.   I started the day with a gondola (aka cable car) ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.   The view was spectacular of the area and the weather cold at the top.   Most of the group did not do the hike from the cable car post to the weather station but I found it far too good a chance to explore a mountain at this height (2,000 metres). During the day I explored Banff which is definitely for tourist   (Banff – Be Aware Nothing is For Free).   The Chateau Banff in particular was impressive (US Presidents have stayed here and played on the golf course out the back).

    At night I went out to see a dinner show called “Oh Canada, Eh?” which is a send up of Canadian stereo types.   I didn’t know if this would be a good use of my money but in the end I had a great night, even joined in singing on a few occasions (something you should be glad you missed).   Your  host for the nights also gets up and sings and your table tries to make the most noise for your host/server so he/she can get a prize, unfortunately now  my table was a little too quiet.   A great night, I also learned some Canadian history, like they changed their flag in 1961 to set themselves up as not the United Kingdom (they are still a Commonwealth nation).   I found this interesting given the debate in Australia over our troops fighting and dying under the flag in the world wars (just like they did).

  • World Trip 2006: Day 124 – Jasper and Columbia Icefields, Canada

    Sunday 30 July 2006
    Highlights: Walking on the Athabasca Glacier

    Today I got to walk on a 10,000 year old glacier, the Athabasca Glacier.   Just getting to the glacier was an interesting experience riding a ‘bus’ that the use at the North Pole. The glacier as you can imagine is very cold despite this being the hottest month in Canada.   While walking very carefully on the glacier (there are potholes that go down about 1 km) I tried some of the water which was incredibly pure (our guide recommended you try this, I was the only one willing to walk across to some running water).

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  • World Trip 2006: Day 123 – Jasper, Canada

    Saturday 29 July 2006
    Highlights: Hiking around Edith Clavell Mountain, visiting Jasper National Park

    A huge day saw a visit to Maligne Lake deep in the Jasper National Park and then a visit to Edith Clavell Mountain. It’s very hard to explain just have stunning Maligne Lake actually is, because it is so remote it has barely been touched.   A lot of the great postcard / photos from Canada come from this area.   Spirit Island in particular looks great with the sun rising just above it (unfortunately I couldn’t get a workable photo).   I doubt we deserve to have places like this sometimes, especially the way we are quickly destroying them.   At least I might be able to tell the next generation what they missed out on.

    In the afternoon I visited Edith Clavell Mountain and went on an hour hike.   Our small group (most didn’t come on this excursion) visited a melting glacier (like they all are in Canada).   I got to touch ice that has been there for at least 5,000 years.   Unfortunately in my lifetime (assuming 50+ years) this glacier will probably no longer be with us 😦

    The wildlife that lives in this area will struggle once this resource is gone.

  • World Trip 2006: Day 122 – Lac Le Jeune to Jasper, Canada

    Friday 28 July 2006
    Highlights: Canadian Rockies

    After saying good morning to the local squirrels we headed off for Jasper National Park and into the Canadian Rockies.   The most impressive place we visited today was Mount Robson which stands at over 12,000 FT.   It is so big that you can be very far away and think it is only a short distance to go however it is an optical illusion due to the height of the mountain.

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