Marmot Lodge Hotel Jasper

Another popular hike in Jasper National Park is to the Tonquin Valley. The attractions are the spectacular Ramparts, glowering peaks with names like Bastion, Dungeon and Paragon that tower above jade lakes and the rare woodland caribou that live in the area. The region is also renowned for being wet, boggy, churned up by horses, thick with mosquitoes and covered in snow until it is almost time for snow again. Hence we went late in the summer, mid September, once ...

... at a steady and effortless 15 kms/hr, with his tail to the traffic but on the edge of the road. After we stopped, I went back to ambush him with the camera, but he was far more wary of humans on foot than in cars. <br><br>Soon after we began the hike we came across a deer ambling down the path toward us. But after that we saw no large animals at all &#8211; nothing but squirrels, and, once we had the elevation and reached the meadows around Little Shovel Pass, marmots ...

Drove from Kamloops to Clearwater, then went up into Wells-Gray National Park which was gorgeous. Saw a few waterfalls, alpine wildflowers and another bear. Lots of cypress trees everywhere in these mountains.<br>Arrived in Jasper late afternoon. Went ...

... beautiful lakes, and then more ice caped mountains and more beautiful lakes... it just went on and on, winding roads, summits and peaks, and finally we stopped to look at the Athabasca Glacier... I'm glad we saw it as it seems to be disappearing at an alarming rate. We searched the tourist centre for a good cup of coffee, however found the espresso machine closed, would we ever find good coffee in this place. So we ...

... Hotel full of elegance and decadence with a bar of twinkling crystal chandeliers, a pianist tickling the ivories and deep sumptuous armchairs. Famous guests have included Lawrence Olivier and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939. More famous though, is the resident ghost in room 202. Apparently, a woman hung herself in the wardrobe after she discovered her husband got killed in a car accident. This happened between 1911 and 1913 and the husband was one of the workers who ...

... for Harry for his birthday, but one is a bit limited for entertainment, in the middle of the forest, so thankfully this was still open (in fact last day of the season was today, closed tomorrow), and it was perfect. We ALL enjoyed a soak in the outdoor hot springs, at the foot of these enormous mountains ... absolutely indescribable. On the drive home, the kids had some 'party food' ... potato chips, marshmallows, lollie biscuits, alongside enjoying the ...

... at it, certainly little chance of advance at this point in time!! After loads of photos we headed back to the bus and drove up to the icefiled center which provided a good overview of understanding glaciers, old news to me, but interesting! We had look in gift shop before heading on! Peak after peak passing by against a backdrop of clear blue sky and sunlight, beautiful!, each drwaing my attention! We stopped for a swift photo opportunity as Tangle Falls ...

... and Caledonia lakes, where a brochure had told us a bear lived. We didn't see any bears but we did see more elk. The first was a medium sized male and he drifted past us like the Moose had done once he decided we weren't looking for trouble. We also saw an otter slip through the reeds and into the lake. It was a dry stretch of forest and really warm in the late evening, with pretty reflections on the lakes. We saw a small owl in a tree and tiny bat flying above us. N.

... spot and therefore attracts lots of tourists, however walking from the opposite way early in the day definitely worked in our favour. We walked back along the side of the valley and had amazing views of the canyon, lakes and mountains. Nearby Medicine Lake was beautiful. Driving up the side of it, we stopped with some other tourists to gawk at our first Bighorn Sheep. They had a couple of lambs too and didn't seem bothered at all by the traffic. Further up the road, traffic ...