Day 22, September 3

Day 22, September 3

Locations: Bow Valley Parkway; David Thompson Highway; Mt. Robson

Miles driven: 485

Click map to enlarge

<< Day 21 of 44 | Home | Day 23 of 44 >>

I set the alarm for 5:30 and I must've snoozed it because I didn't recall hearing it (saying I’m a deep sleeper is a vast understatement), but I regained consciousness around 7:45 and eventually got up at 8:00. It wasn't a bad thing that I missed the alarm because there was heavy overcast with low clouds with about a half-mile visibility. I was getting sick of this weather! It had been five days of this stuff and I was ready for some blue sky and sun. Perhaps I've mentioned that already!

I thought I'd stop by the Sawback prescribed burn area on the Bow Valley Parkway since I didn’t make it there last night. As I got to Hillsdale Meadows (along the Bow Valley Parkway), I saw a patch of blue sky covered by a thin cloud layer. I was gradually able to see more blue sky and some cumulous clouds above, so I figured I was seeing just a morning fog layer that was slow to burn off and figured it would likely be a pretty good day after all. I got to the Sawback burn area and circled around a couple times to see if I could see anything worth shooting and finally parked on the narrow shoulder, but mostly in the ditch. I put on my boots as I was getting prepared to walk through the wet forest floor a bit. By this time, the sun was shining through and I was waiting for cloudy diffused light. Shortly afterwards, some yahoo in a rental RV stops a little ways behind me in the middle of the lane, undoubtedly thinking that I was stopped for wildlife. I get sick of this so I pulled ahead to the next pullout just up the road a little ways to see what would transpire, but I was also hoping this guy would see there was nothing to be seen and hoped they'd leave me alone, and maybe I could walk the forest a bit (I didn't need many other people stopping to follow suit). That was not to be. After it was said and done, this guy (or was it my fault?) had stopped about 20 others of his kind while he was parked, not to mention some congestion for the traffic going the other way. It never fails: if one car is stopped, the next one has to pull over to see what's going on. For crying out loud, there were only trees standing there, people! I had enough of this and thought I'd head for Hector Lake or someplace.

I stopped in Lake Louise and got two bags of ice ($3 each) and fueled up ($1.01/liter the first time I fueled up here, but was 1.17 now, as was Jasper), then headed north on the Icefields Parkway just waiting for the clouds to clear. It was still predominantly heavy overcast with a few patches of blue. I pulled into the first Hector Lake pullout (empty) that overlooks the distant Hector Lake, and what do you know, not even a minute later, four more cars pull up, and shortly after, it was a full mall parking lot. At this point, I feel like a sticky magnet. GET AWAY FROM ME, PEOPLE! GO AWAY! I know it's a nice overlook, but it's stopped vehicles that always attract more attention. I know I shouldn’t let this get to me and it is a national park after all where there is always going to be this behavior. I stayed here for a bit then ventured further up the road.

I stopped by the Mosquito Creek Campground and walked the stream for a bit and took some snaps at 12:25 as it started to rain. Just more of the same fun weather! I then stopped at Bow Lake and scouted for possible sunrise compositions (if there was ever another sunrise, that is) along the shore. I left here around 1:00.

I drove to Upper Waterfowl Lake and took the short walk down the hill to it for the first time and also scouted this area out for potential sunrise shots. I figured there are better options elsewhere for good light, so I'd shoot here mid-morning if given the chance. I left here at 2:05 and headed further north.

I figured I'd check out the David Thompson Highway which heads east from Saskatchewan Crossing. A half-mile into Banff from the eastern gate along the David Thompson Highway (about 1-2 miles from Saskatchewan Crossing) there is a side road that takes off to the north and enters a big excavated lot with a few large gravel piles. I would assume this area would not be patrolled should one try to camp here. However, a little bit further outside of the park, near Wildhorse Creek and near Whirlpool Point, there are a few roads that take off on either side that would offer premium camping spots. This area is in the Kootenay-Cline Provincial Park that is part of the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve, which should mean free camping (locals can correct me if I’m wrong). The river is right there and is next to some great sunset spots to shoot. I never did get enough sunset opportunities to shoot here on this trip, but it would rank high on my list to try. Next time, for sure. Traveling further down the highway, Abraham Lake came into view as the road crests a hill above it, and I was blown away! This had been a tremendous mountain drive to this point, but the reservoir was the icing on the cake. The water was an incredible blue-emerald color, but it had a slightly different hue than the other bodies of water in the area. I made a couple of stops at different points along the shore to take some snaps and enjoy the view.

I ended up going six miles east of Nordegg just to see what was beyond the next foothill and I wanted to get a view of the plains if possible. There was always one more hill and I couldn't have been too far from getting out of them, but I decided to head back and spend my time back in the mountains. It was 4:10 as I turned around. It was mostly clear over here, but there remained a big gray front just hanging over the mountains of Banff and Jasper. Crazy! I know mountains create their own weather, but this has been ridiculous!

I arrived back at Saskatchewan Crossing at 5:05, then headed north into Jasper. There was a pocket of blue sky above the crossing most of the afternoon, but it was solid gray to the north and south. I was wanting to shoot Medicine Lake tonight, but if there looked like there could be some sort of clearing off to the west, I would probably try for Mt. Robson again. I figured I’d be staying at the Kerkeslin Campground once again.

I fueled up in Jasper and left there at 6:51. I headed over to Robson as there was some sun shining in that direction. I figured the top of the mountain would be covered, but I was hoping that a section of the mountain would light up. I got over to the Robson River Campground area at 7:41 and was at Robson Shadows Campground at 7:45 (60 miles from Jasper), and indeed the upper half of Robson was clouded over. I kept heading west as there was some light in the sky in that direction and I wanted to see how much of an opening there was and if the sun would be able to shine on Robson. From Tete Jaune Cache at the intersection of Highways 16 and 5, I went about five miles north on 16 in the direction of Prince George and the ridge off to the west was getting pretty gold from the small opening above the horizon. I was hoping the sun might have a chance to sneak through just before it were to set, so I headed back over towards Robson. The base of it was now covered by clouds, so I can forget about any aspirations I had. Some light was now getting through, but it was heavily filtered by all the clouds. Oh well, I’ll just try this another time.

I started back towards Jasper at 8:09. Just before Moose Lake after I crested Yellowhead Pass, there was a rather wonderful sunset off to the east over Jasper area with great color. Of course! Who knows if there was any alpenglow on the peaks along with the lit clouds over in this direction, but I should've stayed over here. Hind sight, eh? Blah, blah! If there's a great sunset to be shot, you can bet I'll be nowhere near it! I did take a snap of the fading event as I was driving. I was very much hoping that I didn't miss any monumental events over at Medicine or Maligne Lakes. It would of made me sick if I had. I’ll try again tomorrow.

At 8:42, just as I was entering Jasper at the border, black bear #7 of the trip was chomping on some greens off to the side of the road, and though I passed by at 60 MPH, I still got a good look at its face. I got back to the Kerkeslin Campground around 9:30.

8:16 AM — The oft-used Overflow Campground a couple miles south of Lake Louise