Rocky Mountains - Canada

Summer 2001

Late afternoon sun hardly takes the edge of the cold wind blowing down from the Columbia Icefield, spilling out over the shrinking Athabaska Glacier. The milky glacial stream is melting off the toe of the glacier just a few hundred yards further up the mountain.

Our big, comfortable rented car with the radio controls on the steering wheel, so I could always veto Jennifer's control of the radio. Very cool.
Jennifer didn't enjoy knowing that the edge of the road was often a jaw-dropping void that seemed to be only a half a tire tread away.

Crowded with global visitors, Lake Louise was a required stop with the obligatory photographs.



We had a lucky change of mind while heading out of the town of Jasper. We turned around and headed back to the Tramway ride up the mountain. It's a spirit lifting experience, being on a mountain top.


Overlooking the townsite of Jasper, the weather switched between sun and cloud as we climbed upwards from the top of the tramway ride.

At one point a snow flurry blew over from the next ridge
and filled the summer air with crystals.