Since I have gone back on the road I do not enjoy the benefits of a government job any longer.....one such benefit is the ample supply of off time I used to get. To over come this I ran and extra trip two weeks ago to allow me to take a trip off last week and will run an extra this week to cover the one I bailed on this week.....all in all I was able to wrangle a full week off.
Starting last Thursday the family and I dropped the hound at the kennel and off we went to the interior (Schuswap) to be exact. This was merely a stop over point for one night to give us a bit of a break.
The following morning we set out to Calgary with a bit of a detour. My daughter had never been east of the Schuswap before and I had never been to the Columbia Ice Fields since 1967 (shut up). Our first stop was near Craigellachie which is the location of where the eastern met the western legs of the national railway.....quite the project I would say.
From there the trek through Rogers pass, lots of rock and ice but not many animules. After a brief stop in Golden BC we started east again and then north to the Ice fields. Outstanding, awesome, amazing.....you get it. From the second we crossed the gate onto the parkway the scenery was at a whole new level. I am huge on the ocean, love the mountains but the parkway is an astounding drive.
From the emerald water of Lake Hector to the hiking paths near the Bow, From the view of the Crowfoot Glacier (missing a toe) to the climb to immense Athabasca Glacier our drive was one jaw dropper after another. Sadly the climate is slowly eating away at the Glaciers and one day they will be gone. I am thankful we were able to make the trek.
I was at the Ice Fields in 1967.....again (shut up) and since then the glacier has moved (shrunk) about 1500 meters. It was quite a climb to get there from the terminal moraine (the original starting point) about 2000 meter on a 15 or so degree climb. Mrs, even with the arthritis and cane found it in herself to get all the way up and touch the glacier. We even went beyond the safety line to touch it.....I mean all that work....you have to touch it. On the way down we grabbed a water bottle and enjoyed a drink of the glaciers run off. Unbelievably tasty.
So back down we went....we only had time to see half the parkway as our main focus of the trip was to get to Calgary for my nephews wedding reception. Next year we will work from the top down as I still have fond memories of Jasper and south to Angel Glacier.
Off to the city of cows we went. Visited for an hour or two and were bagged to off to bed we went. Saturday morning went to the Calgary zoo and then to my nephew's for a bbq. Great party, lots of good food, drink and company.
Sunday back to the Schuswap we went for another family gathering. I actually had time to play on the jet ski....crazy thing does 105 k/hour with me on it....it is insane. First time out this year so needless to say my docking skills were not up to par and I let the dock win this one.
Then to home....boring drive through the Coq with only water bombers to keep us company. We noticed a new fire burning just south of Merritt and it looked fairly small at the time....it is now over 2000 hectares. Sad really.
So that is it....some business today and back to work tomorrow. Oh well....time to begin planning the next adventure.
Later
