The next stage of our journey, returning down the Icefields Parkway provided many more opportunities for photo stops. However the wild fires in British Columbia had created very smoky hazy skies. This has been the worst year in recorded history for British Columbia wildfires and many,many hectares have been destroyed, some homes evacuated but no loss of human life. Sometimes it is lightning strikes that spark a fire, sometimes the carelessness of campers. Fire is however important for the regeneration of these vast northern forests and some pine cones will only open at 40 degrees celcius to spread their seeds. We felt fortunate that this haze hadn't affected much of our journey although the smoky air made being outdoors akin to standing downwind of a bonfire at times. Our first little stop was at the romantically named Honeymoon Lake, an idyllic little campsite and small lake surrounded by trees and with a mountain backdrop. For reasons that remain a mystery to me, Mrs B decided to pay her own homage to the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.....
After recovering from this, I carried on driving. More photo stops followed. Views of the Athabasca River and pointers to various mountains all around 3000 meters were prominent either side of the road.
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| Tangle Ridge.....that direction (as the crow flies) |
On the journey up the Icefields Parkway we'd been told about some lovely waterfalls at a place called Beauty Creek. The Stanley Falls were not 'advertised ' but I was keen to explore. Mrs B was less keen so turned back from the trail at the point where thing started to go uphill (and get interesting). The trail went through pine forest alongside a narrow gorge with a series of small waterfalls. It was tranquil and although I saw a few hikers it was much quieter than many of the previous trails.
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| One of the 'Stanley Falls' |
I turned back after about a mile and returned to the car reassuring Mrs B that I hadn't had to fight off any grizzlies and we carried on our journey, taking photos at Tangle Creek Falls,
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| Tangle Creek Falls |
before finally stopping at Num Ti Jah Lodge on Bow Lake. This is close to the Bow Glacier and was built by an English emigrant, Jimmy Simpson and completed in the 1950. We walked a little way along the trail towards the Bow Waterfalls before time forced us to return. The hotel had character and blended into the landscape.
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| Bow Lake trail, with Num Ti Jah Lodge nestled in the trees |
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| Num Ti Jah Lodge, Bow Lake |
After completing the return leg of the Icefields Parkway rather than carry on along the fast road' (Trans Canada Highway 1) we detoured off to travel at a slower pace to start the Bow Valley Parkway.
This is another scenic drive, vehicle speeds are restricted, due to the presence of wildlife. We didn't see any critters but stopped to photograph Castle Rock.
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| Castle Rock |
After a long drive we arrived at our penultimate destination, Canmore, where we had three days free to explore the Banff National Park.
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