Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper

Sunwapta Falls, Jasper NP

Wildlife along the road

Just amazing mountain views...glacier after glacier.

Athabasca Falls, Jasper NP

Awesome day at Lake Louise!

We went to Lake Louise in Banff, Canada today. It was very beautiful because the water is a brilliant shade of turquoise, like the prettiest sky you've ever seen. It starts clear on the edges, but as it gets deeper, the color becomes richer and richer, until it is a color like a blue raspberry snow cone. There is a hotel on the shore, where we were sheltered from the snow that was falling outside in June. 

Photo catch up

Along the way. I will try to add info later

Lake Louise from the Fairview Hike. I'd rate it higher than fair.

Ice on Lake Louise

Ski jumps at Canada Olympic Park

Cheesey roadside photos at Canada Olympic Park

Grand Tetons NP

Gibbon Falls, Yellowstone NP

Meghan and Willow rising late...as usual.

3-bear day!

Tuesday June 10: Awesome day in Banff anw Jasper NPs. Saw two black bears and one grizzly.

More photos from a real camera lster.

This one stayed well hidden

And the big Grizz!

We asked this one to pose for us.

Banff

Monday June 9: Great campsite and amazing scenery!

And we made it to Day 5!

And as I'm sure Rob and Meghan have already told you, we're in Glacier National Park. This was supposed to be a sort of homecoming for me because I did work a summer here in Glacier between my junior and senior years of college, but so far, nothing looks familiar. Beautiful, yes, but familiar, no. I guess that's what 22 years does, and with so many changes in my life in that time, I guess I should expect the same of the park. Twenty-two years, people, twenty-two. Where did that time go?

And on that note, how did it come about that we are now on this epic adventure, to Alaska and back? I'm still not sure I know. About a month ago as we were preparing, Rob said to me, "You know, I really appreciate that you are willing to take on this trip, 7000 miles, in a 25-year-old vehicle, and me with no job to return to." I responded, "When you put it that way..." But really, why wouldn't we do this trip? Meghan is the perfect age at 11 - not yet in middle school, still talking to us at least sometimes, old enough to remember the trip, not too old to resent us for taking us away from her friends. It's part of the country we've always wanted to see. My amazing office readily agreed to let me take the time off. It was time for Rob to leave Amgen. We could go through life saying, "Some day, we should..." or, we should just go. We took a leap. So far, so good. Five days in.

Day 5:
Today we drove through Glacier National Park. Sadly, we couldn't drive the full way through the whole park, because half of it was closed. The part that we saw was still very scenic. We saw a couple of waterfalls, and a beautiful river. We also saw a lake, where the water was so clear that you could see all the rocks on the bottom. We are now camping in a KOA campground, that just happens to have Wi-fi!!!