Alberta preconceptions get zapped

4 – 30 August 2014 We enter the lowlands and exit the highlands

Must admit my first thoughts of Alberta usually include oil and cowboy boots with a sprinkling of livestock and grain. There’s lots of all of this but the spectacular bits are on the western edge.

We were lucky enough to be able to visit with both family and friends in Edmonton Leduc and Lacombe. Those quiet highlights will be told but first I have to work a few photos of Banff and Jasper National Parks features into a wobbly little narrative. So unless otherwise advised you can assume the following takes place in the National Parks.

Icefields Parkway 27 August 2014

Travel east from Rocky Mountain House on Highway 11 and hang a right on the Icefields Parkway. You will be the only short object.

Looking south from a climbing traverse

Glacial runoff getting organized and heading south

Great road, wonderful drop-offs with a view for miles (OK maybe she who is not a big fan of drop-offs would argue the use of the word “wonderful”).

OK Norene you can look out the window now - we're at the bottom

Tangle Creek getting an elevation adjustment

If you have time to look at even more photos click here for a short slideshow.

At Larry and Cathy’s suggestion and in their company we headed north to Sunwapta Falls. Really scenic – especially the part where I got past the safety fence for close-ups. Got yelled at. Told her I was sorry (sort of). You know who her was.

Looks like this:

And this 

 And this

OK this is the flat part after the falls

There are  more pictures. Slideshow? Yep.

And on the way back we stopped to take a walk out in thin air at the Glacier Skywalk. I expect this episode has tuckered you out so go take a nap and I’ll tell you about the Skywalk adventure in the next entry. Wait a second – are you already napping?