Canadian Rockies

On the way home I decided to backtrack down the Cassiar Highway in Northwest British Columbia, Canada.  The other way home is to take the Alaska Highway.   The Alaska Highway, while a much better road east of Watson Lake isn't particularly scenic compared to the Cassiar.  The exception being the Laird Hot Springs which I regretted missing.  Seeing the Salmon Glacier made up for that.

My previous two drives along the Cassiar were in the spring.  Much of the 20 mile gravel road from Hyder Alaska to the glacier viewpoint is snowbound.  But not in August.  I was blown away when I arrived at the viewpoint.  Two years ago I could only see the foot of the glacier off to the left and this year I didn't even make it that far in the spring.  The only drawback was the flies at the viewpoint.  They didn't bite as much as get into every exposed part of you body.  Needless to say I didn't stay long.  

Unfortnately, I arrive in the early evening.  The above picture is looking out towards the west with the sun just above the center of the picture.  Even with a polarizing filter it was hard not to have picture wash out.  I thought about coming back in the morning, a really dedicated photographer would have, but it's was over a 2 hour motorcycle ride from where I was camp so I oped not to come back.

Lucky for me, probably the most direct route home involves a drive down Canada's Ice Field Highway through the Rockies.  That is a truly spectacular road and should be on everyone's Bucket List.  I think it is for a lot of people in Europe.  Jasper at the north end of the highway has more Europeans in it than North American's during the tourist season.

I took two hikes while in the area.  The above picture was taken partway up to a ridge near Mt Edith Cavell. It is one of the more popular hikes in the Jasper area even thought it is a workout getting to the ridge.

After a couple of days I headed south along the Ice Fields Highway.  This is just one of the many views from the road.

Most of the trails leading off from the highway have rather large highway signs showing the trailheads.  Beauty Creek is one of the exceptions.  The trailhead is right next to the highway but is marked only with a small, 5x8 inch hiking trail sign.  The two times I've hiked  this trail I've only come across one other couple each time in spite of the trail starting next to a very busy highway loaded with tourist.

  

There are several waterfalls along the trail, some you can't see because they are down inside deep slot canyons.  

The trail, while not long, is pretty spectacular.  Two years ago I asked why the park service didn't mark the trail better.  The answer was something along the lines of  they "didn't want to spoil it".  

I was hoping to stay at this lake to hike and kayak but the campground on the lake was full.  In fact as I continued to head south, every campground I came to was full, even though it was a Friday.  What I realized later was that it was a Canadian Holiday Weekend.  Even all the campgrounds south of the boarder were full.  I think every Canadian in Alberta and BC were out camping.  I hadn't planed on an 8 hour drive, but ended up stopping in my driveway at Rose Lake.

And so my 2013 Alaska trip ends.  Will I go back?  Most definitely, but I think I will wait a little longer than two years before going back.  What will be my next big trip?  Other than what is turning out to be my annual trip south in winter, I think I'd like to go up the east coast of Canada next, maybe late summer and fall of 2014.  Who knows?