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Skiers visiting in winter will certainly want to make
trip to Marmot Basin, a popular ski resort south of Jasper on 93A. In summer, however, it looks much
same as any other deserted ski field, except for
breathtaking scenery.
One of
final stops before
road rejoins
main highway is
Athabasca Falls. A raging torrent in spring,
fierce waters tumble and crash over hundreds of smoothed boulders. The adventurouss can explore further up
river, but wear shoes with a good grip.
When
time comes to leave Jasper, there are two major routes. Those who arrived by train can continue their journey either east to Edmonton and on across
Canadian plains, or west to Vancouver. This route takes you on one of
most spectacular train journeys in
world, with incredible scenery in every direction.
For those travelling by car, allow plenty of time to explore
230km Icefields Parkway which connects Jasper to Banff, with a slight detour to Lake Louise. The road follows a valley through
Eastern Mountain Ranges, and offers spectacular scenery and plenty of wildlife. By
end of
day you'll probably have a stiff neck from craning upwards to see
view.
The Sunwapta Falls are set in chunky terraces of rock, and it's worth taking a short stroll to
viewing platform. Peyto Lake is a beautiful glacial lake, but should only be visited when
snow clears, otherwise
gentle uphill stroll can become a mammoth battle through waist high snow drifts.
Another beautiful stop is
Tangle Falls. Intrepid visitors can do some exploring here, rewarded by a close up look at
rushing waters. The best known stop, however, is Athabasca Glacier. This glacier has been steadily retreating for years, and there are date markers so you can see
gradual regression. It is possible to take a truck ride on
ice, or you can simply walk from
car park. Be warned -
weather can change very rapidly during your visit, so be prepared.
The Weeping Wall is particularly interesting after or during rain, with thousands of tiny waterfalls pouring down its rough faces. And for those nature lovers with a penchant for moose, try visiting Waterfowl Lake at either end of
day. It's home to a number of these huge creatures.
The Icefields Parkway continues on to Lake Louise,
magnificent setting for scenes in
movie "The Bodyguard". Finally
road reaches Banff, leaving
peace and quiet of
wilder Jasper behind for good.
Exploring
Canadian Rockies is a must for lovers of rugged, mountain scenery. For those who want to experience
Rockies and its wildlife as closely as possible to how it would have been centuries ago, Jasper is
perfect base. The Rockies are waiting for you.
