Bearly Surviving Jasper!
I kicked off the day at Miette Hot Springs, where I figured I would jump in take a short swim, and jump out and be on my way. It cost $50, and I would have had a shower before and after, it would have taken way too much of my time. I snapped a few pictures and I was on my way. I felt it was a waste of time, until, STOP EVERYTHING—I saw a friggin' bear. Yes, a real, live bear just casually munching berries off a bush like it was brunch time. Naturally, I screeched to a halt, whipped out my camera, and took 87 photos in a matter of seconds. The bear then decided I was more interesting than the berries and started walking toward my car. He strutted right by like he owned the highway. Click. Click. Click. PANIC. Click. Did I mention… A FRIGGIN’ BEAR?!
Once my heart rate returned to double digits, drove andI checked out the Pocahontas area (no, not Disney-themed), then made my way to Maligne Lake—which is basically what happens when Canada shows off. The water was so blue it looked photoshopped.
Athabasca Falls – loud, dramatic, and doing the absolute most.. so massive and beautiful
Sunwapta Falls – equally splashy and much easier to pronounce than it looks. I am loving all these waterfalls! I saw a herd of sheep... which I confidently identified as goats. Turns out I’m not exactly the David Attenborough of the Rockies. To be fair, they looked very goat-ish. My bad, sheep. They were a little wooly, and their faces looked a little bit like deer. Check out the pictures and judge yourself.
Columbia Icefield Skywalk – AKA, the “I paid money to walk on a glass floor over a canyon and pretend I’m fine” experience. It was a great experience!
Peyto Lake – shaped like a wolf, colored like a gem, and surrounded by what felt like a 97% vertical climb. I thought I was going to die. I didn’t. It was so worth it. I saw a few chipmunks living their best lives, making a lot of noise and running around!
I wrapped up the day at the Lodge at Bow Lake, which was absolutely gorgeous—even if it couldn’t quite outshine Peyto. The lodge? Let me tell you: they feed you like royalty who accidentally booked a vacation in the wilderness.
Dinner was a four-course masterpiece:
First, a salad that was small but amazing.
Then bison tartare on some bougie bread with a sauce I forgot but exception.s.
The main course? Smoked duck, couscous, veg, and two mysterious sauces with names fancier than my wardrobe.
Dessert was some kind of vanilla cream with berries and granola—probably illegal in seven countries for being that good.
There are no menus here—just assigned seats and surprise gourmet meals. I dined with a couple from Texas, a couple from London (who were delightfully British), and an older couple I forgot everything about. Sorry, mystery seniors.
The only real regret of the day: I didn’t make it to the Athabasca Glacier because it required a two-hour round-trip hike and frankly, I ran out of day (and legs).
Also, because I might not have mentioned it2:
I SAW A FRIGGIN’ BEAR.
Sadly, Maligne Canyon and Mount Edith Cavell were closed due to the 2024 fires. You can still see a lot of scorched forest around Jasper—a stark reminder of nature’s power.
Tomorrow: onward to Banff! But first… breakfast with no menu and lots of mystery. I can’t wait.
