Canadian Rockies Trip Day 7 & 8 - Icefields Parkway and Departure (Saturday, June 22nd to Sunday, June 23rd, 2019)

Canadian Rockies Trip Day 7 & 8 - Icefields Parkway and Departure (Saturday, June 22nd to Sunday, June 23rd, 2019)

We got up bright and early this morning. We were heading all the way back down to the Calgary Airport today for our Sunday departure back to LAX. It was going to be just a regular drive back down. Since we missed our Icefields Parkway tour on the way up, we managed to re-book the tour with Norm on the way down. We took the short walk to breakfast at around 6:30 am. There was a thin layer of mist hovering above the lake. We enjoyed our breakfast as usual. Norm's bus was picking us up at 8:30 am so everyone had to be ready in the lobby by 8:15 am. Dad was well enough so we managed to take a family group shot at the lobby. We took more photos around the hotel vicinity and headed out shortly after 8:30 am in a bright sunny clear day.

Morning mist by the lake

All ready to go at 6:30 am

It's going to be a beautiful day!

Getting our breakfast in

Family photo at the lobby

Photo with grandma at the front of the hotel

A beastly crowd

Encoutering a doe on the way out

We headed out with Norm in charge. Unlike the storm we encountered two days earlier, today is turning out to be a very clear and sunny day. The tour bus picked up a few other passengers in town and we were on our way. Shortly after leaving town and gained some elevation from the drive, we reached out first photo spot - the look out point at Mount Edith Cavell. We got off and soaked in the crisp morning air in the mountain. We took some photos and headed back into the bus shortly. Our second stop was the Athabasca Falls. After taking some photos at the Falls, we then stopped at the look out point for the Athabasca Glacier. We learned from Norm that a glacier is a patch of ice that has not melted for at least a full year. After that explanation, we began to nice countless small and unnamed glaciers all around us all the way down to Calgary. We picked up our lunch at a small sandwich shop just pass Sunwapta Falls (we did not see the falls). After picking our lunch we then headed to our main stop - the Columbia Icefield. We were on full tourist mode today. 

At the look out point for Mount Edith Cavell

View of Athabasca Pass

Family shot

At the Athabasca Falls

Athabasca Falls

Athabasca Glacier

Another black bear sighting

We reached the Columbia Icefield around 11:30 pm. We disembarked from Norm's tourbus, visited the Visitor Center briefly to use the restroom, and then boarded the large tour bus up to mountain to board the Ice Explorer. 

Reaching the Columbia Icefield

The tongue of the Columbia Icefield

Taking a pit spot at the visitor center

Waiting in line to get on the big tour bus to the Snow Explorer

The tour bus drove us onto the "basecamp" area of the mountain and dropped us off to board the big wheel "Ice Explorer" up the icy and steep slope to the middle of the glacier. 

Inside the large tour bus to "basecamp"

Getting ready to board the "Ice Explorer"


Our ride, #533

A short briefing by staff member inside the glass top "Ice Explorer"


The road to the glacier

Moving out

GG taking in the view


View of icy slope


Speckle of ice walkers looking like ants on the glacier

Our glacier parking spot is now visible (the speckle of color in the center left)

Cruising by the thick ice layer

A nearby glacier

After about a short ten minute ride on the Ice Explorer and traversing through some steep hills, we reached the tongue of Columbia Icefields. We were able to freely explore the area and we did not need crampons to move about. We took some photos by a line of flags and returned to the Ice Explorer in about 30 minutes. 

At the glacier tongue

By the American flag

A great view of the glacier tongue

Family selfie

Five Ice Explorers waiting for the tourists to return

After exploring the Icefield for about 30 minutes, we boarded our Ice Explorer and headed back to the "basecamp". From the "basecamp" area, we boarded the big tour bus to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. The Skywalk is a glass bottom bridge that extends from the rim off the Icefield Parkway. It's definitely a touristy attraction but it was a nicely done bridge. We took in the view along with many other tourists and took the bus to head back to the visitor center. 

MM along the walk way to the Skywalk

The Skywalk extends from the rim

At the Skywalk

Looking out from the Skywalk

Heading out

After getting back to the visitor center, we purchased some hot food to go. We then headed back south along the Icefield Parkway and the descent that we took on the way down was where the big traffic jam was a couple of days ago. 

Hot food at the visitor center

Enjoying some chili fries in the bus

Asian noodle!

Bear traffic


Black bear


Reaching Bridal Veil Falls again before the descent to lower elevation

Shortly after the big descent down from Jasper, we reached Banff territory. We stopped at Peyto Lake just like we did on the way up. Unlike our previous stop, there was no snow and we could see the emerald colored lake from the view point.

Another bear sighting before reaching Peyto Lake

Short walk to the Peyto Lake view point, no snow at all!

Getting a glimpse of the emerald colored lake

Peyto Lake - one of Banff's classic view points


with the tourists in view


mm


gg


Nice shot from the iPhone 7

After the short stop at Peyto Lake, we headed to our final stop - Bow Lake. This spot was in complete white out two days ago but we were able to walk to the edge of the lake and take a few family photos. 

Greeted by a pack of mountain goats before Bow Lake

Looks like quite a family with three small ones

Bow Lake


Bow Lake, 4:58 pm


with the grandparents


mm enjoying the glacial lake


mm in the wind


A stream in the wilderness


Dad and Norm, our tour guide/driver, a former police officer

We reached Banff close to 6:00 pm. Norm dropped off our luggage and said goodbye to us. We took the Airport Express Shuttle straight to the Calgary Airport and our final night stay was at the Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel. This hotel is super conveniently located in the terminal that we'll be flying out from. We could just walk out, make a right, and check in with Air Canada the next day.

For the rest of the evening, we grabbed a quick meal at the restaurant at the hotel lobby restaurant -Yakima Social Kitchen + Bar, and called it a night.

The next day, we woke up, packed, enjoyed our breakfast at the hotel lounge, and headed home.

Menu for the evening

Maple and Soy cured Smoked Salmon

Lentil Stew

Calling the night at 10 pm - GG was feeling under the weather

8:30 am, Air Canada Terminal viewed from the hotel lounge

Chicken Sausage

Muffin, bacon, and eggs

Cheese and fruit bar

Fresh juice

Cereal bar

Oatmeal and coffee

Taking in the view

Getting ready to depart, after converting to Canadanism

A short walk to the Air Canada terminal

Getting last fix of Tim Hortons

Timbits again

After checking in, we managed to get in to the airport lounge. We enjoyed another quick meal before we finally boarded our flight to go home. 

At the Airport Lounge

Chicken Curry

One last meal

Going home!

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