Soul Travels: Jasper Blog
This past week I had the privilege of escaping reality. I watched the city limits disappear in my rear view mirror, a weight lifting off of my mind, body and soul as the buildings became but silhouettes in the distance and the mountains took their place. I said goodbye to the confines of the iron jungle and hello to the vast and immense beauty of the backcountry.
I went out seeking adventure, not knowing I would be immersed in a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, fostering new friendships, and making memories I will cherish in my heart forever, all while continuing this ever-evolving journey of self discovery.
The following is a day-to-day summary of this magical mountain getaway. If you choose to read beyond the trip details and trail descriptions, you can join me on the roller-coaster ride of exploration existentialism I experienced through these adventures.
Nevertheless, I hope this ignites your wanderlust, tickles your fancy for freedom and inspires you to go do whatever dang thing you’ve had on that bucket list for far too long.
Life is short my loves – make sure you’re LIVING, not just existing.
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Day 1 – Road Trip to Jasper, Hike to Panther Falls & Views from the Colossal Columbia Ice Fields
Considering the highway had been closed for avalanches, extremely poor driving conditions and there had been less-than-favorable temperatures just 24 hours prior to embarking on this trip, day one could not possibly have been more perfect! Blessed with bluebird skies and gifted with glorious sunshine, the trek to Panther falls through hip-deep snow was as magnificent as a movie-scene.
Accompanied by some new faces eager to explore, we set out chasing waterfalls - one of my favorite endeavors of all mountainside experiences. I always say I’m a “summer girl” and I’ve forever had a “thing” for the incredibly healing and serene nature of running water, but there is something to be said about the awe-inspiring beauty of a frozen waterfall. The concept of a roaring body of water as immense as this particular spectacle transforming from a force-to-be-reckoned with into a static masterpiece is mind-boggling in itself. Add to this endless rays of sun, each striking the ice in such a way that this angelic work of Mother Earth illuminated into a turquoise titan of wonder was nothing short of surreal.
From afar, the falls were a spectacle in themselves. Eager to chase the most sought-after views, a few of us decided to make the icy trek up the adjacent slope to get real up-close and personal to this beauty (ice cleats are a must if you decide to tackle this part of the journey; poles also highly recommended). Upon arrival at our looming lookout, we were greeted by masses of ice that could not truly be appreciated from the lower path. The trail we tip-toed our way up landed us smack dab behind the towering tons of turquoise ice. We were but wee little figurines in an enormous cave of icy wonder. I spent several minutes gazing wide-eyed around me before venturing closer towards the largest of the falls – frozen in time yet eminent of such power. I can only imagine the sheer force of these falls when they flow freely (*a destination I’ll be keeping on my list to re-visit during the summer months*). As epic as the shots I managed to capture turned out to be, I wholeheartedly believe this is a place you need to experience for yourself in order to really appreciate its immensity and beauty.
Panther falls, you were certainly named appropriately;
You are as fierce as you are majestic;
Bold, Beautiful, Breathtaking
Thank you for sharing your beauty
We ended day 1 with jaw-dropping views through the Columbia-Athabasca Icefields. I’d driven through before, but always under much less pristine conditions. Always a sight to see, but this particular day they shone with an indescribable beauty. No less windy than prior times I’ve passed by, but there was something to be said for the way the sun struck the vast snowy terrain on this day. Another sight you truly have to see with your own eyes to appreciate in its entirety.
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Day 2 – Maligne Canyon, Jasper National Park
Maligne [Ma-leen] Canyon is a true depiction of the incredulous beauty of the Canadian wilderness.
Not having done much international travelling myself, I may be so bold as to say this may be up there in the many wonders of the world - certainly in the many must-see-wonders of Canada - to add to the bucket list if you have not yet visited. Though I had formerly only seen photographs of this location during the summer, after experiencing it first-hand I will definitely vouch that it is a MUST see during the winter months. I don’t think words can quite describe how magical this place truly is…
A Little History
Maligne Canyon comprises a vast limestone gorge within the Palliser Formation. Over 365 million years old, Maligne is as historic as she is immense; standing as the deepest canyon in all 11,228km of Jasper National Park – up to 50 metres tall in some of her greater caverns! The ice-walk through Maligne Canyon spans almost 4km in length – a rather short and minimally challenging venture, though I would certainly recommend allotting extra time to take in every ounce of beauty this gem has to offer. Micro-spikes are a must, and ice cleats highly advised if you want to experience every step of this trek in its full glory.
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You know she’s immense when you can’t capture her vastness in a single frame…
Vertical Panoramic for the win
I don’t think I could give an accurate depiction of duration for this hike, as time quite literally seemed to stand still amidst the towering layers of rock and endless ice formations…
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I spent countless hours gazing in awe at the scenery, exploring the nooks and crannies around every bend, touching the ice, listening to the water flow beneath the frozen layers, and occasionally pinching myself to make sure I was, in fact, not dreaming.
I stood below masses of frozen water bigger than my eyes could behold, crawled through caverns, listened to the enthralling echoes of my crampons as they struck the ice, breathed in the cool, crisp mountain air, and breathed out the heaviness of the world and stressors of life that suddenly seemed diminutive in comparison to my superlative surroundings.
Nature has a way of doing that – bringing an incomparable state of peace; alleviating stress, worry, and chaos. Mother Earth grounds the body, calms the mind, soothes the soul and frees the spirit. Some places though, some places just hit differently. Some places leave a mark like no other. Some places have this energy that resonates through the soil, the trees, the rocks and the surrounding air. Some places bring you a kind of fulfillment that simply cannot be put into words. If you’ve experienced this, you know. If you’ve yet to feel what I have tried to describe, I hope one day very soon you get to. It is truly a state like none other you will experience – to be one with nature, to have no concept of time, to feel light and free of all that once burdened your mind and weighed on your heart. It is a form of Flow State, and it is one I hope every human being gets to experience in their time on this Earth, for it is a state of being you’ll want to experience again and again.
Maligne is a place you go for the views and leave with new perspectives…
Maligne is certainly one for the books, and even more so one for the soul.
Maligne Canyon, thank you for embracing me within your colossal caverns, for warming my heart with your icy splendor, and for providing a space through which I bonded with kindred spirits – each as awe-struck and starry eyed as I with your beauty.
You were hard on the crampons, easy on the eyes, and good for the soul.
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Day 3 – Valley of 5 Lakes, Sunwapta Falls, Lake Louise Ice Castles
Valley of 5
The last day of adventuring just wouldn’t be the last day of adventuring without taking in ALL of the possible sights and adventures along the way!
Though there were no monumental falls to be seen in the Valley of 5, this 4.8km loop was an easy and picturesque stroll through a beautifully forested area that gave off true Winter Wonderland vibes. The fresh dusting of snow from the night before made for even more scenic and serene surroundings.
As we wandered, I couldn’t help but imagine the sights to be seen here in the summer. After all, how often do you get to take in the views from FIVE lakes in one hike?? I will definitely be back to lay eyes upon this quintet and the many spectacular colours I imagine its bodies of water bear in the warmer months (Okay, okay, I’m not just imagining them, I definitely Googled this location and browsed through the many summertime photos. My little sneak-a-peak at the aqua greens and blues amidst the towering forests left me eager to return to experience each in real-time.)
Despite having to use our imagination as to what lay beneath the snow-covered lakes, it was beautiful nonetheless and indeed a tranquil and charming way to start the day.
Sunwapta Falls
Though this hike won’t take your breath away, the views certainly will. Some spots require you to crane your neck a little, but once you get a glimpse of the vibrant blue waters and how they so elegantly contrast the white snow that blankets the surrounding banks, you’ll be thankful you made this quick and worth-while pit-stop en route to wherever your travels may be taking you. These falls are a mere hop, skip and a jump from the highway, located off the 93 nearing the Icefields Parkway. The trail is well-marked and family friendly, thus still a great stop if you’re out with the kidlets or pupparoos. If you Google these falls, you’re sure to come across photos of them in the spring time, where they look so dreamy and mystical you’d almost expect to see a Unicorn frolicking through the woods in the background. Again, thye’re on my list of “done-but-must-see-again” locations, as I am eager to see these misty waters amidst spring greenery and summer sunshine. Word has it, spring run-off is the best time to visit this particular spot!
Stay tuned for future ‘Wapta-wonder adventures
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Ice Castles at Lake Louise
With Lake Louise being one of Alberta’s most popular tourist attractions year-round, I’m sure many of you have been here once or twice. In my own ventures here, I’ve perused the borders of the lake, hiked to the Tea House, climbed to Little Bee Hive, scrambled to Big Bee Hive, and also ventured up Paradise Valley to Fairview Mountain Summit (an absolute MUST during Larch season). I had, however, yet to visit Louise during the winter months to lay eyes upon the famous ice castles. We arrived around dusk, making the scene ever-more magical. Walking down the lakeside path, the elegant Fairmont arising through the trees to the right, the lake speckled with skaters to the left, the ice castles glistening in the last hours of daylight directly ahead – it felt like a scene from a movie. We watched a couple take the most romantic photos in front of the icy fortress, took some nostalgic shots of our own, and soaked in the last moments of daylight.
The sun set as we said bittersweet goodbyes.
Three days, an abundance of adventures, and countless memories to last a lifetime.
JOKES! - The Adventure Continues
What’s a spontaneous road trip without a plot twist at the end??
En route back to Calgary the weather Gods decided they had blessed us with enough pristine conditions and decided to ravage the roads with a whiteout. Blowing snow, limited visibility, lack of daylight and tired eyes made for a rather unappealing combo. After 72 hours of fun, excitement and frolicking in the snow, driving 30km/hr and quadrupling the time to get home to my beckoning bed was not striking me as the way I wanted to end my travels. I was, admittedly, starting to do the at-the-wheel-head-bob – a state I have rarely experienced but prefer not to take lightly, especially given less-than-favourable driving conditions. So, I decided to crash in Canmore for the night. Lo and behold, I ended up meeting even more amazing people, one of whom happened to have an extra pass to Norquay and the offer was oh-so-generously extended for me to join them on the slopes the following day. I’m not going to lie, I hesitated momentarily, not having skied or boarded for almost 7 years…
Yeahhh…that momentary hesitation didn’t last very long…
And boy, was I ever glad I seized the opportunity, because what a B-E-A-UTIFUL day it was!!! Another absolutely stunning bluebird day. A day that gave me goosebumps, but certainly not due to a lack of sunshine and warmth. I was reminded just how much I missed this version of being one with the mountain.
The slopes will always hold a special place in my heart, as I spent many-a-day with my Dad learning how to “PIZZAAAAA” and “PIZZA HARDERRRRR” as my wee little legs learned that they could stand on two wooden sticks and tear up a mountainside (they also learned that they could tear through orange safety fencing and “Do Not Enter” signs in the process)…
Aside from turning myself into a weapon of mass-destruction, many fond Father-daughter moments were had hillside - moments I will forever cherish and moments that are part of the reason why my soul will always be called to the mountains
Throwback to a time where I was exponentially more fashionable. A time where an egg was an acceptable form of head protection. A time where my biggest worry was keeping the sun out of my eyes with rockin’ shades and not lettin’ any other worry in the world wipe the ear-to-ear grin off my face
So, me and my not-so-wee little legs took to the slopes again. I wish I could say I picked up where I left off, but there were no moguls or technical runs for this gal in her first day back in the slope-side saddle. With absolutely zero shame, I did two runs of the bunny hill before I pulled up my big girl pants and told myself to go play on the mountain. And play I did. This was my first time at Norquay so, as much as I spent the day getting my legs back so-to-speak, I also spent it exploring and soaking in every moment of blue-skied-fresh-powdered-bliss.
This was the first time I’ve taken to the slopes solo (the kind soul who so generously offered his extra pass to me spent the day teaching the rest of the group, who were all true first-timers and stuck to the bunny hill accordingly). Though, I did manage to stick with the group long enough to witness some HILARIOUS incidences that had me rolling in laughter and reminiscing on my first few times getting my ‘snow legs’ sturdy. If you were there and happen to be reading this, or can relate through personal experience, you’ll know the somewhat horrifying yet endlessly entertaining feeling of being the subject or bystander of a newbie skier, wide-eyed and appropriately terrified, barrelling down the perceivable ‘cliff face’ of a bunny hill, as people yell at you to make an Italian flat-bread shape with the planks of death strapped to your feet, innocent bystanders and fellow terrified trainees leaping for cover as others yell ”Hide yo kids, hide yo wife!!”…
Good times, I tell ya…
I’m sure I’ll be getting inundated with emails from ski companies wanting to me be a rep for them after that oh-so-enticing first-timers description. If you’ve never tried, you can’t tell me that didn’t make you want to immediately run out to buy gear and a seasons pass!? You’re welcome.
In all seriousness though, if you truly have never tried, or if it’s been a good while since you’ve been, I highly encourage you to get out. Maybe it won’t be your thing, and that’s ok. But if you’re at all the outdoorsy type, and if you’re in for some gut-wrenching laughter and can also take a gut-wrenching wipe-out or two, grab your gear and get out there, even if it’s merely to say you did it. It will be an experience - that I do guarantee.
Side note here - I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but green runs actually now scare me more than blacks…
My Brain:
Green Run: So many people, so little room to f*ck up without taking 58943058 people (and children) down with you
*The introvert in me is sweating as I write this imagining trying to weave through tiny humans and shouting parents*
Black Run: Room to ROAM. Also room to eat sh*t, ass-over-tea-kettle down half the slope and likely not have a single soul witness the event nor have any innocent being become a pin for your half-broken bowling ball ass to take out en-route to your next splatter point.
Arguably, there’s probably a much less likelihood of breaking limbs from a good ol’ Green-run face splat, but I’d rather be accountable for my own body and not the 4853902584390 others in front of me…
Perhaps this just speaks of my need to gain a great deal more experience…
I also think it’s largely more acceptable and forgivable for a wee little sub-50lb human to “bump” into someone. If I, on the other hand, were to take a wicked wipeout (of which there are usually plenty when I grace the hillside with my presence), those bumps are more of a bone-shattering “KAPLOW” - y’know, the knock-your-skis-and-poles every which way kind of incidents. I think, somewhat unconsciously but with good intention, this is another reason I switched to snowboarding; less carnage to pick up after I ragdoll myself down the mountainside…
Anywhoo, just some innocent powder pondering and brain banter that came up as I was carvin’ n’ contemplating over the course of the day :) Either it gave ya a chuckle or it completely turned you off of ever attempting the sport. If the latter is true, my condolences.
Paradise doesn’t have to be tropical
This trip comprised many firsts for me. Being my first time in Jasper as more than just a passerby, I would go back in a literal heartbeat, and I wholeheartedly recommend any and all of the above destinations to any of you fellow adventure-loving nature nuts!
If you’ve made it this far and you came for the trail-talk and adventure allure, thanks for taking the time to read, and I’ll leave you with these words:
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I hope you never stop playing.
I hope you often choose the path less-travelled.
I hope you surround yourself with the people, and immerse yourself in the places and things that make your heart soar and your spirit run wild & free.
I hope you live this life with passion, with purpose, and with a relentless and untethered desire to make your dreams a reality.
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If you’re here for the long-haul and ready to step aboard a little ride through Sarah’s exploration ruminations, or ‘Mountainside Moments’ as I like to call them, keep reading….
Where’s Waldo - Maligne Canyon version
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Mountain Moment #1: Size & Impact Do Not Go Hand-in-Hand
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Amazing, isn't it, how nature can make you feel so small?
Yet, not small in the sense that you are inferior…
Mother Earth exemplifies that size and impact do not go hand-in-hand…
Take it from the single bee who pollinates thousands of flowers in but one day.
Take it from the solitary lightning strike that gives rise to an inferno engulfing hundreds of hectares of land.
Take it from the single-digit temperature shift that turns water to ice
Who are we to say we are any less than the bee, the spark or that one degree..?
We are all small beings amidst the vast and incredulous extent of land that comprises Earth.
We are all single entities amidst billions of other sapiens that walk the planet.
We are small in stature, and yet, immense in potential.
You and I both behold a purpose in this world that has no bounds. The only constraints that confine us are those constructed by society and those fostered within ourselves. It is conditioning and perspective that limit us, not our potential. We have access to every ounce of knowledge, every skill, and every attribute we need to succeed, to achieve the life of our wildest dreams, to create change, and to truly make a difference in this life.
So, who are we to say we are anything less than immensely powerful creatures?
You and I - we are exactly that.
It's up to us to step into our power.
It's up to us to rise.
It's up to us,
To create the change we envision;
To make an impact, and to live out our massively intensive purpose.
Take the lessons set forth from our greatest teacher, the Earth herself.
Rise. For you are small, but not inferior.
Mountain Moment #2: Mother Nature Does Not Discriminate
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Adventure knows no age limit
Nor does it know the self-limiting beliefs you've constructed around why you "can't"
The mountains hold no judgments,
Nor do they discriminate based on your self-perceived flaws, social status, race or gender
There are no societal constructs standing in the way of you connecting with Mother Earth
She's just there, waiting for you to open your eyes to all she has to offer
And when you do, she will welcome you with open arms
Mother Nature will wrap you in her embrace, if you'll allow her
And each time she does, you will discover something new - about yourself, about the world,
and about the many incredible beings in it
She's there waiting
She is ready
The only question is - are you..?
Mountain Moment #3: Takeaway from an Incomparable Getaway
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Each time I disconnect from society and immerse myself in nature, I feel as though I return just slightly different...
Memories made, yes, but also new perspectives to behold.
The Earth grounds me
Mother Nature tests me, teaches me, and humbles me
She reminds me to be patient, calm, & conscious
She also requires me to be strong, determined & relentless
She shares with me her beauty, asking nothing in return
She is powerful beyond measure and magnificent beyond imagination
She has been one of my greatest teachers, and I look forward to the many lessons I still have yet to learn
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Here's to a week of many memories, out-of-this-world adventures, and several more steps along the path of self-discovery. I wish for you all to discover the beauty, power, and lessons to be learned from nature.
I hope you take every opportunity given to get outside, to run barefoot on the Earth, to stand beneath starry skies and take in the sights, sounds and energy beyond the bounds of the iron jungle.
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As Always,
Thank you for joining me
Much Love,
From My Big Little Soul to Yours
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