Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Great Parks Tour - Jasper to Jackson Hole


The Great Parks Tour started in Jasper AB and ended in Jackson Hole WY, a distance of 1,650 miles.  In between, we cycled the spine of the Rockies and visited seven national parks - four in Canada and three in the US.

The national parks in Canada were Jasper, Banff, Kootenay, and Waterton.  The three in the US were Glacier, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

In a word, the tour was extraordinary.  Our brains and senses were red-lining from the spectacular and stunning scenery.  Each national park offers its own unique features and visuals and it's hard to say which one is my favorite.  They were all great.

Outside the national parks, two areas really caught my fancy.  The high plains region around Pincher Creek in AB referred to as "Where the Mountains meet the Plains", and the Big Hole Valley in MT.  There is something soothing and sublime following meandering pavement over rolling green hills dotted with haystacks, wheat fields and forests against the backdrop of majestic mountains.

The blue line on the map below delineates the route we followed.  We used Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) Great Parks maps which were invaluable for way-finding and services.  IPhones and an IPad were helpful supplements to the maps.

The total elevation gain for the 1,650 miles was 71,300'.  Over the roughly seven weeks of the tour (7/10 - 8/29), we averaged 41 miles/day.  We camped only seven times and stayed in hostels, motels, lodges and cabins the bulk of the trip.

The participants on this tour were Jay Okada from Los Osos, Bob Anderson from Santa Rosa, Mike Broderick, Frank Gerace, Dennis Engblom, Herb Lee and myself from Sacramento.

The Tour Blog is organized in 9 entries with each covering sections of the route including getting to the ride start by train from Sacramento to Jasper.  At the end of each post, click on "older posts" to continue the tour.

You can click on any photo to view an enlargement and continue to scroll to each photo at the bottom of the page.





Sacramento to Jasper


Frank checking into his sleeper-roomette

Catching the Amtrak Coast Starlight in Sacramento at midnight for the long ride to Vancouver with an overnight stop in Seattle


Breakfast on the train


A stop at the Union Station in Portland


A view of Mt. Ranier


We spent the night at the Hostel in Seattle near the train station and stadium


Next morning, short trip to Vancouver


Approaching Vancouver  and seeing a very cool arch bridge 


Another neat bridge . . . the Skytrain in Vancouver


We had a 2 day layover in Vancouver and went sight-seeing


The False Creek Harbor


Dinner at Safe Harbor Restaurant with Jack 

I had a great reunion with Jack Klemola (right) who lives in Vancouver, my tent-mate from the Nepal Trek


Taking the Ferry across the bay to Grouse Mountain offers fantastic skyline view


Spending the day on Grouse Mountain


Many cool wood sculptures



Top of mountain is launching pad for hand-gliders


At the top of the mountain is a wind turbine with an observation room




Cool mural on base of tower


Visiting beautiful garden in Chinatown




Great timing . . . a neat street fair in Chinatown with unusual treats






Cycling legs?  Naaah!


First sighting of the Canadian Rockies

The next leg . . . taking Canadian Rail (Via) from Vancouver to Jasper


The lads in the Sky Dome


Going past Pyramid Falls


View of Mt. Robson at 12,900', the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies


Lock n Load

We unpacked and loaded the panniers on the bikes upon arriving in Jasper


Our first short ride was visiting Jasper Lodge


The Magnificent Seven ready to tackle the Rockies


Click on "Older Posts" below to continue the tour


Jasper to Lake Louise


Hoping to see some wildlife

Our first major ride was a 69 mile out and back from Jasper to Lake Maligne


Approaching Medicine Lake




Spotting a bald eagle


At Medicine Lake


The first wildlife sighting - an elk cow


Beautiful Lake Maligne, our destination and turn-around point


A great lunch with a view


The view of The Great Wall on the return trip


Totally magnificent!


Bull Elks by the road




Frank and Athabasca River

Stopping at Athabasca Falls on our way to the Glacierfields


"Conehead" Flowers


Athabasca Falls was glorious and ripping!
!




Beautiful rainbow forms next to falls






Interesting pancake rock formations below Athabasca Falls






After spending the night at a hostel at Athabasca Falls, riding Hwy 93A to the Glacierfields


Dramatic scenery along the way


First views of several glaciers


The view of the glacial field valley after cresting a 6,425' summit. 

The 2nd day's ride was the toughest of the entire tour.  A 45 mile day with 3,456' of climbing.  The last 3 miles leading up to the summit was an unrelenting 10-13% grade.

The Glacierfields Hotel lies hidden around the corner in the above pic. It seemed like we would never get there after the grueling climb to the summit and bucking stiff headwinds the last 3 miles.


From the hotel, you get good views of the glaciers


Preparing to depart Glacierfields Hotel to Saskatchuan Crossings


Over a 6,552' summit and long descent to Saskatchuan Crossings




Hwy 93A descends down a spectacular glacially carved valley


Many great waterfalls along Hwy 93A




Our hotel at Saskatchuan Crossings with dramatic views


Continuing on Hwy 93A toward Lake Louise




Stopping at lodge for a great lunch


Aquamarine lake with awesome views





Blackfoot Glacier


Taking the Bow Valley Parkway to Banff


Some interesting history . . . a monument to internment camp housing Eastern European people during WWl






Encountering molting sheep on way to Banff


Click on "Older Posts" to continue Tour