geography lesson. He
points out Yellowhead
Pass—a section of the
Alberta–B.C. border
supposedly named after
French explorer Pierre
Bostonais, referred to as “Tête
Jaune” (yellow head) for his blonde
locks—and Mount Edith Cavell, which
honours a WWI-era British nurse
who was executed by the Germans for
smuggling injured Allied soldiers out
of Brussels. I had no idea the names
of these mountains were steeped in so
much lore.
The hike from the SkyTram’s upper
station to mountaintop is
worth the challenge. Halfway
up we’re forced to stop for a
few minutes’ break, but we do
ultimately reach the summit.
Somehow the 360-degree
view—at 2,463 metres above
sea level—is even more mag-
nificent than it was at our rest
stop just a short way down.
We can see the entire valley
stretching out before us,
including the townsite and
aquamarine Beauvert, Annette
and Edith lakes. Even while
walking back to the SkyTram,
I’m already planning a return
trip to the summit.
A little sore from the hike,
we opt for a therapeutic
plunge at Miette Hot Springs,
a natural mineral pool
operated by Canadian Hot
Skywalking above the Rockies
Springs. The water is rich
with sulphate, calcium, bicar-
bonate, magnesium and sodium, and
Our excitement builds as we arrive
has long been believed to have healing
at the Columbia Icefield, near the Sky-
properties. We find a quiet spot to
walk. The massive ice field feeds eight
soothe our aching muscles and marvel
major glaciers and straddles the conti-
at the surrounding peaks.
nental divide, meaning water here flows
in three directions—toward the Pacific,
Arctic and Atlantic oceans. It’s one of
A bit of wAlking also figures into our
those incredible Alberta places that you
final day in Jasper. Specifically, we’re
must visit at least once in your life.
headed to the Glacier Skywalk. The
We park at the Columbia Icefield
three-year-old attraction is an hour’s
Glacier Discovery Centre and hop on
drive from Jasper along the Icefields
a bus to the Skywalk. Once there, I take
Parkway. There are no gas stations
my time strolling to the actual plat-
en route, so before hitting the road we
form. It’s our final adventure of the
fill up at Esso and grab breakfast at the
weekend, and I want to make every »
local Smitty’s restaurant.
Kayaking a canyon; the local fauna (inset)
Member
Savings
show your card
at these ama
partners in
Jasper: you’ll
save enough
to cover the
cost of a tank
of gas
Total
savings:
$58.18
Jasper Raft Tours
save 15% on regular
adult rates
Two adults save $20.70
VIA Rail Canada
save 10% on tickets
Two adults save $18.80
Jasper SkyTram
save 15% on tickets
Two adults save $13.48
Canadian Rockies
Hot Springs
save 15% on fees
Two adults save $1.80
Smitty’s
save 10% on dining
Two adults save an
average of $3.40
Parks Canada
Pick up your free 2017
Parks Canada pass at
any ama centre
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