Jasper (2)

Just another whirlwind adventure, the kids and us going off and seeing some amazing sights. First we headed out to Athabasca Falls, which were worth the drive. I don't know how fast they were moving, but it's no wonder the rock has been carved away the way it has by them. We had to keep reminding the kids to stay on the paths and not climb the fences - and threw in the occasional, "People have died here, you know." That wasn't our first choice of tactics, but it may have been the only mildly effective one. At the bottom, Judah was feeling like Bob the Builder, so each of the kids made an inukshuk based on the examples that other people had made. Not idol worship. Creative, constructive kids.

The kids really hit the jackpot for wildlife this trip. We stopped and saw a herd of elk, and were able to see one up close later, and a parks employee let them touch an antler. That's not to mention the bear we saw, or the mountain goats, or the chipmunk, or the big horned sheep - we did pretty well!











We also braved the switchbacks up to Mount Edith Cavell to see the angel glacier. Micah desperately wanted to see a glacier, and I thought this would be a good way to see it instead of driving all the way down to the Columbia Ice Fields. The kids did really well considering.

We did have a few concerns about our van making it, since we were aware that the shocks are pretty much done for, the brake rotors are warping, and the steering needs a bunch of work. That and we were a quart low on oil and in need of an oil change. Here is a picture of where Jim & Heather and Uncle Jack && Auntie Cheryl found us at the bottom of the mountain - at first we thought we had run out of gas, especially since our gauge was reading 1/8 on a hill. I think it's the fuel pump. Surprise! Dad is on his way down to haul it back with a trailer as we speak. I feel awful. We rented a van to get home with all of our stuff. While I was getting towed and making arrangements for rental and loading the van, at least the kids got to eat lupper again and go swimming with Riley and Kyle at the Jasper Aquatic Centre. No, the van did not get us to Miette Hot Springs. Next time. Sure. At least we're in the process of selling our trailer...

- Mark