Ch-Ch-Ch Changes

 Those who know me, know I’m an enthusiastic planner. I love making lists, making plans, making more lists… I began a countdown for a past trip to Spain over a year in advance. My coworkers would just roll their eyes when I’d update my whiteboard: 383 sleeps until Madrid… No big surprise then that I had worked out a schedule, including travel time and meals (locations and what to eat!), in advance of our upcoming escape to the mountains. Unfortunately Covid-19 had other plans and most of what we had originally planned on doing went down the proverbial drain.

To begin with, the company that runs the Maligne Lake boat tours had to make adjustments to their scheduling in order to allow for more thorough cleaning and fewer passengers. As a result, we got bumped to two days later. It wouldn’t have been a problem if we were still in Jasper at the time they rescheduled us to. Unfortunately we would be back home by then so we had to cancel outright. Then, the stable we were booking a horseback trip with ended up shutting the barn door early this season, with their last trail rides around Labour Day. Plans for our first two full days in Jasper were now in shambles.

However, I am not one to be dismayed (well, not for too long) and eagerly set out to get us back on track. The problem this year though is due to the drastic reduction in visitors to the mountain parks, including no tour buses rolling through, many businesses were shutting down early. The restaurant we normally would visit for a great steak dinner (Embers Restaurant) didn’t open at all this summer season. So, I had my work cut out for me especially as we didn’t want to redo some of the activities we had tried on our previous visit.

And … I succeeded.

We had enjoyed whitewater rafting previously and love being on the water, so I booked us a river float. A bit slower and more relaxing that whitewater rafting but you still get great scenery and an opportunity to get splashed! Plus someone else does all the rowing. The company, Jasper RaftTours, was wonderful and assured me that even if we’re the only two folks who booked on that day, they’ll still take us out. Basically, as long as they can keep their guides employed, and ensure they can employ them next year, they’re looking at a full season (time wise if not in terms of overall guests). First full day schedule solved!

“2014-002 Glacier Skywalk, Columbia Icefield, AB” by Mark Roy, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

And then I booked something I originally said I wouldn’t – the Glacier Skywalk at the Columbia Icefields. Its not that I don’t want to go, I’m worried about safety/crowds, or I’m nervous about heights (I am but whatevs), its because its over an hour drive there and over an hour drive back from Jasper for something that you may spend ½ hour doing. However, I know that Mom loved a similar viewing platform at the Grand Canyon a few years ago and since this trip is her Christmas/Birthday present from LAST YEAR and I didn’t have a ton of options, I said why not. Plus, I’m guessing the pics are going to be great!

Now…SSHHHHHHHH! Mom doesn’t know about either of these two activities so keep it quiet, ok?

Something to look forward to

The last few posts have had a somewhat doom and gloom outlook to them; or maybe its just me and how I'm feeling about this whole pandemic thing. Not this post though! Today I want to share something I'm very much looking forward to: VACATION! Now, Canada has a strict self quarantine policy for citizens travelling abroad and for visitors from outside of the country - 14 days. While an extra two weeks off work would be fabulous, being stuck in my house and not even being able to go and buy groceries just isn't my idea of a good time. Therefore, international travel is out of the question. Not even Hawaii, which I enjoyed visiting a few years ago and who's said Canadians can visit there without quarantine. Sorry, but 6 1/2 hours on a plane? I don't think so! To be honest, I don't even want to fly to Toronto (no offense to the T.O.). That doesn't leave a prairie girl with a lot of options. So... what do we do in the west when we can't jet off to warmer climes? We head to the mountains!

Jasper National Park is probably my favourite place in the world. Its less commercial than Banff and usually less crowded (although that doesn't mean much and chain restaurants are making inroads - booo!).The closer you get to the park gates, the more relaxed I feel. I'm sure most folks can understand when I say "I NEED this!". Its been 7 years (!) since I've been there. The last trip I took to the mountains was a girls' long weekend with Mommikins and the always fabulous Auntie B. Horseback riding, hiking and white water rafting were how we filled our days back then. 

And no, we didn't coordinate our outfits. Not every day ... 

This time around it will just be Mom and I but we'll raise a glass to Betty. We're going to be trying Becker's Chalets this time out. Its outside of the townsite and right along the Athabasca River so we'll feel like we're really "getting away from it all". As usual, being the super duper advanced planner that I am, we already have our activities booked. We didn't want to repeat what we've done previously (although we will be horseback riding again but in a different area of the park) so we're going to take advantage of a "local's discount" for Alberta residents and do a boat tour of Maligne Lake. And keeping the frigid fall water temps as our theme for this trip, we're taking a canoe trip! 

I found Wild Current Outfitters while doing my research on things to do in Jasper. We've booked a full morning trip around Pyramid Lake. Sure it'll be late in the year and the water will probably be bitterly cold but we thought we would go for it. Out of everything surrounding this trip, this is what I'm most excited about. I've never been canoeing before so this'll be quite the adventure and a fun way to wrap up our latest trip. All of this is, of course, dependent on the Alberta's Covid-19 numbers remaining relatively low, neither of us getting sick and smaller crowds.

Fingers crossed...