Day 11 April 30th Jasper

hotel main building

Today started as most of the

elk grazing

others have being bright and sunny.  

We left on our arranged coach trip at 0820 with plans to see some of the best scenery around Jasper. Soon after we left the hotel we met a group of elks grazing but we were hoping to see a black bear which the coach driver had

Lake Patricia with Mount Pyramid

seen on the way to pick us up but unfortunately he had

small red squirrel

disappeared. We carried on to frozen Lake Patricia which had Mount Pyramid as a spectacular backdrop. The lake had a small island called Pyramid Island and we were able to cross to this because the local community had built a bridge. It was an icy

Pyramid Island

crossing but we made it and wandered around the island to get better views and we saw a red squirrel performing for us in one of the trees.

Maligne Canyon

Maligne Canyon

We carried on and stopped at Maligne Canyon which we had visited before but this time it was mostly frozen but we could hear water rushing underneath the ice as it went down the gorge. The coffee/souvenir shop had not opened for the summer which was a bit disappointing as we now wanted a hot drink. We then went to Medicine Lake which was devastated by

   

bald eagle sitting on nest

a huge forest fire started

by lightening in 2016 and was closed for a time but is now recovering. Along the shore line a Bald Eagle was sitting on a nest high in a conifer tree. Another good piece of wildlife to observe..

Medicine Lake

forest fire devastation

We went from the lake to a viewing point above the Athabasca River with good, clear views of the mountains beyond. After that brief stop we made our way back to the town of Jasper and saw some deer on the side of the road. Once in Jasper we had some lunch and visited the local well-equipped laundrette. .We did a bit of shopping and then caught the shuttle bus back to the hotel where we relaxed and have reorganised as we will rejoin the train early tomorrow morning.

deer near road