Rockies Trip - Day 9 - July 23rd, 2014
Jasper, Maligne Lake, and Mount Robson
Another glorious day spent in the Rocky Mountains with our good friends from the U.K. Each time I visit the Rockies, I find myself traveling upwards - via chairlifts, gondolas, climbing trails etc. There's nothing better than to take in the immensity of the mountains and valleys than from the viewpoint of a high peak - made accessible for tourists and others.
Today was no exception as we boarded the Jasper Sky Tram for the journey to the top of Whistlers Mountain. This mountain got its name because of the whistling calls of the marmots, which are also known as 'whistlers', that live in the alpine areas of the mountain. (Whistler, B.C. also has the same reason for its name). 
The views from the top were astounding - what with the range of peaks that covered a full 360 degrees, and the splendid view of the town of Jasper, with its 'J' shape to boot! (I remember my first trip up this tramway... the operator pointed out the 'J' shape of the town, and remarked that had it been reversed and shown as a 'C' shape, the town would have been called, 'Casper'!
We spent an hour or so taking photos and watching the picas, ground squirrels, and chipmunks as they skittered over the rocks with speed and ease.
Our Samsung Galaxy S4 has been doing overtime, camera-wise, on this trip. So grateful to capture the scenery so that it can be revisited and shared. Nonetheless, no picture does justice to the reality.... and sometimes all you can do is take in the moment.
Isn't it strange how the camera entices the 'poser' out of all of us?
The weather was co-operative, so we made our way next to Maligne Lake - a misnomer, for this beautiful spot. On the way, we stopped at the stunning Medicine Lake - which is where Mark and I had a wonderful close encounter with 4 elk that were walking along the trail to the side of the lake. No elk there today, but the views were such that our friend, Alan, declared that he preferred this lake over Maligne. I must admit, the views were splendid. 
This Lake has a unique feature in that the water level almost disappears towards the end of the season. There are natural reasons for this phenomenon, but prior to knowing these, legends abounded around this Mystery of Medicine Lake.
Maligne Lake still has its own charm and is a powerful attraction for visitors to the area. We did part of a loop trail alongside the lake, noticing the different types of birds and plants that populate the region. Mark was as happy as a little boy in a sandpit - he saw a deer just a few feet away. 
I was a happy camper because the water was warm enough to take a dip. It got cold pretty quickly as you went deeper, but it was a refreshing moment on this super warm day.
After a brief visit to the hotel (to change into some dry clothes), we headed west and over the border to B.C. to visit Mount Robson - the highest peak in Canada.
Just outside Jasper, we were rewarded with a wonderful close-up experience of several elk, two of which were feeding nonchalantly at the roadside. They were aware of the many cars that stopped to admire them, but were more interested in the purple vetch, with its licorice-flavoured roots. 
We were also pleased to see a small black bear crossing the road ahead of us - too quick to capture! No grizzlies views, as of yet!
Mount Robson is certainly a sovereign peak, even more sublime as sunset approaches. The summit was partly clouded over, but we saw its snow-covered crown quite clearly. Apparently, it is one of the most-photographed spots in Canada - understandably so!
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