After a few days in Fort Nelson, we continued driving south. Our RV was having a rough time on the many hills we had to traverse on the last leg of the Alaska Highway. After overnighting in Dawson Creek, and a stop in Grande Prairie for food, we headed down the Bighorn Route towards Jasper. The road was hilly and bumpy, and we weren’t moving much. It was just too much for the RV, and we soon found out we needed a new turbo. We couldn’t get one in the middle of nowhere, so we kept driving. We ended up having to stay in the parking lot of a motel for the night cause we couldn’t make it to our campground.

The next day was less stressful, but we still had a rough time on the steep hills. We had reserved a spot at Wapiti Campground for the next night, but when I called the ranger there, she said she could fit us in for that night. The next day was supposed to be bitterly cold, and we needed a place to stay. After some discussion, we decided to take a risk and try and snag a spot at Wapiti. I’m so glad we did.

The drive into Jasper was very scenic, with the mountains rising all around us as we passed by blue-green glacial lakes.

Going into the park the mountains just got bigger and bigger.

We arrived at the campground, and it turned out they had a bunch of spots that weren’t bookable on the website! I love when that happens. The place they gave us was in a parking lot, but it was right next to a playground and had a great view of the peaks north of town.

The temperature dropped quickly, with the low around 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Our water tank froze, and since we didn’t have full hookup, we had to fill jugs at the washhouse. After washing dishes with no running water, I feel like any other combination is absolutely easy, lol. Plus, no running water means no flushing- well, at least not the flushing you’re used to.

The scenery was worth it, though. Right down a short trail was the river, which was frigid and fast-flowing. Squirrels scurried in the spruce trees that dominated the area, and the whole valley was home to much larger animals.

Our first day there, my mom and dad left for a coffee date in the town of Jasper, and I watched my little siblings. We were just chilling in the RV when our pup Spirit started barking at something outside. I went to see what is was and it turned out an elk was standing right outside!

Elk sighting! This picture is taken through one of our side windows.

He was a big bull elk, with one of the biggest racks I had ever seen. He strolled right alongside the side of the RV, at one part stopping to pose not 15 feet away from the door. It was amazing!

Leo and Emma were amazed by the sheer size of this one.

After a day or so to recover, i drove my mama and siblings into the town. We made a stop at the Information Center (Oh, excuse me. I meant Centre). There was a totem pole just across the street, turns out it was made by artisans from Haida Gwaii, which is an island off the coast of British Columbia.

An odd picture, buts it’s the only one I had!

We then drove out to Lake Annette, where we hiked around the lake. The air was chilly, and the sky was so blue. The views of Pyramid Mountain and the Clive Range reflected in the lake were stunning.

Imposing Pyramid Mountain over Lake Anette.

After we finished our hike, I drove around to Lake Edith to find the famous red chairs. They weren’t there, but we did get a great view of the mountains lit up by the setting sun.

Lake Edith, very similar to Lake Anette.

The next morning, our van wouldn’t start. Our 19-year-old, well worn & beloved white(ish) Mazda MPV whom we coined “Shirley” because, as my dad said, “Surely she’ll get us there!“, refused to go. After a day of worrying and trying different methods, Shirley responded to our efforts finally after a jumpstart from a friendly Parks Canada worker, clanking to life the next morning. Later that day, we drove past the town on our way to famed Pyramid Island.

On the way, we saw some more elk, just a few feet off of the roadway! It’s really crazy how much wildlife we’ve seen on this trip. If you ever go out into the open spaces of Canada & the USA, be prepared to see lots of animals, often much closer than you might think.

We got to Pyramid Lake, where we parked and walked along the shore. A wooden bridge spanned over the icy water to Pyramid Island, which is one of the most popular spots in Jasper.

Lots of weddings are held here, and as a matter of fact we saw some people rehearsing for an upcoming one, although they dressed for the chill in parkas and puffers.

Emma captures the gorgeous light with her camera.

After we were done exploring the island, which actually wasn’t too big, we drove around to the other end of the lake to catch the sunset. There were icicles hanging from the trees over the water, creating some interesting photo ops.

Plus I saw a muskrat! It looked like a fish, but with feet and sped through the water at an amazingly fast pace. I couldn’t get a picture cause it moved too fast, but we saw one later in Banff and I was able to capture it then.

The very next day we left our campground and drove into town to gather gifts and ssz. Before we left on the Icefields Parkway, we found the red chairs that had eluded us.

The next part of our Canadian National Parks experience was to travel the famous Icefields Parkway and explore Banff National Park. I will tell of the amazing sights we see in the next blog. Stay Tuned!

Connor

Jasper National Parks: Mountain Lakes and Elk Galore!

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