Brisbane, QLD


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

SUN PEAKS to JASPER

Last night we were at the Delta Hotel in Sun Peaks, where we had a sumptuous buffet including salmon prepared in different ways. This was followed by a presentation on the history of the fur trade and exploration of western Canada.I found it very interesting to see how courageous the pioneers were exploring by canoe along the freezing wild rivers. I won't say who nodded off.
Next morning we boarded the coach for a scenic drive through the Rockies to Jasper in Alberta......but it wasn't to be, because the smoke haze was as bad as ever. We stopped near Mt Robson for lunch. It is the highest mountain in the Rockies. Our guide pointed into the haze and said that's where it is.

This is what we should have seen.

To cheer us up, our tour guide (Valerie, who was excellent), made a detour from the itinerary and took us to see salmon spawning in Swift Creek.The creek was full of salmon.


The salmon swim for 500 miles from the Pacific Ocean to lay eggs here. The female scours a nest with her tail in the gravel and lays four thousand eggs then the male sprays the eggs with sperm. After 10 days both parents die and provide nutrients for the young. Only 200 make it back to the sea, where they fatten up for four years before they begin their torturous journey back to exactly the same place where they were born but only two make it.

 We motored on to Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Our room wasn't far from the lake with a backdrop of mountains but it was hard to see through the smoke.

However, the smoke created a different kind of beauty to the scene. Eerie like.

This is the main lodge where there are restaurants, lounges, bars and shops. We had a choice of four restaurants. The food was delicious and view lovely. The accommodation blocks were scattered around the huge property.

One of the lounges with a roaring fire, where we relaxed with new found friends from the tour.

26 comments:

  1. The lodge looks like a wonderful place to stay, that lakeside view is amazing. We have had a lot of fires down this way but fortunately the wind has kept the smoke from settling in like that.

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  2. Sorry you didn't see the mountain - wow, that photo borrowed from the web is great. But the view of the river is fantastic - very nice reflection.

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  3. How sad that you had such a foggy weather ! Looks beautiful !

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  4. Hi Diane, I scrolled and scrolled and enjoyed the trip. What a wonderful holiday you had. A completely different world to Australia. The photos are fantastic and you are a really good "raconteuse"!
    Your little Fox is such a sweety.)

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  5. That smoke was a right bugger, eh?

    I hope I don't come back as a poor salmon ...

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  6. Diane, are you strong enough to wheel your luggage with me stowed away in it? maybe you could tip a big strong mountie to help you?

    as always your photographs are amazing!

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  7. Nice to catch up with your blog now I am home from being up in QLD.
    Seems you had a lovely time away from home.
    One of my dear friends has been to Jasper in every season for a holiday..and I have received some wonderful photos from her over these past few years of Jasper and Alaska.

    Your photos are lovely as usual :)

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  8. I'm sorry you didn't get to see the mountain but my gosh what a gorgeous place, and the fog has its own kind of beauty. I love waking up in the morning and hearing nothing, absolute stillness, a cold morning with a hot cup of tea/coffee/hot chocolate in one's hands with a view across the lake. Fantastic! You've shown me another place I would love to see one day. Thanks Diane, this trip has been an extremely enjoyable and virtual tour.
    An English Girl Rambles

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  9. Ups! This is literally smoke isn't it? I thought at first it was fog until I re-read your post :(

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  10. That is so sad about he smoke... these forest fires are just terrible!! Sorry you didn't get your mountain view. But the hazy lake picture really is beautiful. It looks like fog. The lodge looks amazing!! Glad you are enjoying not only the scenery but the company!

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  11. What a gorgeous place. Too bad hazy weather spoiled the views...I've had that happen when we were in Montana. Great header shot!

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  12. Beautiful. This was so amazing about the salmon. I had hear parts of this story, but it was nice hearing the entire journey of the salmon. Amazing.

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  13. I love Canada - and your pics are wonderful. I'm a friend of Kathleen at Southern Mint Julep and she gave me the heads up to visit here - glad I stopped by.

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  14. What a gorgeous place, Diane. SO sorry about the smoke... I'm sure that your tour guide was disappointed for you... BUT--that lodge is fabulous... WOW!!!! You all saw some gorgeous areas of Canada.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  15. How disappointing the smoke haze hid the mountains, but seems like you all made the best of it. The salmon's journey is incredible; interesting to see that.

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  16. Diane, the reflection picture is stunning! I'm partial to them, you know! The size of the trees in the first picture just amazes me. Funny thing here in the swampy lower Delaware, USA. They decided the cell towers were too ugly so they gave them 'branches' and fake greenery. So now we have a couple of GIANT towers decked out like trees and they stand out like Gulliver with the Lilliputians! There isn't a real tree within hundreds of miles of here that grows that big! I enjoyed your pics of the real thing!

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  17. Glad you at least got to see that gorgeous stream with the salmon, if not the mountain. Were your eyes burning? I am thoroughly enjoying your pictures. Thank You!

    Blessings!
    CottonLady

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  18. Luckily the smoke didn't effect my eyes but I did end up with a touch of asthma but my spray helped.

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  19. did you go and scoop up those salmons?

    You must be having a great time. it is not too cold for you?

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  20. Ann: You can't eat these salmon as their bodies are all mushy and already disintegrating.

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  21. Wow, wonderful photos from your trip, Diane! I would love to visit this area someday. The trees and mountains are gorgeous. Sorry the smoke ruined your view.

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  22. fantastic photos dianne thanks for sharing your travels. kathryn

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  23. A wonderful place to stay...You should be paid to write travel...I find your travels so interesting and your upbeat personality shines through...Thank you for this..

    Lizzie

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  24. Another blogger I know was not able to see Mount Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska this summer because of rain and fog and perhaps also smoke. It does look like you made the best if it anyway and had soem wonderful accomodations and meals!

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