THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS - PART 3 - LAKE LOUISE

We drove back on the Icefield Parkway from Jasper to Lake Louise – again, fantastic sights, and we even went for a ride onto a glacier. Arriving at Lake Louise just blew us away – a 500 room chateau at the head of the lake with views across to the snow covered mountains and glacier at the other end. We had the view from our room, over dinner and whilst enjoying “high tea” the next day. An unreal feeling like being in a postcard.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS & THE ICEFIELD PARKWAY – PART 2

Part 2 takes place in the town of Jasper at the northern end of the Rocky Mountains. We spent 2 days here - we saw wild elk on the side of the road and rode up the Whistlers mountain in a cablecar where it was snowing at the top station. Our accommodation was in a cabin, part of the Fairmont Jasper Park Resort. They had multi-coloured Margarittas here.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS & THE ICEFIELD PARKWAY – PART 1

After leaving Banff, we travelled the 290 km Icefield Parkway to Jasper and back. Neither words nor photos can describe the sheer majesty and beauty of this area – a scenic drive on an excellent road in valleys surrounded by 10,000 ft snow-capped, rocky peaks, lush green forests and rivers, lakes and waterfalls at every turn and more glaciers than most people would see in a lifetime. If this isn’t hikers and rock climbing heaven, then the next favourite pastime is climbing up frozen waterfalls in winter.

BANFF (SPRINGS), ALBERTA, CANADA

After we ended our fabulous 2-day train trip aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, we spent 2 nights in Banff at the amazing Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The hotel, built over 100 years ago to resemble a Scottish castle, has some 750 rooms and is steeped with tales of the rich and famous who have stayed there, including virtually every Hollywood star who ever was, royalty and politicians from all over the world. In winter, Banff is a ski town and in summer, virtually every sport is catered for. Bush walking & hiking are the most popular with golf on the beautifully manicured 27-hole championship golf not far behind.

The lobby of the Fairmont Banff
Springs

Banff from the mountain top

The Faimont Banff Springs

The Fairmont Banff Springs

Main street of Banff

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER - DAY 2

Day 2 : We departed Kamloops bright and early and headed towards the Rocky Mountains. We travelled through tunnels (including 2 loop tunnels), across bridges over deep gorges and through some of the most scenic areas in North America. We crossed from British Columbia into Alberta, went through Lake Louise and arrived in Banff where we left the train. The scenery was absolutely stunning and these photos can only give a taste of what it was really like.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER - DAY 1

Not even the 400+ photos could do justice to this 2-day rail trip, so we are going to publish 2 posts - 1 for each day. Day 1 : Departed Vancouver and headed inland to Kamloops where we spent the first night in a lovely hotel. During the day, the rail journey wound its way along terquoise-coloured rivers and lakes with tree-lined mountains and valleys all around. Then the scenery changed to a stark moon-scape-like harshness with towering rock mountains and cliff faces and deep gorges and ravines. We travelled on the Canadian Pacific Rail line, parallel to the Canadian National Rail line used mainl;y for freight. The 2 lines run most of the way on different sides of the valleys, crossing over one another on a few occasions. We sat upstairs in the glass-enclosed viewing area and ate our meals downstairs in the dining areas. First class food and service.

BACK TO VANCOUVER AND UP TO WHISTLER

We spent our return visit to Vancouver checking out sights we had missed on our first visit, including Granville Island, a ferry ride and a ride on the sky train. The following day, we hired a car and drove the 111 km to Whistler, the site for the 2010 Winter Olympics. We are staying here overnight at the fabulous 550 room Chateau Fairmont Whistler. In the afternoon, we rode up to the top of Blackcomb Mountain (2-stage chairlift) and then rode the world's longest span cable car (3 km span), the "Peak 2 Peak" Gondola, over to Whistler Mountain, where we took another chairlift to the summit. Fabulous views and a real appreciation of this winter ski-field.

The Vancouver Fairmont
Hotel - opened in 1939 by
King George VI

The waterfront at Granville Island

Amazing range of fresh berries
available at the Granville Island markets

In front of the Inukshuk
statue on top of Whistler
Mountain

Aqua-buses quickly ferry passengers
back to the city from Granville Island

The village of Whistler from the
top of the mountain

View of the Peak 2 Peak Gondala
joining Blackcomb & Whistler
Mountains

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Alpine colours at the top of
Whistler Mountain

END OF THE CRUISE AND ONTO ANCHORAGE

The cruise ended this morning in Seward, from where we took a bus along the fabulous Seward Highway into Anchorage. The day before, bad weather had unfortunately turned us back from seeing the Hubbard Glacier.
We spent today exploring Alaska's largest city (~0.5 million) and winding down. Tomorrow we fly back to Vancouver.

Ice flows in Yakutat Bay
south of the Hubbard Glacier

Our last dinner on board the
Navigator

Arriving at the Seward cruise dock

Saying farewell to our home for the
last 7 days

A typical scene along the
Seward Highway

These are very popular in Anchorage

FROM SOMEWHERE UP THE INSIDE PASSAGE

After departing Vancouver last Wednesday, we sailed up the Inside Passage, stopping at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Each place was unique, with its own story, steeped in Alaskan history and cultural background, scenery was breathtaking, the cruise luxurious (reputed best food of all cruise lines) and luxury decadence to the extreme. We are going to have great difficulty adjusting back to “real life” after this.

Our cabin on the cruise liner

Testing out the Margarittas

Sue just taking it all in

Too bad if you don't like Salmon
in Ketchikan

At the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau

An amazing trip on the White Pass &
Yukon Route rail line at Skagway