This one week adventure has been on our bucket list for quite some time.
Blue line is the rocky mountaineer rail trip to Jasper. Green line is our rental car trip.
One hour flight back to Seattle from Calgary
 

Exploring Vancouver's Gastown District
 

Ordering a pint at a local pub

Here's the Rocky Mountaineer welcome speech in a converted locomotive maintenance building
Note the bagpiper to the right and the train ready to go outside the doors.
Coffee and juice were served and ample time for shopping the gift store.

Looking out from our seats. The dome car was awesome.
We estimated 500 passengers on this train in two classes.

These special cars made the rail trip fun and easy
Each car was self contained and had four attendants and two chefs

The First Class seats had all the amenities and the top level views were great.
 

We dined in two groups and got to know one another over leisurely meals.
The menus offered top notch entrees.
 

The back platform was always open and we'd stand back there and watch the scenery.

We followed the Fraser River up a broad valley to nearly its headwaters.
 

The scenery gradually changed as we made our way North

The only way to see these views is by rail
 

We crossed the river several times
That's the Canadian Pacific RR bridge in the distance.
We traveled on parts of both railroads during the journey
 

Pyramid Falls
 

Hells Gate
A 115 ft narrowing of the towering rock walls in the southern Fraser canyon. ...More
 

More Fraser Canyon
It was spectacular

Hosts would get on a mike and point out items of interest and give short talks on geology and history. They would come around with snacks and were always ready to get your favorite beverage.
 

Some times we were stopped for other rail traffic. Freight had priority.
 

Osprey Nest

Approaching Kamloops
We spotted glimpses of Bighorn Sheep in the hills center right.
 

Kamloops Lake
Overnight in Kamloops after 10 hour ride from Vancouver.
Our bags went by truck and were waiting in our hotel room.
 

Day 2
We follow the Thompson River to its headwaters and then over Yellowhead Pass to Jasper

Fresh baked Cinnamon Scones
Served while the other group eats breakfast.
Note the Raspberry Jam

Thompson River

Getting close to cutting over to the continental divide.
Following the river valleys, the climb was hardly noticeable.
 

Waiting on a siding...
The train slowed and stopped for scenic views and didn't go over 40mph.
Nobody on the train missed anything of interest.
 

Mt. Robson
Highest point in the Canadian Rockies ...more
 

Potash destined for Asia

Yellowhead Pass
Note the Pine Beetle damage to forest
 

Arrival Jasper
Established in 1813, Jasper House was first a North West Company, and later Hudson's Bay Company, fur trade outpost on the trade route to British Columbia and Fort Vancouver on the lower Columbia River.

Jasper National Park was established in 1907. The railway siding at the location of the future town site was established by Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1911 and originally named Fitzhugh after a Grand Trunk vice president. The Canadian Northern Railway began service to Fitzhugh in 1912. The town site was renamed Jasper after the former fur trade post.
By 1931, Jasper was accessible by road from Edmonton, and in 1940 the scenic Ice fields Parkway opened, connecting Lake Louise and Jasper.

Fairmont Jasper Hotel
Two days to explore the area.
 

Our bungalow at Jasper

 

We ditch the tourists and rent a canoe
 

We rent mountain bikes and spend the afternoon exploring the area.
 

Enroute Lake Louise we stop for lunch and view the Columbia Icefields
 

Athabaska Glacier at Columbia Icefields   ...more
 

Iconic Lake Louise Fairmont  ...more

Rare posed picture
 

Walked the lake

Looked at the descriptions

14 Km South, a similar glacier-fed lake, Moraine Lake
 

2nd day we take the chairlift to hike the adjacent mountain

Heading back down
Note Lake Louise in the distance
 

Hiking the lowland woods after lunch

On to the Banff Springs Fairmont   ...more
 

Enjoying the view from the hotel veranda
 

Main street Banff

We rent mountain bikes and explore some great trails

Nice aluminum bridge in the middle of nowhere

The far end of the bridge had this closed sign: Bears

We decide on a whitewater raft trip
 

Jan looking worried about the approaching rapids

On to Calgary and home

6/10/18  ©Copyright 2018 David Ingebright  All Rights Reserved