Jasper campin', raftin', and hikin'

Well, a couple days after I got back from Kansas, I had to get in a true Canadian mountain camping trip.

During the August long weekend, a crew of some close friends and I set on a three day camping extravaganza in what has been deemed by many as the most beautiful place on earth, Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Some even say that when "God created the heavens and the earth" he started in Jasper.

While we almost got kicked out of the campground due to a little fun and sing-song, we eventually "subdued our passions" around the campfire. I wonder if it might have been me singing "Liquor and Whores" once I got settled in my lawn chair (see a video from a few posts ago).

The next day, 11 of us went whitewater rafting on the Sunwapta river, a level 3 grade, so yes, we had to wear helmets and wetsuits. Our guide, Mark, was awesome, and he told us that the best time to go is in June when the water is highest.

So did we get wet? You betcha! Nothin' better to wake you up from a night of drinkin' than some cold mountain glacial water!

Next day we all took various hikes at Mt. Edith Cavell, my most favourite place in the world. Why? Well, because each year it's a bit different. The lake is a different size, the glacial till has eroded, etc. While I usually just walk the main trail, this time, Bradeo took us on a jaunt way up the left moraine and then upward and onward to the mountain meadows. Me being obviously out of shape (I blame Guinness) was trailing the group, but managed to make it. Once we got there, we took some pictures, and the beers and bocce balls came out and we had a game of bocce way up there, probably the first one we reckon. But then it started to rain, so we made our way back down again.

Without further adieu, here are some pictures...



Truly an awesome weekend! I don't have the whitewater rafting photos, although I did buy a CD, the files were unreadable. :-(