Believe it or not, the blog is finally up to date, at least for a little while. I just completed the posts for our Canadian Rail Adventure, so the Canadian trip is now complete.
I may even have time (HAH!!!) to post an update on how preparations for our Viking World Voyage are coming along. Since we’re leaving here on Monday, that may or may not happen!
Anyone who has followed this blog knows that I never seem to be caught up on postings. Posts for our trip to Canada are no exception.
As Tim and I work on preparations for our Viking World Cruise, I have been trying to finish the missing posts. Today, I finally added the remaining entries for the Canada and East Coast Explorer cruise.
Hopefully, fingers crossed, I can finish and post the ones for the Canadian Rail Adventure within the next week or two. I better finish before we leave for Florida!
As usual, I am extremely far behind on the blog- not a surprise at all!
My eye and face are almost fully healed, with just a small bruise remaining on my cheek. Unfortunately, I tested positive for COVID-19 while we were in Toronto, so I never got to see the city. It was a very mild case, since I had just received the new vaccine at the beginning of September. Hopefully, that’s the last of my calamities!
We are now on-board Viking Polaris, and I’ve decided to start blogging from the day we embarked. I’ll fill in the posts for the amazing train trip across Canada when I return home.
When I slept in again this morning, the realization of what was likely going on finally dawned on me. Although I felt fine, I remembered that my previous symptoms of COVID-19 had been extreme fatigue and coughing. Tim and I had brought test kits with us, and I reluctantly concluded that I had to see if my suspicion was accurate. Unfortunately, I tested positive.
I was now worried about Tim, but somehow he had avoided getting sick and tested negative. Thank goodness.
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| COVID-19 Test Results - Sarah (left) and Tim (right) |
I knew that I needed to isolate in our room for the next two days, even though I had no fever and felt fine. My symptoms were very mild, most likely because I had just gotten the new vaccine before I left Colorado.
Tim took good care of me and brought food and cough syrup back to the room for me. I simply rested and willed myself to get better before it was time to board the ship. Luckily, I’m not one to go stir crazy in a confined space – remember, I traveled fulltime with Tim in a tiny RV for five years.
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| I Had Plenty of Time to Check Out Some of the Quirky Features in Our Room |
Tim did get out and explored the surrounding neighborhood, but I saw nothing of Toronto except the few blocks around the Fairmont Royal York. I’m coming up with even more reasons for a return trip to Canada.
When Tim and I stepped off the bus from our tour of Niagara Falls, we officially ended our Canadian Rail Adventure. You may remember that we had originally planned to fly back to Denver today but changed our plans when we decided to tack on Viking’s “Canada and the East Coast Explorer” cruise. Since the cruise would not depart Toronto until October 8, 2024, we needed to find another hotel for four nights.
Although we could have remained at the Fairmont Royal York, we decided to use Hyatt points to save a little money. We found The Anndore House, where we could essentially stay for free, and we thought the location would give us an opportunity to explore some of Toronto’s neighborhoods.
The Anndore House is a unique hotel that features contemporary rooms with an industrial, retro, and calm atmosphere. Although the design aesthetic is certainly not for everyone, I loved its quirky character. We moved from the classic elegance of the Fairmont Royal York to the funky, industrial vibe of The Anndore House. I was happy in both!
Our Room
When I looked at the clock this morning (afternoon?), I was astounded to find that it was 3:00 pm. I knew that I had been tired, but that was ridiculous. I had been coughing more than usual, so I wondered if I was coming down with a cold.
We had a bite to eat at the bar in the hotel and decided to take it easy today. We planned to check out Toronto tomorrow.
Today was the day for our rescheduled “Sightseeing Tour off Niagara Falls,” and it was a very long day indeed. I think I napped on the way to our first stop, a large gift shop where we took the obligatory tourist photo.
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| The Obligatory Tourist Photo |
We then entered the town of Niagara Falls, and our driver let us out at Table Rock. It was very cool to stand at the very top of Horseshoe Falls and get different perspectives on this incredible natural feature. Tim and I weren’t sure what else we were supposed to see or do at this stop, however, so we just twiddled our thumbs at the Table Rock Center for an hour until we reboarded the bus for our lunch stop.
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| Horseshoe Falls from the Top |
I’ve never seen such a disorganized mess at a lunch buffet, with every tour group seeming to arrive at the same time. The food was fine, once we finally made it through the line, but the best part of this stop was the expansive views of both Horseshoe and American Falls from the top of the Sheraton Hotel.
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| American Falls (left) and Horseshoe Falls (right) |
It was now time for our boat ride with Niagara City Cruises. We made our way down to the boat and donned our red ponchos. We were told that the Canadian boats wore red and the American boats wore blue so that rescue workers would know where to return anyone who fell overboard!
I was a bit apprehensive about the ride, but we had a beautiful view of the Rainbow Bridge and American Falls on our way from the dock. As we approached Horseshoe Falls, however, the mist was so strong that it obscured any possible view of what I had come to see.
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| Views of the Falls from the Boat |
I must be in the minority of those who are less than fond of these boat cruises. It seems to me that the point of these tours is to get wet. Although you might be up close and personal with the falls, I really couldn’t see them, at least not Horseshoe Falls. I think my smile in the photo below is one of relief to be getting off the boat!
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| Are We Having Fun Yet? |
From here, we made a quick stop at the Niagara Whirlpool, a natural whirlpool formed along the Niagara River in Niagara Gorge. We didn’t have time to take the historic Whirlpool Aero Car for a ride over the river to witness both the swirling whirlpool and the river’s Class 6 rapids.
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| Niagara Whirlpool |
From Niagara Falls, we drove to the quaint town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the stop I was most looking forward to. Often described as the prettiest town in Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake is located on the shores of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River, and its historic district is filled with nineteenth century buildings. Tim and I walked along the town’s main street and admired the many flower displays, each one more stunning than the next.
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| Pretty Niagara-on-the-Lake |
Niagara-on-the-Lake is also known for its wineries. I had visited here in 1997 and took a wine tour, where I learned about ice wine, a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been left to freeze while still on the vine. The grapes are then harvested in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures. While we were on the Canadian, I had a small glass of ice wine each evening after dinner.
Therefore, when we arrived in town, I was on the hunt for a bottle of ice wine. I found a wine store in town and purchased a bottle to take with me on Viking Polaris, since I wasn’t sure the ship would have ice wine.
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| Vineyards Were Everywhere, and My Bottle of Ice Wine |
I had hoped to spend more time in town, but both Tim and I were tired, so we walked back to the bus for our return drive to Toronto. Although I knew we would be hitting the city at rush hour, I figured that most of the traffic would be heading out of town. Wrong! It seemed like everyone in the Toronto area drives into town on Friday night for their weekly entertainment.
It took forever to get back to our hotel, where we had to retrieve our luggage, catch a taxi, and move to our new hotel. What a day!
I did manage to venture out today because I had two goals in mind. I wanted to take a self-guided tour of Union Station, and I wanted to find a location that would allow me to capture a photo of the Fairmont Royal York. Union Station is directly across the street from out hotel, so I didn’t have far to go.
Union Station is Canada’s finest example of stations constructed in the classical Beaux-Arts style. Its sweeping facade and imposing Grand Hall exhibit the monumental architecture and dramatic use of enclosed space that are characteristic of the Beaux-Arts movement.
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| Union Station |
Union Station opened in 1927 and was built as part of the vibrant City Beautiful movement, which promoted architectural excellence and helped invigorate the newly developing entrance to Toronto.
I love visiting historic railway stations, especially the grand ones, and I was delighted to read that the recent Union Station Revitalization Project had restored the Station’s original design features. This project has turned Union Station into a major civic destination in Toronto.
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| Union Station's Grand Public Spaces |
Not only was the architecture incredible, but the exhibits on the lower level were informative and engaging.
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| Excellent Exhibits about Union Station |
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| A Copy of an Original Architectural Drawing Was Included in the Exhibit |
Taking the advice of a very knowledgeable concierge, I was able to find the best possible location to photograph the Fairmont Royal York. This is not necessarily an easy job with high rise downtown buildings all around, but I think I managed a few good shots.
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| Fairmont Royal York |
The Royal York Hotel was another in a series of hotels constructed for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Opened to the public in 1929, the hotel was designed by the same architectural firm that designed Union Station, also in the Beaux-Arts style. At the time of its construction, the Royal York was the largest hotel in the British Commonwealth and the tallest building in Toronto.
The Royal York has also recently been rehabilitated, and the lobby is the main showpiece of the hotel. The lobby clock is one of the most well-known meeting places in the city, and the present clocktower is named the 90th Anniversary Clock.
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| The Main Lobby and Clock in the Fairmont Royal York |
I was not able to visit the ballroom, concert hall, or private function rooms, but I did enjoy walking through the history alley on the mezzanine. Historic photos of both the hotel and famous visitors line the hallway and provided great background information about the hotel.
When Tim and I checked into the Fairmont Royal York last night, I inquired about the possibility of upgrading our room to the Gold Level. Since we had enjoyed that experience so much at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and since we would be staying here for three nights, we felt that the upgrade would be worth it.
After first being told that no rooms were available since many had been blocked off due scaffolding outside the windows, we informed the front desk agent that this was not a concern for us. After much discussion with his supervisors, he was able to offer us a suite. We hadn’t been prepared to spend the difference between and room and a suite, but Tim and I once again blew caution to the wind and accepted the suite.
The suite was amazing. It was a true suite with a living area, foyer and bar area, separate bedroom, and a huge bathroom with every amenity known to man. I knew we would be quite comfortable here for three nights!
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| Our Suite at the Fairmont Royal York |
This morning, we made our way to the Gold Lounge, which was even more sumptuous than the one in Vancouver. We enjoyed our breakfast and excellent lattes.
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| The Gold Lounge |
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| The Flower Arrangement In the Elevator Lobby Outside the Gold Lounge Was Gorgeous |
Our schedule for today had originally included a full-day excursion to Niagara Falls. Yesterday evening while we were on the train, I wondered if we could switch the tour to a later day in the week. Jennifer, one of the crew in the Park Car, moved into full concierge mode and after several phone calls, she was able to reschedule our tour for Friday. She really pulled some strings, and we were so grateful to her.
Therefore, with nothing on the agenda, Tim and I decided to simply relax today, catch up on emails, and enjoy the food in the Gold Lounge. I only managed to leave the hotel once to walk to the nearby bank to get enough Canadian dollars for the remainder of our trip here. We knew that we had lots of time in Toronto to explore the city later.
Tim and I began our last day on the Canadian the same way we did yesterday. For us, it’s been a perfect way to start our day on the train.
Our route continued to take us deep into the Canadian Shield, and we could see why it’s called rock country, since billion-year-old exposed bedrock covers more than half of this vast region. Granite outcroppings along the rocky shores of the numerous lakes were a common sight.
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| Numerous Lakes and Rocky Shores |
I found it amazing that no east-west highway penetrates the section of the Canadian Shield that we traveled through, and the few signs of “civilization” that we did see were usually found near the railroad tracks. Access here truly is by train. In fact, the train may stop in what appears to be the middle of nowhere to pick up or drop off passengers. People can even flag down the train, although we were told that most do make arrangements ahead of time.
Although the scenery during the last few days was not as dramatic as that of the Canadian Rockies, I still appreciated the panoramic views. In fact, I was able to enjoy the train itself even more since I didn’t have to be on “high alert” for photo opportunities.
If there is one negative to traveling by train in Canada, it is the fact that freight trains have the right of way, as is the case in the United States. Because the Canadian shares tracks with freight trains, it often runs late, meaning hours not minutes. Although the schedule tries to anticipate these delays, it became clear that we would arrive in Toronto after 7:00 pm, not 2:29 pm as planned. Oh well, we just try to go with the flow.
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| Freight Trains Have the Right of Way |
As we got closer to Toronto, we began to see a little bit of color in the trees. Tim and I had hoped that Canada’s renown maple trees might have already acquired their blazing red and gold hues, but we were just a little too early. We also started to see a few cottages along the lakes that seem to be popular as weekend or vacation retreats.
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| A Little Bit of Fall Colors |
As the early evening skies began to darken, we caught our first views of the Toronto skyline, including the slender CN Tower, one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. Just before we pulled into Union Station, I even glimpsed the top of the Royal York Hotel and its historic rooftop sign. After stepping off the train, we claimed our checked luggage and simply walked across the street to the Fairmont Royal York, where we would be spending the next three nights. Thus ended our epic train journey across Canada, an absolutely amazing experience.
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| Arriving in Toronto as Dusk |
Once again, Tim and I slept in and missed breakfast in the dining room. When we went to the Park Car in search of lattes and pastries, we saw that one of our concierges was preparing yogurt parfaits. We each requested one, and her concoction of honey, Saskatoon berry chutney, and plain yogurt topped with granola was delicious.
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| A Delicious Breakfast |
We introduced ourselves to our new concierges – Jennifer, Lauren, and Dori – and quizzed them about Winnipeg, where they had onboarded. We had arrived there after midnight, and I was disappointed not to have seen the city’s beautiful railway station, one of the largest in Western Canada. They described the station to me and proudly mentioned that Winnipeg is home to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the only museum in the world devoted to human rights awareness and education. That’s one more reason to plan a trip back to Canada.
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| Lauren, Dori, and Jennifer |
I always enjoy talking with the staff wherever we travel, and these three women were so interesting and knowledgeable. I asked about the orange shirt pins they were wearing, and Jennifer explained the story behind the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal holiday in Canada on September 30 that was established in 2021.
From 1874 to 1996, approximately 150,000 children from First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities were sent to residential schools. In 1973, when a six-year-old girl wore a beautiful orange shirt to one of these schools, the shirt was taken from her and never given back. Since then, orange shirts, rooted in trauma and heartbreak, have become a symbol of hope, reconciliation, and a commitment to a better future. Orange shirts, shirt pins, and ribbons are therefore worn on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, to honor the Indigenous survivors of residential schools.
Canada is much farther along than the United States in formally recognizing the damage inflicted by these residential schools. Perhaps it’s a welcome coincidence that President Biden just established the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument as the 432nd unit in the National Park System. This proclamation, which "acknowledges the painful past of forced assimilation of Native children through the implementation of federal Indian boarding school policies," occurred just two days before I wrote this blog post on December 11.
I’ve also noticed that the Canadian companies we’ve encountered acknowledge with respect and gratitude the Indigenous peoples of the lands through which we travel. Statements by guides and on publications include a recognition of the stewardship of the Indigenous nations over these lands and waters, offer thanks for sharing these lands, and commit to fostering reconciliation. I wish companies in the United States would do something similar.
While Tim and I were in the dining room for another delicious lunch, I happened to look out the window as the westbound Canadian train was passing by. My photo is blurry, but I thought it would be fun to include it.
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| Watching the Westbound Canadian Train Pass By |
Winnipeg marks the geographic boundary between the expansive prairies of Eastern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Western Manitoba and the boreal forests of Eastern Manitoba and Ontario. This vast area east of Winnipeg is known as the Great Canadian Shield, a sparsely populated area of lakes, fir trees, and rocky outcrops. The farther east we traveled, the more lakes we could see.
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| The Scenery Was Very Different Today |
Every afternoon we have been treated to beautifully prepared snacks and drinks of our choice. I have enjoyed all of them.
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| A Different Snack Was Presented Every Afternoon |
The Park Car is restricted to Prestige class passengers until 4:00 pm, when other sleeping car passengers are permitted to join us. Although I’ve had great conversations with several of my fellow Prestige passengers, I have enjoyed interacting with the “lower class,” as they jokingly refer to themselves, even more. I especially related to a man from Sweden, with whom I compared our many train adventures. The other people that had joined him were from Germany and Austria. People from Australia and Great Britain were also well represented on the train.
Tim and I slept in so late this morning that we missed breakfast. Not to worry, however. We had freshly brewed lattes and pastries in the Park Car.
Today was a totally relaxing day on board the Canadian, and I enjoyed the expansive views of the wide-open prairies of Saskatchewan. We saw fields of grain being harvested and learned that virtually all grain exports in Canada travel by rail. I did not expect to see wildlife, but I did catch sight of lots of waterfowl and a few domesticated bison.
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| I Enjoyed Watching the Rolling Prairies Go By |
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| Harvest Time |
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| Lots of Waterfowl and a Few Bison |
Prestige class features personal concierge service, and Martin, our Head Concierge, gave a talk this afternoon in the dome level entitled “Trains 101.” As a train buff, I was eager to hear his talk and learned so much about the history of this railway, as well as signal lights, mileposts, and other railway signs to watch for. I think he had fun demonstrating the whistles that we might hear.
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| Martin's Talk on Trains 101 |
After Martin’s talk, I remained upstairs and enjoyed looking down the rooftops of the streamlined, stainless steel cars. I even managed to capture a few shots of the entire length of the train.
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| These Classic Cars Are Beautiful |
All crew members were leaving us later tonight when we were scheduled to arrive in Winnepeg. We personally thanked Anne-Lydie and Jenay, who were so friendly and who had taken such good care of us in the Park Car. In the dining room, the chefs said “Goodbye” and “Thank You” in writing on our dessert plates.
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| Smiling Anne-Lydie and Jenay |
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| Goodbye and Thank You to the Chefs - The Food Has Been Delicious! |
Today, Tim and I began the next phase of our Canadian Rail Adventure, which would take us from Jasper to Toronto over four days and three nights. Our train was not scheduled to depart until 12:45 pm, so I had time this morning to take care of a little business. It was time to have my stitches removed!
I walked the several blocks from our hotel to the Jasper Healthcare Center, where I found an empty Emergency Room. Amazing! A very friendly nurse removed the stitches, noted that the cut was healing well, and placed several small adhesive strips on the cut as a backup.
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| No More Stitches, Thanks to My Nurse, But the Bruising Is Still Bad |
After returning to the hotel, Tim and I caught a taxi to the Jasper Railway Station. Since we had lots of time to spare, I wandered down the street to check out the Jasper Information Center. This log and stone building is one of the finest examples of the type of Rustic architecture found in many Canadian national parks. Completed in 1914, it introduced a building tradition based on the use of local construction materials. I found it interesting that this Rustic architectural style was popular in both Canadian and U.S. national parks during the early twentieth century.
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| Jasper Information Center |
The Canadian National Railway station at Jasper was built in 1925 and is one of Canada’s Heritage Railway Stations. It was one of the largest and finest stations to be built by the new Canadian National Railway immediately after its formation. In the waiting room, Tim and I reconnected with several of our fellow passengers from our Rocky Mountaineer trip.
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| Jasper Heritage Railway Station |
Tim and I were waiting for the Canadian, a legendary transcontinental train that runs between Vancouver and Toronto and is operated by VIA Rail, Canada’s national passenger rail service. We had decided to take the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver and then begin our journey on the Canadian in Jasper. I anxiously awaited the Canadian’s arrival at the station and my first view of the distinctive, stainless steel cars that reflect the design aesthetics of the 1950s.
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| The Route of the Canadian - We Boarded in Jasper |
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| Ready to Board the Canadian |
As soon as we boarded the train, we were escorted to our cabin and discovered what the Canadian's Prestige class was all about. This “most exclusive” class of service included a large bedroom with a corner sofa that converted to a double bed, a private bathroom with shower, a flat-screen TV with video selection, a complimentary mini-bar, and an extra-large window. Our carry-on bags were waiting for us in our room.
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| Our Fully-Equipped Cabin |
At the end of the train, we found the Park Car, the Canadian's signature vehicle that is the bar/dome/lounge car for Prestige class passengers. The Bullet Lounge at the very rear offers comfortable seating and great views back along the track. Upstairs, a raised observation dome provides panoramic views. Located at the front of the car is the Mural Lounge, which offers a full-service bar.
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| The Bullet Lounge |
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| The Upper Level Observation Dome |
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| The Mural Lounge - Our Park Car Is Named the Prince Albert Park Car, Named After Saskatchewan's Prince Albert National Park |
I enjoyed hanging out in the Park Car, but I took very few photos of the passing scenes. As we began our journey across the prairies of Alberta and Saskatchewan, I decided to simply enjoy the scenery and not worry about recording it.
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| A Few Scenes Along the Way |
Tim and I enjoyed dinner in the dining car and found the meal and service every bit as good as what we had experienced on the Rocky Mountaineer. We have certainly been spoiled.
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| The Dining Car |
When Tim and I returned from dinner, our bed had been made. It wasn’t long before we were both ready to call it a night. It had been a very good day.
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| Ready for Bed |
I was up early this morning, even though our tour did not depart until almost 10:00 am, hoping to catch the sunrise over Lake Louise. I was a little late, but the light on the mountains was still beautiful.
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| Early Morning Light Touching the Mountains Over Lake Louise |
With a bit of time to spare, I was able to tour the public spaces at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Like the Fairmont Banff Springs, this hotel was originally constructed in 1890 for the Canadian Pacific Railway as “a hotel for outdoor enthusiasts and alpinists.” After several fires, the main wings of today’s hotel were completed in 1912 and 1925.
I was intrigued by the chandelier in the main lobby that is held up by four maidens, facing each of the cardinal directions. These figures are said to represent the wives of the Swiss mountain guides, who would hold up lanterns late at night to lead their husbands safely home after a day of work.
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| Interior Spaces at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise |
Because of the recent fires in Jasper National Park, Tim and I did not know if we would be traveling to Jasper when we left Colorado, since the Town of Jasper had just reopened on September 6, 2024. That portion of our tour was “To Be Determined.” The Jasper Park Lodge, another Canadian Pacific Railway hotel where we were scheduled to stay, was still closed, and we were only notified of our alternate hotel two days ago. I had begun to wonder if we would be staying in a tent!
Luckily, our tour today from Lake Louise to Jasper did take place. We followed the Icefields Parkway as it wound its way along the Continental Divide through some of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in North America. It was a drive that I had always wanted to take, and when it was over, I could understand why the parkway is rated as one of the top drives in the world.
The Icefields Parkway is dotted with more than 100 glaciers, majestic mountains, dramatic rock spires, cascading waterfalls, and turquoise lakes set in sweeping valleys of thick pine forests.
Our first stop was the Bow Lake Overlook. Bow Lake is the headwaters of the Bow River that we had followed for the last two days, and this was a perfect place to view not only the lake, but also the Crowfoot Glacier, which is shaped like a crow's foot.
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| Crowfoot Glacier and Bow Lake |
Next up was Peyto Lake, the most photographed glacier-fed lake in the Canadian Rockies. Despite the clouds and fog, the lake still retained its beautiful turquoise color. As we walked a little farther down the path, we could also see the Peyto Glacier.
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| Peyto Lake and Peyto Glacier |
The weather today was ever-changing, ranging from blue skies to rain to sleet, and even to snow. The rain even gave us a rainbow. Low-lying clouds and fog were with us most of the day, however, partly obscuring many of the views. I can only imagine how much more beautiful the scenery would be on a clear day. I guess I’ll have to come back!
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| A Rainbow! |
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| Is the Weather Changing for the Better? |
Our next stop was the Big Bend/Big Hill lookout. This spot was a great opportunity to look back at the road we had just traveled and appreciate the stunning views below.
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| Scenes into the Valley from the Big Hill/Big Bend Overlook |
Almost everyone on the bus was looking forward to our next stop – the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies. The Columbia Icefield straddles the Continental Divide and is an extensive network of glaciers that date back to the last Ice Age. The Athabasca Glacier, the most visible glacier in the icefield, sits across from the Icefield Center. It is the most-visited glacier in North America.
We visited the Icefield Center, and our guide explained how the glacier is receding at an alarming rate. In 2023, the glacier saw more ice melt than in any of the past 10 years.
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| The Columbia Icefield and Our Guide |
After checking out the exhibits, we boarded a bus to take us to the base of the glacier, where we transferred to a massive Ice Explorer that drove onto the ice. I was a bit nervous as I disembarked onto the ancient ice and quickly realized that my boots were no match for the slippery ice. I had fallen once on this trip, and I had no intention of repeating that misadventure. So, I held onto the vehicle while our guide took the obligatory photo and quickly reboarded, enjoying the view from the safety of my seat. Tim did explore a bit and helped one of the passengers return in one piece.
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| Driving and Walking on the Icefield |
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| That's a Pretty Cool Vehicle! |
The nearby Glacier Sky Walk was a unique experience that put us on a glass-floored observation platform 918 feet over the Sunwapta Valley. Despite my fear of heights, I wasn’t too bothered by the glass floor, but it’s not an experience I’d do again.
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| The Glacier Sky Walk |
As we returned to the Icefield Center, I happened to notice that the skies over the Columbia Icefield had brightened, and I was able to get a much better photo of this incredible place.
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| That's a Better Photo of the Columbia Icefield |
Our tour was almost over, and as we came closer to Jasper, we could begin to see the devastation caused by the recent fire. Our guide lived in Jasper, and it was amazing to hear his experiences.
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| Burned Trees and the Lingering Smell of Smoke |
The destruction from the fire was even more evident as we reached the Town of Jasper. It was incredible to witness just how random the fire had been. Single buildings were still standing, seemingly untouched, in the middle of an entire block that had been leveled. What could not be destroyed, however, was the natural beauty that still surrounded the town.
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| One-Third of the Town of Jasper Burned, but the Natural Beauty Remains |
Although I was disappointed that we could not stay at the Jasper Park Lodge, I was exceedingly grateful that some of the smaller hotels in town had been spared and were beginning to open. Talking to the staff at our hotel was eye-opening, and I came away admiring everyone’s spirit and determination.
