Mountains and more

Flew from Toronto on the 30th, up SO early(4:30am) to get to the airport on time. Thunderstorms had closed the airport the day before, so it was a madhouse. Snuck through early enough, and we were only delayed a half hour. To Edmonton, for breakfast, packed up and off to Jasper! We joined a group of 15(plus dog) others, so we were a force on the highway with our rental van and cars(2). We drove about 4 hours, stopped in Edson(yay Timmy's), found our campground, set up camp and died. Well, first we had a gourmet camping supper. Hotdogs(with all the fixings), and salad! With veggies and everything. Then we died. Liv and I are sharing a yard sale tent, which I'm sure would have been intimidated if it had seen it's future. We travelled in Corsica with it too. The tent and I have a love/hate relationship. I love how much money(and space) it saves us, but hate that I can't lie straight out.(It's probably 70" long, and I'm 74"). Wish I could get the tent and Kyla picture uploaded, 'cause it's really funny.

Next day we got an early start(when considering we had to get 17 people up and moving in the same direction), and headed out. Liv and I branched out from the group, and took a tram to the top of a mountain in the area. We hiked around the top for 4 hours, up to the summit, ate our picnic lunches and just soaked in the view, sun, and wind. Man was it windy. Refreshing though--20 degrees up on the mountain, vs. 30 plus at the bottom. Back down to Jasper for a quick supper, then a shuttle to the hotsprings. Saw a few animals on the way up (Wapiti=elk), and the driver was very informative about how the mountains were formed, and how to maintiain a healthy forest.(fire is good). Met up with the group at the hotsprings, which were very commercial though relaxing. Saw some mountain goats in the parking lot eating the rust off the undersides of some of the vehicles. Interesting. Back to camp, another gourment meal(spaghetti, with cut up veggies and dip), and bed.

Out the next morning after our french toast breakfast(you might get the impression we ate well!), and to Moraigne Lake for canoe-ing and hiking. What a beautiful spot. Gorgeous lake, surrounded by forest and mountains. Motorboats not welcome(except the tourist ferry), so there was very little unnatural noise. We did some paddling, more floating, enjoying the relaxing feel to the area. It was a lot of fun to see some of the others trying to work the canoe paddles. (there were a lot of first-timer campers/canoe-ers). We're actually travelling with U of A's graduate student math department, basically. With 'only' 5 years of university education, I am the least educated. We counted in the car on one leg, and between the 5 of us, there were 39 years of university education(I brought down the average :) ). They can kick my butt with math formulas, but I got to teach them how to roll up a Thermarest!! A nice hike up after canoe-ing, to the mosquito breeding capital of the rockies, then back down and to camp once more. A nice rice, chicken and ginger dish for supper, then hot chocolate with Baileys as a nightcap. Rough living.

We set out yesterday after packing up the three cars(lots more room without all that food!), hit up Mount Edith Cavell/glacier (spectacular), Athabasca Falls(spectacular), and the Columbia Icefield(spectacular). Oh yeah, the drive was pretty nice too. Great day for sightseeing, even if it was a bit long. Lots of driving yesterday, and we got back to Edmonton around 10pm.

So that's our trip so far. We leave Edmonton on the much anticipated(dreaded?) bus ride tonight at midnight. 29 hours to Whitehorse. Stay posted, and hopefully I can get some pics up at the next stop!