Whattawowworld is about restless travelling. It definitely is. As soon as I am home I feel impatient – so I have to start planning the next trip. But can you imagine, I have nothing booked at the moment – WTF?! This situation is killing me softly. So at least I started making some plans! One plan that I will reveal now is that I want to do a trip to nature – to Norway this summer! I have to make some cliché 30 km hike after my 30th Birthday.
In this Norway hype I was recalling my and Antti’s trip to the Rocky Mountains a few years back! Sorry that I’m always hyping about all my trips – but once again this was a great one! It wasn’t too cheap to fly to the Rocky Mountains. As you know Canada is so huge, that it takes some hours and also some dollars to fly from place to another. Especially ’cause we had different airports to go (Calgary) and leave from (Vancouver). I think it cost more than 400 euros to leave and return to Toronto. Luckily we caught the whole flight in the first place! As two day-dreamers we left to the airport a bit too late and once again it was this “Amazing Race kind of running shit” to get to the flight. In the end we didn’t even get the final call – I was a bit disappointed – we even had some time to wait and took away “the fatty Horton’s” breakfast with us.
From Calgary to Banff
We flew to Calgary, which is a good spot not only for NHL-hockey but also to start conquering the Rockies and proceed towards north on the famous Icefield parkway – which is nominated to be one of the most scenic driving routes in the world. We hit the road, and our first destination was camping in Banff. Banff is a lovely mountain town with nice little cafes and boutiques – reminded me of Queenstown in New Zealand. But when we did some hiking around Banff, I was still saying to Antti, that this is nothing compared to NZ… Afterwards I had to shut up. More north you go, more amazing it gets in the Rockies! So if you have less time, just go further/north! Already the next spots were super hyper proper insanely beautiful!!!
Lake Louise and up the Icefield Parkway
At beautiful Lake Louise we did just a little crazy rough 10 km afternoon hike climbing up to the top of the Fairview Mountain – to 1 km above the lake. It took at least five hours to do it (and we had to make sure we would make it back before dark) but the views were worth it. It really strains your knees to climb such a steep mountain, and also requires a lot of sisu! / guts. But we managed by drinking a lot of water, having small breaks and eating sweet cherries on top!
We had a tent with us but the most common accommodation we had was sleeping in our rental Jeep. There was space to put the camping mattresses, and it was easy to set down. And we spared a lot of money and could invest staying in the nice hotels / places in the cities then (Toronto, Vancouver). Anyway when you are camping, you need to be really camping – it’s a state of mind you need to have. Feeling the nature, being in the nature. And that’s so enjoyable! Probably it wasn’t that legal to sleep in the parking lots etc. but come on – that adds a bit more adventure into the trip! And we had no problems. Either we were sneaky enough or then nobody cared! Like I’ve said before, people are super friendly in Canada. Both the locals as well as the happy tourists enjoying their impressive holiday.
After leaving the foggy Lake Moraine near Lake Louise we headed to do some white water rafting. There were some great opportunities by the Horse Kicking River in Golden – a small turn away from Icefield Parkway. Next time I’m wiser and will definitely take the bumpier ride, since this time we didn’t have time enough to take the much wilder rapids. The one we had was a lot fun too! But even more laughter and adrenaline is welcome! Sorry no photos, the cameras probably would have been mashed… Anybody willing to buy me a Go Pro or similar?!
A bit over half way there is a Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, where we stayed for one night. Now you could notice already, that it was f cold during the evening/night! We were now higher, up on the mountains. Spectacular glaciers emitting the cold air around. During the day it was nice and warm though, actually very hot to do the daily hikes. Nice routes again and rams basking on the hills in the sun.
Incredible way to Jasper
On a way to our last Rockies destination – Jasper – the scenic road just got better and better. I am not even trying to describe it – go there, experience it! Great spots to visit like Sunwapta falls or Athabasca Falls on a way. One thing that I’ll always remember is, how the mountains looked when the evening was falling down and the different pink and blue colours were dancing on the sky… I could puke at this point. Always when I feel super good I feel I need to puke, Yeah I know I’m strange. Maybe it’s like a overdose of too wonderful things or something… Anybody hear me out???
Arriving to Jasper was memorable. It was pouring and a powerful thunderstorm when we actually headed a bit further all the way to Miette Hot springs to car-camp over night. I learned already when a child; a car is a safe place during the thunderstorm haha! I also remember the funniest dinner ever we had! Had a couple of interestingly named ‘Kokanee’ beers – super delicious glacier fresh beers – at the only pub there was and I was entertaining Antti with my action-packed jokes and the waitress looked like she thought we had taken something else than Kokanee hahhaa! In the morning we tried out the Miette hot springs. It was finally good to get a proper bath after one weeks shitty sweating. Thermal hot springs… it’s crazy they have everything in Canada. I’m not sure if many people enough realise, how wonderful country it is to visit! Before finishing our visit in the Rockies, we still did the usual hiking just with new amazing views – for example The Valley of Five Lakes with turquoise water – got some f annoying squirrel friends and one bit me and I was already thinking, what kind of disease I got. But I seem quite fine, don’t I???
We had a bit over week in the Rockies – it was enough time, we could manage – but it could also have been a lot more. I remember feeling so tired after doing so many activities in such a short time. Especially when heading towards Vancouver, there could have been such a great roads with a lot of nature wonders. What is great; Canadian summer seems to be wonderful when it comes to weather! It can be real hot what I enjoy a lot. We moved from state Alberta to British Columbia: quite fast to Vancouver. Vancouver coming up b*hes!
