From Cochrane to Hinton.  Cochrane is northwest of Calgary about an hour from Banff National Park.  We entered the edge of the Canadian Rockies to a gray day, but it wasn’t raining, which was a good start to the day.  It sleeted last night.  The town of Banff is a quaint little tourist stop, that is ramping up for the summer season.  I suspect in January the town is crowded, since there is good skiing—both downhill and cross country.  We took a ski gondola up one of the mountains for a scenic view of the Bow River Valley, and did the same at Lake Louise.  The Bow River is a glacial run-off river that runs a turquoise color.   Lake Louise looks almost Caribbean in color, but is barely above freezing this time of year.  In fact Bow Lake had ice on its surface.

Before I go any further, there will be no pictures this posting.  The KOA has satellite internet and the uplink speed is slower than dial-up.  Now on to tormenting our lovable picture pig…

Today was a HUGE DAY for WILDLIFE.    We saw a momma grizzly bear with twin cubs (although not all that close, but then we aren’t fools and know to keep our distance from a momma bear.)  This was in Banff NP.  As we drove through the Ice Fields, which is a flat valley area that ages ago was leveled by glacial movement, we spotted a mountain goat, who was high in the rocks.  After the Ice Fields, the road drives into Jasper National Park.  There we saw several Big Horn Sheep grazing up close.  Close enough to pet if I was stupid and wanted to tempt fate and break the law.  On the way out of Jasper as we headed towards Hinton we saw a young caribou, only to be trumped by a nicely racked male caribou.  And if that wasn’t all, we saw a moose cow in one of the wet zones.  I could also go on and on about the views we saw, as the day did finally provide us with some glimpses of blue sky.  All in all a really nice day in Canada’s  National Parks.

Tomorrow we head to Dawson’s Creek, British Columbia, which is listed as Mile 0 of the Alaskan Highway.    If I get a better connection tomorrow, I'll try to go back and  insert some pictures.