Today, we began the long trek through the mountains into British Columbia. 

The weather started miserably, and we were worried that it might be a dreary climb into the history of the earth. 

Even so, the mountains were awe-inspiring and breathtaking as they broke through the horizon. 

We travelled on the Yellowhead highway which was to take us through Jasper and Banff National Parks. No one should miss these places, even if they surprise you with a toll booth, even just to drive through. I begrudgingly spit out another $20, hoping it would be worth it. 

So far, $20 was doing pretty good. 

We decided to stop at the Miette Hot Springs. I mean after all, it would be cool (or hot rather) to sit inside naturally occurring wells and enjoy the immense science that mother earth has to offer. 

Apparently in the shape of a pool. 

According to the park attendant who gleefully took out cash, the water is pumped in from naturally occurring springs into these pools. We could take a solid hike and find them, or we could just stew in the filtered and chlorinated versions. 

So we stewed. And they were hot indeed. A sweltering 40°C. It was nice, despite not quite what we had expected. 

A little disappointed (although the kids enjoyed more swimming), we trekked on after a quick dip. 

Lots of amazing vantage points, beauty to be had at every corner, and even though I was driving, I was just in immense awe. Nevermind the fact that I almost ran off the side of a cliff now and again. 

After lamenting her disappointment at the lack of wildlife on this entire trip after signs promising bears, deer, elk and goats we happened upon a convoy of cars stopped on the side of the highway. 

Couldn’t really see what they were stopped for. It was weird and unsafe. 

I had to take a picture of the dangerous drivers just to prove I wasn’t lying. 

After that, Kathy said she was disappointed that there were still no bear sightings. 

Shortly after, we came across another group of stopped cars. This time, many were stopped right in the middle of the road. 

People are so rude. 

For some strange reason, Kathy was satiated and we were off to the Athabasca Glacier, to relive a memory of my childhood. 

Yes, everyone is wearing hats and coats, but my kids were in shorts and shirts. #parenting101

It was one helluva climb, not gonna lie. 

30 years ago, I was able to stand on the glacier and drink water right from the ice. Today, it was receded by kilometres. I don’t always buy into the global warming debate, but this is brutal. 

It was getting late. We spent a lot of time stopping and admiring everything nature had to offer, and we were still hours away from our goal. So we headed towards Lake Louise. 

It was dusk by the time we got there, and I finally realized that we were about 50kms in the wrong direction. (To boot, it would have cost more just to see the Lake.)

After an hour of back tracking, we drove straight on past the BC province sign to no fanfare. Another 10km of back tracking so that we could get the obligatory picture. 

Another 4 hours of driving, no accommodations available anywhere, we ended up stopping and attempting sleep at a roadside rest stop. 

Notes:

1. Nature is amazing. 
2. There is a lot of it. 
3. Kathy isn’t afraid of bears. Even as she got a little closer than she should have. 
4. People are dumb. Most were pulled over with hazards on, but many stopped right in the centre of the road and blocked others from seeing or driving. 
5. Glaciers are definitely receding at an alarming rate. 
6. Mountains are beautiful and distracting.
7. “Last Resort” gas stations are scammers.