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Waterfowl Lake

Pyramid Lake

The Rocky Mountains stretch south from British Colombia in Canada to New Mexico in the United States. This mountain range is like a spine linking the two countries and their national parks protecting centuries-old glaciers, grasslands with rare wild animals, and awe-inspiring clean rivers and lakes. The United States side of the range has the well known Yellowstone, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain national parks. The Canadian side has a group of six that inspired the formation of the National Parks of Canada. The six are the Banff, Glacier, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Mount Revelstoke national parks. A seventh one, Waterton Lakes National Park, is south of the Glacier park of Canada and linked with the Glacier National Park of the United States to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park though each is separately managed.

Banff Springs Hotel

The most famous Canadian park is Banff. The park is best reached from Calgary, requiring a drive of one hour and a half. Nearly three million tourists visit Banff and the other parks each year. Banff is the first Canadian national park. In 1883 three railroad workers employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway discovered hot mineral springs. The workers sought to profit from the site of almost ten square miles by making it into a health resort. But rivals challenged their control of the site. As a result of the bitter fight, the Canadian government took control of it. In 1885 the government established the tract, that has since then been expanded to more than 2,500 square miles, as the first national park in Canada. In 1888 the Canadian Pacific Railway Company constructed an 876-room resort hotel near the springs. Since then during summer time, Banff has lured tourists from all over the world. This resort place is like many in Japan where the lives and activities of local citizens take place within a park’s boundaries. In particular, many hotel and store workers live near their places of employment in park areas. Indeed, tourists have a wonderful view of the Canadian Rockies in Banff and nearby areas.

Bighorn sheep

The Icefield Parkway gives a great view of the area's unique untouched nature. This 142-mile-long road begins in Banff, passes Lake Louise, and terminates in the Jasper National Park.

Spring arrives late in the Rockies. In June the frozen lakes finally start to melt, turning ice into vivid blue green colored water. However, April and May is the best time for tourists to visit without prior reservations because there are so few visitors. I, too, came in early spring to drive along the Icefield Parkway. It was possible to drive slowly and enjoy the snow-covered mountains glistening in the early spring sun. No traffic-clogged highway interrupted my communion with nature. I felt as though nature was talking to me. Whenever I saw wild animals crossing the road, I stopped. Big Horn Sheep came with their recently-born lambs to lick salt spread by road workers to keep the Parkway passable in wintertime. The mountains looked like postcard pictures. After passing Lake Bow and Sascatuan River, I saw the glaciers of the Colombian Ice Field on my left. One can even take a snow coach tour to the nearest Asabasca Glacier and experience standing on a glacier. From here the Icefield Parkway goes to Jasper National Park as the mountains become higher and steeper. By the time that I arrived,there were few skiers left in the city of Jasper that was regaining its calm and silence. Every motel had signs announcing vacant rooms and each welcomed customers arriving without room reservations. I negotiated the charge for a room and paid almost half as much as the rate for the peak season.

Mount Rundle

Infomation of Hot Springs
www.hotspring.ca
www.parkscanada.gc.ca/hotsprings
*Banff Upper Hot Springs (403-762-1515) All Seasons open. Fee $7.50
* Miette Hot Springs (780-866-3939) (Open 5/2-10/13). Fee $6.25
*Radium Hot Springs (250-347-9485) All Seasons open、Fee $6.50

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