Today, I spent the day in and around Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. After leaving the hostel and getting breakfast in Lake Louise, I headed up the Icefields Parkway towards the Columbia Icefields. The Icefields Parkway runs in Banff and Jasper National Parks and is known to be one of the most scenic roads in the world. I only took it to the Columbia Icefields, which is just in the boundaries of Jasper National Park, but the roads runs to the northern end of Jasper National Park (probably close to 100 miles further than where I turned around). While I did not get to see a glacier at Glacier National Park, I did get to see the Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefields.
In the pictures, it's hard to make out the icesheet from the ground but in reality, the difference is noticeable and its quite impressive to see the glacier, as well as how much it has receded (there are a couple of signs noting it but it is also visible to a large extent. There were apparently more signs in the past). And meanwhile, in Florida, our state government doesn't recognize climate change as a real thing.
After seeing Athabasca Glacier, I headed back down the Icefields Parkway back into Banff National Park, which yielded more impressive views.
After stopping back in Lake Louise for lunch, I headed down the Bow Valley Parkway, whcih was very nice. However, I was unable to get to Johnson Canyon, one of the main sites, since there was no parking available (lots and sides of the road were full).
I then arrived in the town of Banff, where I went to Table Mountain, went to the hot springs (since I forgot to pack a bathing suit, they did have them available for rent), and then toured Lake Minnewanka. Pictures of those places below:
I'm currently at a Starbucks in Banff, where there is reliable wifi, about to head back up to Lake Louise for the evening. It's on to Vancouver tomorrow...
Next Stop: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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