Thursday, June 27, 2007
Kicking Horse Campground in Yoho National Park (British Columbia) to Jasper, Alberta
Day's distance: 263km
Total to date: 6,638km
Weather: Generally sunny, 8C at Kicking Horse at 7am, about 21-22C for most of the way, except down to 11 for the Columbia Icefield area.

 

 

The Kicking Horse Campground served as the campsite for labourers who constructed the Spiral Tunnels in 1914-1916. I followed their tote road (now a hiking trail) this morning prior to my departure. The trail crossed the present tracks to an abandoned work engine. Nice.

I then headed to Jasper, turning off the Trans-Canada to highway 93 north to Jasper. I stopped at Bow Lake for a picnic lunch (which I shared with a few hungry birds), then off again to Jasper arriving at about 4pm at my cousins' home there. Beautiful place to live! My cousin Ken toured me around to some of Jasper's attractions such as Medicine Lake (which drains via an underground river), the Jasper Lodge, and Pyramid Lake. They treated me to a BBQ dinner followed by ice cream cake. Yumm!!! After a late night around a campfire in the back yard with some friends (hi Chris and Ron!) we turned in at about 1am.

I've decided to modify my ride south, and will spend Thursday night in Banff prior to heading down to Waterton. I've visited the Bow River Parkway outside of Banff before, but not on a motorcycle and want to do it again. Plus, someone on one of the forums recommended climbing Tunnel Mountain, so I hope to do that too.