I won’t lie, there are pros and cons to visiting Canada so early in the season:
Cons.
1. It can be very cold. Minus 2°C last night. And it’s just started snowing while we have our cornflakes. But that’s what campfires were invented for and wearing 2 pairs of pyjamas and hats and socks in bed isn’t too much of a hardship.
2. Some of the campsites are closed. But that’s fine, the ones that are open are half empty.
3. It’s the culmination of the football season at home and the 8 hour time difference messes with my head.
Pros.
1. No crowds. We drive for miles and don’t see another vehicle. We enjoyed a couple of hikes yesterday and didn’t see a soul.
2. The winter landscapes are stunning (it’s early May, but in at these elevations in Jasper National Park that still means it’s winter).
3. Stuff is cheaper. Most campsites have high and low season pricing and 5 months into the year it’s still low season.
4. No mosquitoes.
5. We’re not at work!
Another long drive south takes us across the border to the province of Alberta. We’re amongst the big stuff now – the Canadian Rockies. After 500 miles behind the wheel it’s time to drop the anchor so we book into the only campsite in the park for 4 days.
On the journey down we encounter no fewer than 9 bears by the roadside (I know this because Wend keeps a tally).
We particularly like this fella’s attitude. He looks up, yawns then does a big poo right in front of us. Good lad.
Jasper lives up to our expectations. Huge and dramatic. And although many of the hiking trails are impassable there’s loads of it still accessible.
Most of the lakes are frozen. Here’s me proving that Jesus doesn’t have the monopoly on miracles – I’m walking on water.
Frozen lakes are one thing, but frozen rivers? That’s how cold it is here.
The waterfalls have been switched off for the winter too.
Not that the resident elks seem to mind.
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