Travels with haRVy

Posted by: sunnyharvy | June 17, 2015

Community Carved By Success

We just happened to pass through Chetwynd, BC in time for their biggest annual event – the International Chainsaw Carving Championship. Over time (this was the 11th annual) this event has given the citizens of this small town something to boast about. “Community Carved by Success” is even their town slogan. Nearly 150 carved sculptures are permanently displayed around town with new ones added every year after each competition.

As you can see there are many different styles.

Twelve expert carvers competed this year, coming from as far away as Japan, Australia, and Connecticut, plus British Columbia and Alaska. Each spent three and a half days carving one large masterpiece.

This was one of our favorites. It placed second in the final judging.

Here are a few others. Pretty amazing stuff, eh?

Judging the eventual winner.

On Sunday afternoon each competitor carved what they could in 90 minutes from a single round of cedar. These pieces were all auctioned off to an eager crowd.

Tools of the trade.

Gentlemen, start your engines… er, saws.

What some created in 90 minutes.

These fellows were seen in the parking lot.

Almost forgot to mention that we camped overnight right at the event site. And, it was all FREE! A fun time indeed.

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Posted in British Columbia, Canada

Posted by: sunnyharvy | June 16, 2015

Making Tracks Towards Alaska

Our next stop was at Robson Provincial Park. Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, towers over the lesser surrounding peaks. It is rare to see the absolute peak, but we almost did as shown above (from the Visitor Center) and below (from our campground).

And one more from the highway.

With our expectations for this area of the Canadian Rockies met and exceeded, we are ready and anxious to get moving towards Alaska.

Lots of work went into constructing these stairways and ramps at Rearguard Falls…

So visitors can get this close to the action (no telephoto used). The obvious power of the water was amazing to feel!

Free campsite on the shore of LaSalle Lake. We were only ones there.

We scored another free campsite the next night at Kerry Lake. However, we weren’t so lucky inasmuch as we didn’t get a waterside site and there were several other campers. Can’t complain about the price though and it was quiet. The area did include some strange artifacts as shown in the photos below.

I’d like to share a bit about our lunch stop in McBride, BC at their heritage Railway Station. Until 1970 this town had no highway access so all people, supplies, and other goods arrived by rail. The town’s motto is “A Town on Track.” The old station has been restored and converted to serve several purposes: Visitor Info Center, Art Gallery, and the Beanery Cafe. The former baggage room contains a rather extensive model train display.

While all that was interesting, the people we met are what made the stop memorable. The slightly cantankerous middle-aged female owner/cook, the young lady who cheerfully handled everything else in the cafe, Edgar, their aged former rancher and 2 pm daily guest, who arrived right on time for his tea and cookie, the gallery attendant, and the two characters who ran the model trains for us. It all added up to a nice dose of small-town culture.

Bijoux Falls

Lunch view the next day.

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Posted in British Columbia, Canada, Uncategorized

Posted by: sunnyharvy | June 13, 2015

Jasper is Just Right

Took this photo from haRVy as we passed by Medicine Lake. Adorable, eh?

We found Banff a bit too big and busy and Lake Louise too small and ordinary, but Jasper, Alberta felt just right!

This laid-back little town is just off the main highway, so loud trucks aren’t constantly barreling down Main Street. We have found that a great detraction in several towns that would otherwise be fun to visit. A pleasant, albeit huge, wooded campground is within easy biking distance. A couple decent grocery stores, health food store, gleaming laundromat with Wi-Fi, very helpful visitor center, and several nice reasonably priced eating establishments all served our needs well.

Fantastic weather made our outings in the area most enjoyable. A beautiful 44 km drive brought us to Maligne Lake where we boarded a boat for a tour out to Spirit Island and back. The crew said we picked the most beautiful day of the season so far.

Spirit Island

We did a bit of hiking around the lake after the boat tour and before taking off for a hike up and down the trails in Maligne Canyon. There we viewed multiple amazing waterfalls and deep canyon views.

We also visited the idyllic Jasper Park Lodge where I took the photo below from lounge chairs on the shore. The feeling here is extremely peaceful and relaxing. We vowed to return someday when we are much older and happy to just sit around in the beautiful setting. If we can afford it, we will do a “Grand Lodge Tour” of the Pacific Northwest.

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Posted in Alberta, Canada, Uncategorized

Posted by: sunnyharvy | June 10, 2015

The Incredible Icefields Parkway

The 143 mile Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93N) is named for the 100 glaciers that line its western side. The road traces the Continental Divide and wildlife habitat between Lake Louise and Jasper in Alberta, Canada. It is considered one of the world’s most scenic drives offering access to a vast wilderness of pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers and broad sweeping valleys. It did not disappoint us!

This view of Peyto Lake was worth the hike. Panoramic above may be clicked to view larger.

Panoramic of Bow Lake, one of numerous extremely scenic stops along the road. We had lunch here.

Bridal Veil Falls

Windshield shot

The scrapes on this rock were made by the glacier as it moved down the valley.

Sunwapta Falls

Love the skies!

Athabasca Falls

The water once flowed through where you can now hike.

Beautiful cow elk enjoying dinner outside haRVy’s window at Whistler’s Campground in Jasper, AB.

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Posted in Alberta, Canada

Posted by: sunnyharvy | June 9, 2015

Yoho!

When I hear the name of Yoho National Park, I immediately hear the song from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, but that is SO wrong! Yoho is a Cree expression of awe and wonder. Here in the shadow of the Great Divide are the secrets of ancient ocean life, the power of ice and water, and the stories of plants and animals that continue to evolve today.

Many years ago I took the train across Canada. I remember going through the spiral tunnels and watching the tail end of the train enter the tunnel as our end, the beginning, was coming out the other. Al and I got to watch a freight train do the same thing from the Spiral Tunnels viewing area along the highway.

Emerald Lake

Natural Bridge

View from our site at Kicking Horse Campground.

Morning view from bed in opposite direction.

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Posted in Alberta, British Columbia, Canada

Posted by: sunnyharvy | June 9, 2015

Canada’s Alpine Adventure

Welcome to Canada’s Alpine Adventure. For over 125 years, Banff National Park has provided visitors with a healthy combination of unspoiled wilderness, modern amenities and opportunities for active exploration. With such a breathtaking landscape, it’s no surprise that this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been nominated time and again as a “must-see” destination for travelers around the world.

OK, the verbiage above was stolen from a tourism website, but I could not have said it better myself.