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The Two
Brothers
totem pole
locAl GeTAwAy
A Weekend Journey to Jasper
outdoor adventures in the northern alberta rockies
BY tRaCY HYatt
I’m In a wIndow seat , gazing at the
quaint houses, large and small, dotting
Wabamun Lake’s north shore. Though
I’ve driven from Edmonton to Jasper
many times, this is my first trip by train—
and from my new vantage point nothing
looks familiar. It takes longer to travel
to Jasper by VIA Rail than by car, but
the trip affords me time to read, reflect
and simply admire the changing land-
scape as I head west. The mountains are
the destination, but the journey to reach
them is equally special.
It’s an experience that I’m relishing:
The trip is a much-needed chance to
disconnect and reenergize from the
stress of my city life.
The land noticeably transitions an
hour out from Jasper townsite. Dense
forests give way to hulking Rockies
peaks. Silence falls upon our passenger
car: Everyone is looking out, wide-eyed
and speechless. We spot young mountain
goats perched on a slope and elk grazing
beside the highway.
Upon arrival, a shuttle takes me
from the train station to the 152-room
Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre.
I check into a modishly appointed suite
complete with glass desk, leather club
chair and gallery-worthy prints. I’m
impressed by the room. It’s exactly what
I expected from my online booking.
Instead of spending time comparison-
shopping on multiple sites, I booked with
AMA Travel, which guarantees the best
prices in North America on hotel rooms.
Standing on the balcony, I prepare
for the next few days. I’m utterly
relaxed, but adventure awaits—and
so does my best friend who drove out
from Edmonton a day earlier.
The Rockies aren’t the only defining
feature of Jasper’s scenery. So too is
the Athabasca River, which snakes
through the mountains from its head-
waters in the Columbia Icefield. Long
before white settlers arrived, the river
was an abundant food source for the
Stoney and Cree First Nations. It was
also an important route for explorer
David Thompson, who mapped much
of Western Canada during the late 18th
and early 19th centuries. Nowadays,
Jasper Raft Tours leads adventure
seekers through the mighty Athabasca’s
infamous rapids.
We’re booked for a late-afternoon tour
and return to the Jasper train station to
catch a ride to the river. At the station,
I snap a photo of the Two Brothers
Totem Pole, carved in 2010 by Haida
artists Jaalen and Gwaai Edenshaw. »
AMA InsIder
summer 2017
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