RV Lifestyle Story and photos by Rex Vogel 4. A scenic drive of a lifetime Linking Lake Louise with Jasper is one of the most beautiful journeys on the planet via the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). Rated as one of the top drives in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, the Icefield Parkway is a 233-km stretch of double-lane highway winding along the Continental Divide through soaring rocky mountain peaks, icefields and vast sweeping valleys. The Icefields Parkway is dotted with more than 100 ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls, dramatic rock spires and emerald lakes set in huge valleys of thick pine and larch forests. Just as the name implies, these group of glaciers or “fields of ice” is the largest south of the Arctic Circle. They are 36,290 ha in area and 30 to 111 m in depth, and receive up to 2 m of snowfall per year. Glacier Sky Walk, opened in May 2014, is a unique experience that puts you on a glassfloored observation platform 85 m over the Sunwapta Valley.The entire experience starts with a walk along the Discovery Trail. If you are not into heights, you can still view the Sunwapta Valley from a look-out point nearby. 5. Reach new peaks at Mount Robson Provincial Park “On every side the snowy heads of mighty hills crowded round, whilst, immediately behind us, a giant among giants, and immeasurably supreme, rose Robson’s Peak.” − Milton and Cheadle, 1865 Mount Robson Provincial Park, the second-oldest park in British Columbia’s park system, is truly one of Canada’s crown jewels. The mountain for which the park is named guards the park’s western entrance. At 3,954 m, Mount Robson − the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies − towers over the lesser surrounding peaks; this is one of the finest views in the RockyMountains. Just as the early trappers, hunters and explorers felt in awe at the mountain’s magnificence, travellers today experience the same feelings. With Alberta’s Jasper National Park as its easterly neighbour, Mount Robson Provincial Park comprises a portion of one of the world’s largest blocks of protected areas. Designated as a part of the Canadian Rocky MountainsWorld Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990, Mount Robson provides everything fromdeveloped, vehicle-accessible camping to remote valleys that seldom see a human footprint. Mount Robson Provincial Park also protects the headwaters of the Fraser River. First attempted in 1907, it was not until 1913 that humans finally stood on the summit of Mount Robson. On that clear, cold day, guide Conrad Kain, W.W. Foster and A.H. McCarthy beheld a view that no person had ever seen before. 3. Immerse yourself in nature at Jasper National Park Jasper has been named one of the 30 best national parks across the globe. Outside, an online publication, has included the picturesque spot on its list of must-see destinations. Jasper is the only Canadian entry. Jasper can sometimes be overshadowed by its cousin to the south – Banff − but the park is the definition of “wild and scenic.” It’s the largest park in the Canadian Rockies. Jasper is also host to a robust population of wildlife including black and grizzly bears, elk, moose, big horn sheep and Rocky Mountain goats, making it a popular destination for travellers to explore. CSANews | SUMMER 2022 | 33
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