This is the 12 June 2002 edition of this page
Chapter Six
JASPER & WHISTLER MOUNTAIN
9 August 1995
Havng a PRE-BREAKFAST STROLL by the Athabasca River outside my chalet just South
of JASPER, I descended the river-bank and saw a ground-squirrel scurrying across my path.
Higher up the bank, another was squeaking. As I wandered along the beach between the river
and the forest, I pondered on the probability of meeting a 'GRIZZLY'.
After that I returned via a section of a 'wooded bank' usefully labelled as a 'TRAIL'. Back at
my chalet, I wrote up more of these notes and prepared for a walk to get breakfast and enquire
about the time of this morning's sightseeing.(Anyway, I would be 'doing my own thing' today!!)
I tried a 'pancake breakfast' at the restaurant (at the JASPER HOUSE BUNGALOWS) - and I found
mine VERY filling indeed, especially with the Maple Syrup, coffees, raspberry jam, orange marmalade
and so on! Then it was on the coach to catch the "JASPER TRAMWAY" (a cable-car) up to
near the summit of WHISTLER MOUNTAIN.
I took many photographs on the mountain, and, at about 8000 feet, the high altitude made air a bit
scarce and the temperature had a nice coolness. Wandering around near the top, I saw NO Whistlers
(the little animal that gives the mountain its name) but there were photos of the little critter on plinths
to get the feel of the place. It was quite relaxing at that altitude, but since I'd recently been affected
by poor health, I didn't PUSH too hard!!
Catching the cable-car down was quite an experience as they could close the 'catch' properly
for our safety on the descent. After some while, we were OK, and I took several photos on our
descent to the handily placed refreshment stall, where I purchased a Cheeseburger hoping to
finish it in time before the others descended. Fortunately, there was PLENTY of time - as the others, too,
had problems with their cable-cars!! [I heard, within a twelve-month period of my return, of the
tragic deaths when one of these cable-cars, on this mountain, crashed to the ground from a GREAT
height! Close, that one!]
From there, our coach went to JASPER before each of us went our own separate ways. I did some shopping
(for my little bungalow there) and some photography and generally looked around, exploring, the JASPER
community. Our coach returned each of us to the 'bungalows'. Consuming my own refreshments prior to
some photography about the bungalow (chalet), I followed that up with an hour and a quarter WALK along
the ATHABASCA RIVER upstream of the chalet-village. Only four other people were near the path - and
they were few and far between!! After a fair distance - still only less than 5 feet above the river, I changed
to a better path at 10-15 feet above the river. That was far better - and I took many photos all the way
along and across the river. It was an idyllic scenery - the sort I had only dreamed about before. Such solitude
is hard to find - but I found it there!! This was absolutely magnificent, great - and so soul enlightening!!!
Just the mini-roars of the lesser-rapids on the river and the relatively noisy dragon-flies clashing with each-others
wings (carelessly or on purpose?) made it lovely and peaceful and "back to nature"! I still had to keep a watch-out for
'grizzlies' and other bears, elks, deers, moose etc etc. At one stage I thought that I heard a 'rattler' coming towards
me, groundwards (the sound appearing to emanate from a tree [or near it!]). As the path at 10ft - 15 ft above the
water began to degenerate, I was forced up the bank to the 25-30ft level.
When up at that level, I heard a helicopter's sound, so scanned my eyes skywards through a gap in the
trees. There was NO chopper there, but right down BELOW me (skimming the river) - this craft
moved in the downstream direction - and I realised that I would have been SO much closer to it had
I NOT, a few seconds previously, ascended the bank!
As it was, I couldn't see by its markings whether it was Police, Military or 'Commercial for Tourists'! All
I CAN say is that it has some YELLOW on it!! Campers with their RVs, somewhat further from the
river than my path, also took an obvious interest in this 'whirlybird'. From THEIR point was where the
'upstream' component of my 'upstream' expedition ended - before I took a slower, more relaxed downstream
walk back along the same bank of the ATHABASCA to the JASPER HOUSE bungalows which forms my
current base. Many photos were taken in this marvellous scenery.
There, I partook from my store of food, relaxed, did some writing and prepared for the DOWNSTREAM
leg towards JASPER. I started this section at 4.00pm, following the riverside TRAIL in the JASPER direction.
Again, I took many photos on this 'leg', worrying LESS about possible BEAR-SIGHTINGS!! I only met
one guy on the 6-mile Phase2 after my eventful Phase1. Phase2 took me from MY bungalow to Jasper, later to
an ALPINE Village, then via a raised trail, then BACK! With the exception of paths close to the Alpine Village
in Jasper, where I passed various small groups of people going in the opposite direction, very few people were
about!
On this Phase2, I saw more rafts on the Athabasca 'mini-rapids' than I had done on the first leg. I had very many
STOPS for pure SCENIC joy, some for photos, some not. This place is 'heaven' for me. Squirrels appeared on the
trees, on the ground, on ALL legs of the journey, but the most special 'tree-activity' for me was on the way back - nearer my own bungalow
(only about 200 metres to go!). I finished Phase2 at about 6.20pm after my own PERSONAL all-day
trail covering only about 10 miles. TEN MILES of beautiful views, photos etc, along the ATHABASCA!!
Having arrived back at my cabin (overlooking the banks of the ATHABASCA), I partook of some light
refreshments - including cheese, biscuits and some fizzy drinks. This led into my watching of the World
Athletics Championships (from Gothenburg) on TV (Channel 5) - followed by the UK Athletics, which
was difficult with its CANADIAN BIAS!! (Or rather, the lack of UK emphasis!)
Later, back on Channel 3 for the Canadian Tourist Information, I revised quite a bit about Glaciers, plants,
animals etc.. It contained much good educational stuff - about Hanging Valleys, cirques and lateral
moraine etc - just like 'school'!
Then, on channel 5, there were discussions about 'freedom of speech', the INTERNET, censorship at
school and at home - and more! World-wide, it was concluded, single countries couldn't censor areas
as other countries could survive it! In fact, NEED the information. The Canadian Government was
working on BILLS to stop HATE ITEMS on the Internet. All that took me up to my chosen bed-time
of 10.56pm this evening!
Let's return to Canadian index for reorientation.
or advance to Next chapter (i.e No 7)
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