Hi everyone,
Robyn and I have ended our Canadian tour in the Kombi van a few weeks early and are now heading to Central America before our trip to New York. We had intended to stay in the Rockies and spend more time backcountry hiking (we had clocked over 350km at last count) but after some unseasonal hot weather in September, there was some ridiculously unseasonal cold weather at the start of October. The averages over the last few years have been a high of 10 with and low of -2. When we left it was a high of -13 and it was getting down to -20 over night. There had also been over half a metre of snow when normally you can expect a few centimetres. With those conditions aside, we tried to persevere and went on another hike, but walking through snow all day eventually lets the water through the Gore-Tex and made our feet wet. Normally that’s not a problem, but as it was so cold we would wake up to frozen shoes that don’t make for a fun morning of walking. Don’t get us wrong, we thoroughly enjoyed our 6 weeks in the van, but you can’t blame us for wanting to escape to the warmth. Current temperatures in Cancun, Mexico are a balmy 38. Ahhhhhhh.
As well as a lot of amazing hiking we have also seen all the main sites the Rockies have to offer, Lake Louise, The Columbia Icefields and the Icefields Parkway which really is one of the greatest roads we have ever seen. Our highlight would have to be Yoho National Park where we did some amazing hikes around lakes and glaciers. It was also the last place we were snow free. Here are a few photos since the last ones.
We hope you are all well and we will catch up with many of you in just over a month.
Cheers,
Glen and Robyn
One of the many gourmet dinners we whipped up in the Kombi van
On the road again…
We saw plenty of this
Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park
Breaking out of the trees on the Skyline trail, Jasper National Park
Glen hanging up the food sack for the night, Jasper National Park
Some of the typical scenery on the Skyline trail. Most of it was above the treeline, Jasper National Park
Glen on the final acent over a pass, Jasper National Park
Robyn walking along a ridge on the Skyline trail, Jasper National Park
More amazing scenery on the Skyline trail, Jasper National Park
The Tonquin Valley, Jasper National Park
Robyn and Glen at around the halfway point of our 24km day in the Tonquin Valley, Jasper National Park
A Big Horned Sheep, Jasper National Park
One of the many glaciers on view in Jasper National Park
Peyto Lake, Jasper National Park
The Iceline Trail, Yoho National Park
Jumping for joy after the first snowfall of the trip, Yoho National Park
The Iceline trail, Yoho National Park
Robyn trying to keep warm in the freezing temeratures
The Alpine Ledges trail in Lake Ohara, Yoho National Park
Lake Ohara, Yoho National Park
Lake Ohara, Yoho National Park
The amazing Alpine Ledges trail in Lake Ohara, Yoho National Park
Icicles forming in Yoho National Park
Yoho the Snowman, Yoho National Park
Fashionista Robyn toasting a marshmallow, Yoho National Park
Robyn getting out of the tent in the morning after a 30cm dump overnight, Yoho National Park
Lake Louise as seen from the Plain of 6 Glaciers trail, Banff National Park
One of the many Lakes in the Skoki Valley, Banff National Park
Right, that’s it. I’m going to Mexico! Banff National Park
More trailblazing through the snow in the Skoki Valley, Banff National Park
Morraine Lake, Banff National Park
The Upper Hot Springs. -15 outside, a balmy 39 degrees in the water. Banff National Park
Our bedroom in the Kombi Van
Back in Vancouver just in time for Thanksgiving dinner