CANADIAN ROCKIES
In September we headed north to check out Banff and Jasper National Parks. Banff is about an hour and a half drive from Calgary. Then north from there is the Ice Fields Parkway which is a 4 hour drive to Jasper town in Jasper National Park. This drive is spectactular! We did a backpacking trip in Jasper into the Tonquin Valley. We also drove a little to the northwest to see Mt. Robson which is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. And finally we drove through Yoho National Park which is just over the Continental Divide from Banff. 
Lake Louise is a famous spot in Banff. And if you have the cashflow, you can stay at the Chateau along the shore. The nearby village and ski area has hotels too. 
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Lake Louise is a famous spot in Banff. And if you have the cashflow, you can stay at the Chateau along the shore. The nearby village and ski area has hotels too. 
Must have been a mountain goat in a previous life.... 
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Must have been a mountain goat in a previous life.... 
The Lake Agnes Tea House is well worth the hike to get up there 
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The Lake Agnes Tea House is well worth the hike to get up there 
Apple crumpets, biscuits, soup and tea at the Tea House! 
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Apple crumpets, biscuits, soup and tea at the Tea House!  
Moraine Lake is a world class gawking location. Bucket list worthy. 
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Moraine Lake is a world class gawking location. Bucket list worthy. 
A little play of perspective with the giant Saskatchewan Glacier on the Parker Ridge hike. 
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A little play of perspective with the giant Saskatchewan Glacier on the Parker Ridge hike.  
Checking out the quickly receeding Athabasca Glacier. Its long gone from where it was just 34 years ago. 
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Checking out the quickly receeding Athabasca Glacier. Its long gone from where it was just 34 years ago. 
But the Athabasca Glacier is still pretty huge. 
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But the Athabasca Glacier is still pretty huge. 
All that glacier melting makes for a very scenic turquoise river and falls. 
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All that glacier melting makes for a very scenic turquoise river and falls. 
A popular spot in Jasper is Spirit Island on Maligne Lake. 
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A popular spot in Jasper is Spirit Island on Maligne Lake. 
We had two separate caribou families waltz right past us on a backpacking trip into Amythest Lake in Jasper NP. Apparently we don't look anything like wolves! 
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We had two separate caribou families waltz right past us on a backpacking trip into Amythest Lake in Jasper NP. Apparently we don't look anything like wolves! 
So fuzzy to touch. 
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So fuzzy to touch. 
For sign photo geeks, this border produces no less than four signs within 200 meters! 
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For sign photo geeks, this border produces no less than four signs within 200 meters! 
Jasper NP had some really nice areas of fall colors.  
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Jasper NP had some really nice areas of fall colors.  
Must be on the park service payroll. Perched directly above the road and hamming it up for photos!  
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Must be on the park service payroll. Perched directly above the road and hamming it up for photos!  
Big storm looming. 
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Big storm looming. 
Early winter scenes. 
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Early winter scenes. 
Lots of snow overnight above 2000 meters made for good views along the aptly named Icefields Parkway. 
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Lots of snow overnight above 2000 meters made for good views along the aptly named Icefields Parkway.