It got cold quickly and, true to form, the weather around
the Rockies is unpredictable. We rode through We rode
through a nasty hail storm which was a nippy reminder
that rough weather can happen without warning in the
mountains. The fog, a hail-covered road, and chilly air had us
thankful for heated grips and vest.
We made it to Tête Jaune Cache and, despite the rustic
style of the campsite, the quaint two-person bungalows,
hot showers, and clean accommodations had us all smiling.
A brilliant buffet meal served at the aptly named Riverside
Cafe overlooking the Fraser River was much needed and
much appreciated after the challenges of the day.
South of Jasper we visited the craggy canyons below
Athabasca Falls and the crystal clear aquamarine glacier
waters of the many lakes along the route, especially
Moraine Lake, which lies in the Valley of the Ten Peaks
at an elevation of approximately 1,884m (6,183 ft.). The
Columbia Icefields certainly were one of the high points
of the route, and one which left everyone awestruck by
the sheer beauty of the landscape. The border between
B.C. and Alberta is nothing short of exquisite. The Icefields
Parkway is an epic stretch of highway 230 km (140 miles)
in length spanning from Lake Louise, Alberta in Banff
National Park, to Jasper, Alberta. The highway parallels the
Continental Divide, providing motor and bicycle access
into the mountains. The Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls are
both accessible by road and are a photographer’s dream.
The area is host to more than 23 mammalian species
including moose, black and grizzly bears, timber wolf
and cougars. It is an adventure lover’s paradise as almost
all means of recreational activity can be enjoyed there.
Alan does offer an off-road section that parallels Icefields
Parkway, well away from tourists, but we opted for the
faster route to Banff, our final destination.
They say that the mountains speak to you, and
although we’ve been there many times, we’re still in
awe of the vistas. It was thrilling to have seen our home
province from such a new perspective. If you’d like to see
your homeland in a way you haven’t before, grab a map
and leave the highways and interstates behind to take
the roads less traveled. Take a backroad tour, stop at the
local eateries instead of the corporate chains, find a dirt
road and take it. There are no wrong turns—only new
adventures and those begin when you leave predictabil-
ity behind and reach for the unfamiliar.Ray McKenzie and Cheryl Jones are adventure
riders, writers and photographers based on
Vancouver Island, Canada. Preferring a road less
traveled, they have ventured to many countries,
some via two wheels, some by other means, with the notion
that there are no wrong turns. Recently they rode Nepal as
the locals would, bringing a different flavor to their story and
images. Cheryl is a registered nurse and Ray is a professional
photographer, and together they have embraced storytelling
on the wild side of life.Kendall and his Yamaha Super Ténéré,
tearing it up on the way to Idaho Peak.
lan pausing to reflect
on the trip at the
colorful glacier waters
70 July/August 2019 of Abraham Lake.