The Whistlers June 25, 2020

Late yesterday afternoon when I checked and saw that today's weather was forecasted to be ideal I then checked the Jasper Skytram situation.  There was one spot available for the early ride so I grabbed it. When I woke this morning and saw a pretty start to the day, I was excited!

The Skytram location is a hop, skip and a jump out my front door.  I can actually see the top station from my verandah.  The tram is running at 50% capacity, the rules are strict and are monitored closely.  Donning my mask, getting my temperature checked, sanitizing my hands, it was now boarding time and I was guided to where I was to stand on the tram.  I had more than enough room around me.  

Once I stepped off the skytram I aimed for the summit trail and went for it, straight up, and up and up.  I saw there was a snow slope to traverse to get to the true summit.  As I approached it and saw it was at a very low angle I began the traverse.  I was the first on the summit of The Whistlers today. Only a few others ventured this far, most stayed at the false summit.

After taking care of all the summit business, I trekked back down across the snow slope and checked out the false summit surroundings.  What a fun place to play!  From here I took the winding sightseeing trail back down to the skytram to catch the ride to the bottom.

The conditions were ideal today for riding the skytram and being on the summit of The Whistlers.  You could see forever in all directions.  Mount Robson was visible the entire time.  Clouds floated in and out creating great photo opportunities.  I said before this is a land of lakes and I could see dozens of them from on top, along with the Athabasca and Miette Rivers, the Townsite of Jasper and everything else beyond.  

This was an experience I will treasure!

Jasper Sights on a Rainy Day June 24, 2020

The weather forecast was not favourable to be user friendly for today.  It was time to pull out my skills to perform a "save the day".  No matter what, nothing was to stop me from having my coffee on the verandah and going for a short stroll along the path by the Athabasca River for sunrise.  

The mountain peaks peeked through off and on all day.  It rained, it misted, it sprinkled, it showered off and on all day.  With this weather I felt off and on all day!  It seemed to get a prettier shade of green as the day went on with all the dampness.  Even though it was dull, reflections were still afforded at the Lakes I checked out.  This is a land of lakes and I visited three of them, Pyramid, Patricia and Annette.

Th downtown Jasper stroll was quiet. Cafes seemed to be doing OK. I made an investment at one of them.  A few hours later I felt I saved the day and it was now cabin time for reading, sketching, sipping, napping.  By later evening the sky cleared and that meant verandah time, listening to the birds sing, hearing the Athabasca River run, and seeing those Whistlers once again looking all mountainy!  

Old Fort Hill Loop Jasper June 23, 2020

Here in Jasper there is a great walking/hiking trail system and lucky for me it starts out my veranda door. I picked the Old Fort Point Loop to hike which meant leaving the car behind yet adding on a couple of kilometres of walking both ways to and from the trail head.  That extra section followed the Athabasca River and the views were so nice. 

I did the loop clockwise which started through the forest with a gentle climb.  The wildflowers were at their prime and I spent a significant amount of time just being one with them.  Those famous red chairs are perched up on a wide open meadow that is carpeted with colourful flowers and the view is 360.  

I reached the high spot of the Old Fort Point Loop. From here once again the views are 360.  I could see down to the Jasper Townsite, to the Fairmount Jasper at Beauvert Lake and also across to the Skytram.  The steep downhill section from the top of the Loop is made up of a dirt path, rock stairs and then wood stairs which means a very quick descent.  

Today began having coffee on the deck as the sun came up and ended with beer on the deck as the sun set.  In between was filled with all the wonderful sights and sounds that surround this beautiful sweet town.