The Canadian Rockies: Banff, Jasper, and The Icefields Parkway - Season 10 (2023) Episode 21

we've always been told that a visit to the Canadian Rockies is a must during any trip to Alaska so that's what we're doing today like Luis Moraine Lake and then the icefields parkway as we slowly make our way to the 49th state [Music] wherever I want to be because I'm free in my RV [Music] foreign [Music] here we are arriving at Lake Louise in Alberta it is a little smoky but hopefully it'll be better tomorrow one can only hope right we're staying at the parks Canada Campground here which has two sections one for tents pop-ups and other soft sided Vehicles surrounded by electric fence and another one for hard sided RVs like us and the reason for that is we are in bare country here and they make sure you're aware of that it is a pretty large Campground only electric at the site but there's a portable water and dump station all sides are double I think this is ours but I think it would be better if we come in from the other side so our door faces our picnic table Yep this is it [Music] we are so excited to be here we've been hearing about Banff National Park for such a long time this by the way the Bow River the same one we saw in Calgary thank you very Swift Current beautiful out here this video is sponsored by rvmattress.com by Brooklyn Bedding and let me tell you we've now had hours for several months and it's been a delight sleeping in the RV on the road through different time zones wonderful sleep day and night compared to the stock mattress rvministers.com is a Brooklyn Bedding brand known for top of the line comfort and quality these mattresses are made right here in the USA and shipped conveniently to you for free they offer different firmness options Heights and dimensions even all kinds of RV specific and non-traditional sizes and minitini 4 here came with a short queen which is 60 by 74 which is one of those known standard sizes and we've got the Aurora Lux which is a hybrid with Advanced cooling technology medium firmness very comfortable by the way very easy to buy online and as I mentioned free shipping it comes right up to your doorstep vacuum sealed and rolled up inside the box and even though our trailer is Tiny it was still pretty easy to get it in the bed and unroll it and the only thing if you notice when I deployed it I didn't realize it was upside down but luckily I was able to get it right side up fairly easily since Brooklyn Bedding manufactures older RV mattresses in their own Factory in Arizona they are able to use premium materials at a reasonable price with no middlemen bringing up the cost we just love our RV mattress by Brooklyn Bedding and I know you would too if you're looking for a new bed check out rvmattress.com you can click the link below or go to rvmattress.com travelingrobert and get 25 off your mattress with the code traveling Robert and that way you also help support our Channel now let's continue good morning check it out it looks like the smoke has cleared out a little bit and today we're taking the shuttle to Lake Lewis and Lake Moraine Lake but first we have to take another shuttle to the park and ride so that's where we're going there first good morning it's it's cloudy but at least it looks like the smoke is is better all right every 30 minutes and this is where we're going executive shuttle there we go [Music] okay here we are and checking here we are at the park and ride and there's a ski lift cool [Music] is our ride we're going to do Lake Louise first and hopefully the sun will come out at some point [Music] this is so nice luxury accommodations for sure one day perhaps it must be that way yeah why [Music] and this is our first look at Lake Louise here the weather not perfect but it could be far worse at least it is you know not raining or the smoke has cleared out a little bit and the sun even wants to come out soon I'm not complaining let's we're gonna do a it's like a trail an easy path that goes around the lake and that's what we're gonna do first [Music] what can I do that's that iconic View and as I was mentioning the weather could be better but it could also be worse so I mean the sun is actually even trying to come out out there so we're gonna you know do there's a trail that goes kind of around the lake this way and then we're gonna go to Moraine Lake back here I don't think we can go in but that's that Lake Louise actually it says restaurants and shops so maybe we can [Music] there it is the Majestic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise originally developed by the Canadian Pacific Railway at the turn of the 20th century it exudes luxury and opulence with this magnificent views of the lake the mountain almost looks like a painting effect in part due to the remaining smoke in the air the water has that milky turquoise tint typical of glacial lakes which I hear looks much better on a sunny day more than a hike it feels like a pleasant stroll along the lake shore [Music] beautiful hike so far [Music] I love the contrast of the red canoes against the Milky water oh [Music] foreign [Music] looking back we can already see the Chateau on the other side Sun's starting to peek out from behind the clouds [Music] I thought that might be a waterfall but it's just snow [Music] think of all the Bears and other Wildlife hiding behind all that vegetation luckily it is a very well trafficked Trail [Music] okay let's see if we can make it all the way to that Beach imagine it would be through here it's that that other Trail there's somewhere else oh yeah oh what a view we've made it to the other side of the lake it's like this beach here and uh a creek where we can cross the creek somewhere but over there let's see if we can get a view of those the big mountain on the other side of the lake we'll see [Music] thank you [Music] now that looks like a difficult climb right up there [Music] all right let's begin the return trip same way we came all the way back The Chateau [Music] well that was a fairly easy stroll now we have to go all the way back and it is a little over a kilometer I think the only thing is we forgot to bring water so we're kind of thirsty at this point I'm sure we can find something I'm glad we came early it is a lot more crowded now [Music] I guess it was closer than the tumor I guess it was closer to like two miles one way but anyway very cool hike I just good on the the Sunshine State Florida guy in me which is that we had a little more sunshine but I was kind of hoping that those clouds would lift and we would be able to see the top of the mountains but I mean it's perfect hiking weather is probably like in the high 60s you know and we haven't been breaking a little bit of a sweat here to to walk briskly now we're going to look for a bathroom and we'll continue what a place [Music] we're taking the shuttle that goes from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake and while you can technically drive to Lake Louise Moraine Lake is only accessible by shuttle bus and here we are Moraine Lake let's see if we can get some water at the lodge foreign at the gift shop because we forgot to bring and now let's let's see the lake let's take that iconic picture actually this view doesn't really do the lake Justice in order to truly experience it you have to either do the trail or climb on top of that pile of rocks as we're about to find out actually I can already tell the color here is going to be a lot more striking [Music] let's go for a stroll on this Trail which by the way doesn't show up on Google Maps well they have this short Trail around the lake maybe not around the lake I have no idea how far it goes but maybe we can get you know views from different angles yeah that color does not look natural it is like someone dyed the water with some turquoise pigment not only the unique color on the water but all these magnificent towering mountains all around us it is just spectacular [Music] thank you [Music] and the sun has come out look at the color in that water that's incredible yeah that's amazing [Music] everybody look you know everywhere you stop it's another beautiful sight [Music] that's a pretty big chunk of ice up there [Music] I don't know if the camera can capture the the the saturation of that blue but that's incredible that doesn't look real we're being so lucky that that the sun came out and the smoked the smoke cleared you know it's uh it's turning out to be a great day here at now at Moraine Lake look at that [Music] I think this is as far as we can go [Music] this where the boardwalk ends that's the end of the trail beautiful Cascade there as far as views go perhaps a little anticlimactic because the view back there isn't as great as the view to this side especially since there's still a little bit of smoke on that side but just seeing this this you know towering mountains here with the glacier it's uh it was it was worth the walk for sure let's come down here and get one more View I mean look at that [Music] yeah this place is totally amazing I mean everywhere you look you have to stop and and you know the different you know Hues of turquoise on the water it's and we're back by the lodge they have canoe rentals all that good stuff these rooms actually must have a great view rock pile I guess in French it's called the limbo Limon let's check it out Trail to consolation Lakes It's gotta be that way right [Music] let's see rock pile viewpoints 100 and 300 meters and that would be consolation Lakes [Music] those stairs it's a little bit of a climb but I said 100 meters we should be like halfway there right at least look at that mountain back there that's amazing [Music] you know what's amazing color of the water on Moraine Lake especially from this vantage point that water does not look real now we have nowhere to go but down [Music] here [Music] all right not any parking anymore actually yeah you're not allowed to drive your own vehicle up here anymore and it turns out that there's more people than shuttle buses some of these folks are gonna have to wait for the next bus [Music] well this may well have been the highlight of our time in Banff National Park so far now we're going to get something to eat and then visit the town of PAMF which we drove past yesterday quite a magnificent place this is [Music] foreign and we're back at the park and ride and the shuttle into town so we are in the village and there's a restaurant over there so that's where we're going [Music] there's our shuttle it is appropriately named Mountain restaurant and javalanche Cafe very clever it's gonna be lunch with a view an ice cold IPA to begin after all that walking I think we deserve it and the good ribeye for good measure actually that was pretty good better than expected the chimichurri sauce that's what what doesn't drink now we either gonna take the shuttle or walk back to the campground I don't know yet whichever comes first according to this the campground is that way I think we're just gonna walk it is about two kilometers a few meters here and there give or take foreign [Music] it is a good 45 minute drive to the town of Banff but we can't leave the area without seeing it and since the main purpose of this trip is getting to Alaska tomorrow we are going to continue the journey North [Music] um [Music] [Music] thank you let's take a break to admire these beautiful mountains [Music] there is the sign welcoming us to Banff [Music] let's drive around a little bit and find parking [Applause] one thing is for sure this town is happening [Music] I think we're gonna have to find parking on one of these side streets this looks good and we're just a block away from the main drag [Music] yeah this is that iconic picture I've seen online Banff Avenue with a massive Cascade Mountain in the background hey everybody have the same idea let's walk around a little bit so we came into Banff seems to be a very happening town here lots of people it's a ski resort of course and I had seen pictures you know of this mountain in front of me you know many many times this is that uh Main Street here it's a shame that we are neither hungry nor thirsty because you know there's like there's a straight side cafes everywhere so it would have been a good place to to have at least a a good India Pale Ale but I paid for one hour parking we'll see we might you know just stop somewhere maybe we might extend the parking I don't know it's really cool to be here in person actually let's continue working on this pedestrian street and see something Mike Pike our interest [Music] s [Music] [Music] [Applause] must be really good ice cream foreign [Music] Brewing Company [Music] the balcony would have been nicer but there was no room and when in Canada we watch hockey of course during the Panthers playing yeah coincidentally it is our own Florida Panthers playing and losing it is time to go [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] to take a picture with the sign [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] was a long day it was a productive day but overall it was a great day tomorrow we're going to Jasper so I bought this at Safeway let's see how they are yep [Music] it's almost ready grilling under the rain it is time to visit the dump station well good morning here we are at the dump station and yeah anything's words for the first time in a long time we actually ran out of fresh water last night this morning actually I think that that this the tank is burping the water out as we drive along so more research I'll go into this you see the tank is completely empty pretty much and it's burping water out so that's not supposed to happen [Music] well one of the stinkier dump stations we've been to in a while but it's to be expected with the volume you know of people dumping here in the morning now we're going to Jasper this is supposed to be like the most beautiful drive the icefield parkway I believe it's called the weather hopefully it'll improve you never know enjoy the ride supposed to be one of the most scenic drives in Canada [Music] [Applause] foreign [Music] [Music] I guess we have to re-enter the national park here but we paid for 48 hours so we should be good and we are [Music] what have we got here check it out a black bear our first Canadian bear [Music] well that was super cool [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] I think we're getting to the good part let's check out Crowfoot Glacier there's a pull out here on the left [Music] thank you [Music] yet another big chunk of ice closer we can distinguish all the layers on the ice fascinating sure incredible the amount of ice thickness of it that remains on the mountain I feel like it's gonna fall off anytime but I guess it doesn't well so far the ice Fields Parkway it's uh it's living up to its reputation [Music] here's another view of Bow Lake but parking is very limited yeah this is when a camper van would come in handy [Music] thank you [Music] this is so beautiful I'm really glad we added this to our Alaska itinerary [Music] let's stop here to get a view of waterfowl Lakes [Music] [Music] after crossing the Saskatchewan River we encounter our first services along the way so we're gonna stop and we're gonna have a quick breakfast breakfast time and let's get a taste of our first Canadian bacon look it's regular bacon but made in Canada [Applause] we got some Canadian eggs too [Music] salt black pepper cayenne pepper [Music] [Applause] [Music] and we've got ourselves a French omelette with cheese [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] thank you what an exceptional landscape here with all these mountains [Music] let's stop real quick to admire the views I believe these are called Panther Fox our next up the Columbia icefield [Music] thank you [Music] let's park and admire the glacier for a few minutes this Glacier like many other you can walk on it and they even have tours but that was never in the scope of this trip at this point we're really anxious to get to Dawson Creek to do the Alaska highway but there will definitely have to be another more in-depth trip to the Canadian Rockies and Jasper which is coming up next that's very nice that they have ample RV parking [Music] here's another attraction this one is called Glacier Skywalk soaring 280 meters or 918 feet above sonuapta Valley thank you foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] Falls it is supposed to be one of the most breathtaking and Powerful falls in the Canadian Rockies it seems to be very popular oh yeah there's always one in many cases are a Tabasco Falls is they're supposed to be the most powerful and breathtaking impressive false one of the most in the whole Canadian Rockies so should be a short walk let's see where it is [Music] [Music] foreign let's see if there's another Viewpoint that way [Music] it is certainly impressive [Music] thank you [Music] well at the basket Falls to United and now we'll continue [Music] we continue straddling the Athabasca River on our way to Jasper [Music] [Music] here we are Jasper the northern Terminus of the ice Fields Parkway which in the original plan the idea was to spend a lot more time here apparently there are lots of things to do including an aerial tram but we want to be in Fairbanks for the summer solstice so we must go on it is certainly a good looking town [Music] here we have this steam locomotive [Music] [Music] I love the fact that they have all this parking here on the right hand side and pretty RV friendly too if you can find enough room and that was Jasper in a nutshell now going north on the Yellow Head Highway these mountains they look kind of different it is true what they said I think this is even more beautiful than Banff [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] get any more beautiful it is the gift that keeps on giving this has got to be one of the most beautiful drives we've ever experienced and that's it for the pretty Drive eventually we arrived in Hinton we resupply and take the scenic route to Alaska Alberta provincial Highway 40. it is once again getting a little smoky I think we got really lucky in Banff and Jasper with the clear skies [Music] it is looking like the Smoky Mountains out here [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] at the Hamlet of grand cash and there's a campground here but I think I found the boondocking spot just a couple of kilometers down the road so I think that's where we're gonna call it thank you it is a very pretty area different from where we were earlier for sure this feels like a much older mountain range [Music] I see a huge fifth wheel going in that must be one of the camping areas this one is too wooded though we're looking for a place where we can use starlink to work in the morning here we go I mean this one is pretty wooded too but I think we can find the spot with a clear view of the northern sky [Music] yeah this will work [Music] wow look at that it is beautiful out here by the shores of the Smoky River [Music] thank you there's that other camping area by the river but I think we like it where we are it is very quiet and we're almost all by ourselves there is only one other camper and we try to park as far away as possible [Music] thank you it is time for another RV cooking show today we're making chicken ala butter a recipe I copied and modified from Cuban YouTuber Cocina confujita it is now one of our favorite low carb recipes We Begin by Browning some chicken thighs skin down and some boneless breasts as well yeah it almost doesn't fit in our travel Skillet here we do have a larger one at home foreign we're going to season it with some Camp mix black pepper and a little cayenne pepper as well might as well turn on the light right [Music] I'm going to turn the breasts but let the thighs Brown a little more oh that's beautiful a little salt on the skin side and paprika why not vinoseco dry cooking wine and we'll let it boil although RV ranges don't quite heat up as much as domestic ones garlic powder and the original recipe calls for whole small onions but we're gonna use frozen ones because that's all we have anyway this is a great departure from fujita's recipe but we like changing things around like adding mushrooms for example and extra spices [Music] we're going to cover it and let it boil for a good 40 to 45 minutes that's all there is to it [Music] well this looks really good cheers hmm so much pollen and anyway I found this place on freecampsites.net and there was like a camping symbol on Google as well it's uh it's just a couple of miles north of grand cash I believe is the name of the town and uh I flew the Drone earlier and I saw that there's like a like a small River on that side so those campsites on the other side of the road might have been better but I mean this is not bad this is going to be quiet the only problem it's it's uh besides the bugs it is a little warm but it's gonna cool down to like the 40s this evening so it's gonna be fine we just have to endure a couple hours you know as soon as the sun sets it's gonna start cooling down I don't know if you can see all the pollen but in any case let's walk all the way to the main road here and they have a sign here and let me show you this is a boondocking and this says user maintained area [Applause] um maximum stay 14 days so I suppose this would be equivalent to our BLM land in the USA you know pack it in pack it out it's it's completely completely natural and yeah this is a Highway 40 here which goes it's more we're gonna go all the way to Dawson Creek which is the beginning of the Alaska Highway but I mean it's actually it's cooler out here than inside the trailer right now the sun is coming down and by the way that that buttery chicken that came out so great oh man we were really hungry too so yeah this is the main road here and um and as you can I don't know if you can see it but there's some other campers down there that's that other side that is close to the river and we have the river right here let me tell you it is so great to be here finally on our way to Alaska oh I'm losing my voice in any case we're gonna get some work done we'll continue the journey tomorrow [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] wherever I want to be because I'm free in my RV yeah thank you [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] because I'm free in my RV [Music] foreign [Music] poutine a mistake that was good I thought it was going to be like a steak sandwich but it was just like an open-faced steak sandwich but still never gonna have some some coffee and it's about another hour and a half or so to Dustin Creek the beginning of the Alaska Highway laughs [Music] cheers [Music] foreign [Music] you can really smell the smoke out here very small we have three out of control fires next to us but the reason I came here because they have a giant beaver it's one of those things [Music] on the next one we arrive in Dawson Creek and begin the journey on the mythical Alaska Highway all the way from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction will it be as challenging as we've been led to believe well there's one way to find out until then thank you so much for watching and see you on the road [Music] I'm writing riding in my RV

Channel: Traveling Robert

Views: 128,796

Keywords: rv life, RV travel, winnebago, micro minnie, free in my RV, travel, roadtrip, traveling robert

Id: nCc5cZaoOsc

Length: 60min 42sec (3642 seconds)

Published: Sun Aug 20 2023