Kootenay & Banff National Parks

We're back on the road relatively early ... at least for us.... on a quest for Radium Hot Springs.

Now that's a flagman with class

Over the last part of this mountain range

and into the Columbia River Valley

In this part of the country, the Columbia River flows northward from its source at the base of the Rockies before taking a U-turn south and then westward to the Pacific.

Columbia River not far from its source

We made it! Time to kick back awhile

Opps - that is after waiting in line for a campsite

The afternoon is quite warm so we rest until the weather cools. At sunset we're treated to a good show from the overlook at  Redstreak Campground. While watching the sunset we meet Victor, who's on an organic farm internship for the summer. He's Basque from the Pyrenees in France and is looking forward to starting his first year in nano-tech engineering in Grenoble.  We wish him well as he has chosen an excellent field for his intended career.

Rain visits us on and off through the night and the next day dawns drippy. We are glad to be in our nice dry Navion and feel sorry for the people sleeping in soggy tents (which we had done our share of). Friends that Peter met at Burning Man meet up with us for a Sprinter Reunion. Peter had sold our original Splinter to Cork and his friend Mike is also traveling in one... so we have a mini Sprinter Jamboree.

Mike and Lori's Great West

Our Navion IQ

Cork and Cathy's Airstream conversion

We make the hike to Radium Hot Springs and enjoy the main warm pool.

Rainy weather or not - it's time for a bit of fun.

Cork, Cathy, and Mike w Bloody Marys

Lori toasts

Raisin sez "Where's my Bloody Mary?"

As much as we want to stay with the gang, we won't be driving to Alaska many times in our lives, so it's time to get back on the road. We all decide to plan to do a group camping trip together soon.

Ohhh - that's why it's called "Redstreak"

Narrow canyon

Appropriately named "Olive Lake"

The tunnels we pass this time are designed to provide wildlife safe passage over the road. Canadians are much smarter than us on this one.

Overpass for wildlife

and they do use it.

The rainy morning gives the mountains a somber mood as they peek through curtains of clouds.
We stop at a picnic area along the Kootenay River.

Kootenay River

Raven's ready for the tourists to serve him lunch

Hummmp - stingy tourists Gotta go find my own food

On our way through Banff National Park, we get our first taste of the Icefield Parkway. These ice fields and glaciers were born during the last ice age.

Tall peaks with a hanging glacier

Deluxe wildlife overpass - notice protective fencing

Wow - what a string of mountains along the Icefield Parkway

Peter wants to see Lake Louise again... I'm not too crazy about the idea as even though it's beautiful it's often crowded. Sure enough it's a zoo on a Sunday afternoon. We quickly take some photos and leave.

Entry sign

Fairmount Hotel

Rushing stream where we had to park

Lake Louise in Banff National Park