Company is gone, now, North to Alaska

We have returned from a brief trip to Calgary. On Friday, July 1st, Canada Day, we drove from Jasper to Calgary (250 miles) so that Peter and Vian could catch an early evening flight back to California and we could get the car serviced and pick up a set of two new rear tires on Monday, July 4th (no holiday in Canada). On Saturday we had a One-to-One session at the Calgary Apple Store to make sure the computer has enough space for all the pictures we plan to take over the next two months and visited a supermarket to stock up on food and sundry items. On Sunday, we visited the local Costco to get staples for the Alaska trek.

We had a super visit with Peter and Vian and we miss not having their tent set up next to the Airstream door.

On Sunday, June 26, we drove from Banff to Calgary, a little over an hour to the airport. Just as we were leaving our campground this herd of elk came up over the hill next to the Airstream. 

After picking up Peter and Vian we drove to the Sarcee Trail Costco for lunch in the parking lot and to pick up supplies, including blueberries, raspberries and spinach, for the next week.

This was our lunch view from the Costco parking lot - Calgary sprawl below us.

The next day, Monday, we hitched up and de-camped to Jasper National Park and Whistlers Campground on the outskirts of the town of Jasper.  After so much traveling, we were eager to get out on the trail and stretch our legs. 

Tuesday, we drove up Cavell Mountain to the Cavell Meadows trailhead and prepared to tackle the 5 mile hike with a 1,320 ft elevation gain. Tim lists the hike as "Moderate", so it seemed a good place to start.

Here we are at the first viewpoint - the toe of the Angel Glacier is in the upper right corner of the picture. A real treat was being able to first hear the rumble of an avalanche breaking free form the glacier and then being able to watch it come roaring down the side of the mountain looking like a momentary waterfall of snow and ice.

Further up the trail we got an elevated view of Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond at its base.

At the viewpoint where we ate our lunch.

Selfie with glacier. Periodically we would hear the rumble of a new avalanche and see the flow of snow and ice.

After lunch, renewed energy to continue on to the high point of the trail.

Getting ready to make the downhill trek to...

another viewpoint above Cavell Pond.

One of the Cavell Meadows covered in wildflowers.

Having tuned-up with a moderate hike the day before, we headed to a "Challenging" hike up Sulphur Skyline, above Miette Hot Springs. With the promise of a soak in the hot springs after the 2,277 ft gain in elevation in only 6 miles, off we went.

After climbing several switchbacks through the forest we arrived at the base of the open ridge where we paused to have our lunch.

Lunch view on Sulphur Skyline.

After lunch we made the final push up the ridge to the top of Sulphur Skyline and along the way we met this bighorn sheep.

View to the southwest from the top of the ridge.

View to the east. The couple that you see at the center left of the picture provided some amusement (?) as they lugged up beer, cigarets and loud music to the top of the mountain.

Frederick and I arrived first at the top of the mountain and soon Peter and Vian, who had developed a unique hiking style with Vian pulling Peter up the trail, arrived at the top.

Hikers at the top of Sulphur Ridge - elevation 6,798 feet.

You might notice the gathering dark clouds. We saw some pretty spectacular lightening strikes in the distance.

Northeast from the top of the ridge.

Contemplating a small herd of bighorn sheep in the meadow below.

Queen Anne's Lace near the bottom of the trail.

Wood Lily

P.S. The Miette Hot Springs were wonderful!!

That evening, after a night of Snaffle (shortly after mid-night), as we were getting ready to go to bed, we heard the campground elk herd create a ruckus as they stampeded through the campground and vanished into the night - right through our campsite! It was pretty exciting!!

Thursday we took it easy with an "Easy" hike through Maligne Canyon - 4.86 miles, 520 feet elevation gain.

You can see part of the canyon, the deepest and narrowest canyon in the park, on the left side of this picture.

Having fun with a selfie.

More canyon views.

Having lunch at the mid-point.

One of the beautiful falls along the trail.

Too soon, on Friday, it was time to drive back to the Calgary Airport for the return trip to California. Along the drive, this handsome bighorn sheep said good-bye.

One of our two new Pirelli tires. 

We spent most of today packing the back of the car and trying to fit in all the supplies we have acquired for the trip to Alaska. 

We have four more days in Jasper before we leave on Sunday for a two-day trip up to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, where we meet up with the 30+ other Airstreams for the caravan to Alaska. We have already met two couples we will be traveling with. One couple we met as we were leaving the Banff campground (the woman, Jeanne Scheitler, was raised in West Warwick, Rhode Island!) and another we met today. John and Caroline Charon, from West Virginia, are spending a few days in Jasper before they also head north. It's fun to begin meeting our new travel companions.