We made it to Jasper National Park around noon and went straight to Miette Hot Springs for a sulfuric dip. Unlike Liard Hot Springs, this was more like a grid of concrete swimming pools of varying temperature. The amount of children had me questioning why the water was so warm.
This is Medicine Lake.
Every spring the lake fills up with water from melting snow and glacial ice. By late fall, the lake is nearly empty but has no apparent outlet. No river, stream, or creek trickling out. Small underwater sinkholes were eventually discovered at one end of the lake and at one time miners attempted to plug them with everything from matresses to stacks of magazines.
The sinkholes lead to one of the longest underground river systems in the world.
We went on a short hike along Maligne Lake. Canoes and kayaks were avaiable for rent in the boat house.
This is Athabasca Falls. The cold glacial water creates a much cooler localized climate around the falls. This climate supports a unique habitat for organisms not found outside of the immediate area.
The sediment rich water swirls carving deep, cylindrical "potholes" in the stone.
Gridlock inducing wild life spottings were frequent.
Gridlock inducing waterfall sightings were frequent.
A glass-bottomed walkway protruded from a mountain side.
We hiked up to Athabasca Glacier.
I LOVE posing for pictures.
Rachel is more enthusiastic.
The glacier is receding quickly. Rachel was here about 14 years ago and was surprised how much smaller it was. Signs marked its recession along the trail.
We eventually ended up in Banff and played trivia at a backpackers hostel. The trivia game involved bonus rounds with prizes going to the most creative. We were given a sheet of aluminum foil, straws, a pint glass, and toothpicks to make a free-standing sculputre.
We quickly assembled a bust of a moose which I can assure you was 100% anatomicallly correct. We learned it was almost impossible to photograph crumpled aluminum with any amount of detail.
We thought for sure we would win. Especially since the trivia host came over to take a picture and ask if she could permanently display it on a shelf. I guess it pays to have friends in the voting panel because we "tied" with a team that made a lackluster beaver sculpture.