Saturday, August 7, 2010

The Amazing Canadian Parks

Athabasca Falls Rainbow
Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Including Waterton Lake, Banff and Jasper National Parks we spent 8 wonderful days photographing amazing scenery. Though we took many nice pictures, these are just a few of our favorites. You may have also wondered if I still took color images. With the interesting colors of the glacier fed lakes the scenes cried out to be color. So.... enjoy to colors. Carol's picture of the rainbow at Athabasca Falls is my favorite of the the Canadian collection. This picture and the others are all located along the 288KM (we are in Canada) Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper or just off the side roads. This is probably this most breath taking drive in North America.

Athabasca Glacier
Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

We did the drive in both directions. On the way south we stopped at the Icefield Center and took the tour in a specialized big wheeled ice crawler. While standing on glacier Carol took the picture above.

Spirit Island
Maligne Lake, Jasper Nation Park, Alberta, Canada

While camping in Jasper we took a side trip to Maligne (pronounced Maleen) Lake and then took a boat ride to the other end to take pictures of Spirit Island. The island is one of the most popular photo targets in the park for good reason. The water color is the result of glacier dust which is fine powder silt that comes with the streams of glacier melt that feed the lake. Very special.


Bow Lake Evening
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada


South bound we made our second visit to Bow Lake. We found the soft light of the late afternoon painting the scene with pastels above.


Lake Louise Glacial Stream
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada


Before leaving the parks we spent two nights at Lake Louise Campground. We visited the lake and arrived close by the canoe concession. So.... off we went. An hour's paddle to the other end of the lake gave us the scene above. Definitely worth the paddle.


Flowers at Lake Louise
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

After our paddle we had lunch at the Fairmont Chatuau Lake Louise Hotel and continued to enjoy the view. Carol stepped out into their garden to refine the view from our table.

Today we are in Calgary catching up laundry and food shopping to start our trip home. This will be our last posting for this trip. In a month or so I will have a more extensive gallery up on our main website and will send out an email. Thanks for traveling with us on this special photo safari.

Colby