Icefield Parkway

Leaving Lake Louise I passed a group of 6 Japanese bicycle tourists. They were moving pretty slowly uphill. It was on the approach to the highest pass of the trip, Bow Summit, at 2,067m. Approaching from the South the climb was far more gradual than from the north, so it didn't feel like a difficult climb. It also felt great to be back in the mountains.

The Icefield Parkway is the name for the highway (rt. 97) which runs between Lake Louise and Jasper. It is 250km long and is lined on both sides by mountains, lakes, glaciers, and rivers. There is only one gas station on it. It also isn't a useful trucking route, so the traffic is a little lighter than Hwy 1 or Hwy 16.

The first night I stayed at Rampart Creek Campground. I swam in the Saskatchewan River, which everyone else was just looking at. I scared two families away wheen I got in the water. People seem not to like things that are out of the ordinary.

The second day I rode up to Athabasca Pass, which was a little shorter and a little steeper than Bow Summit. Near the top was the Columbia Icefield and the Athabasca Glacier. I enjoyed riding around up there.

When I got to Jasper I went to a pub and while there I met a guy who had passed me bicycling earlier. He is from Vancouver Island and is on a road trip where he drives to interesting places and then goes on 50-75km rides on an electric pedal assist bicycle. He'd been to Idaho and Montana and now the Canadian Rockies. Seems like a great way to explore! He recommendeds the Hiawatha Rail Trail.

I camped 200m from downtown Jasper on a small bluff just opposite a mountain bike track.