Jasper National Park Alberta CA

There are two campgrounds in Jasper National Park that would fit us.  One is Whistlers CG, which is closer to town, and was where we stayed when we were here in 2011.  The other is Wabasso CG, which is about 8 miles out of town and is on the Athabasca River.  We had chosen Wabasso and had made a reservation for three nights.  However, when we checked in we found our site was not very  level, and there was no internet access at the site.  Internet access is very helpful when producing this journal.  Consequently, I drove back to the check-in kiosk, and the ranger was able to transfer our reservation to Whistlers CG.  The only down side was that we would have to move to a different site for the second two nights.  Not a biggie, so we took it.

Site D36 at Wabasso CG

In short order we we set up on site 62E at Whistlers CG.




By 9:00 the next morning 61P was vacant, so we made a quick move.  Wow 3 setups in just a little over 12 hours!

Over the next 3 days we toured the Jasper area.  While at Maligne Canyon we ran into Dale and Karen .... again.  We had met Dale and Karen on a hike at Mistaya Canyon the day before while traveling the Icefields Parkway. They are from North Carolina, and it turns out that Dale has sold air pollution monitoring systems for many years.  We knew a number of the same people in the air quality field from way back when.  We crossed paths with them at different stops several more times that day, and again at a hike at Maligne Canyon.  Small world.

Dorcas entertaining Dale and Karen from NC

Maligne Canyon is a deep slot canton and very difficult to photograph well.  Click here and here  to see some videos.    

Maligne Canyon

Maligne Canyon

Maligne Canyon

View Athabasca Pass, a major explorer and trade route

Campfire stew and brew.  Hit don't get no better!

A view from downtown Jasper

The Raven Totem Pole

Are there any "The Great Lebowski" fans out there?

Elk were frequent visitors at our camp

Uh Dorcas, don't look now, but ....

I thought these souvenir magnets were cute

Maligne Lake

Medicine Lake has no obvious outlet.  It is drained by numerous small sinks under the lake.  The lake level fluctuates widely.  During the spring runoff, the lake fills more quickly than it can drain, and the level rises.  During dry periods the level drops as water runs out the sink holes.

Medicine Lake

Can you see the moose?

The Athabasca River was running high.  We watched a few raft trips land, and I talked shop with some of the river guides.

This guy missed the eddy!  OH CRAP1

Click here to see a proper eddy turn.

A 1980 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia, much like this one, was my first RV

The End.  Is it getting old yet?