Rocky Mountains, the years are quiet
[Visa] The Canadian visa is really the most required information in all the visas I have ever applied for. A total of 4 visas were issued, and each of them had their own set of materials. Before and after, I continued to prepare for a month before filling in all the materials. Canada does not need to face-to-face, but only needs to submit all the materials on its website and then pay. Just make an appointment to pay the materials on the spot. Canada grants a 10-year visa at one time.
[Itinerary plan] Canada has a land area of 9.98 million square kilometers, ranking second in the world. The main international airports are Toronto in the east and Vancouver in the west. The travel itinerary will also be headed by these two cities, divided into two lines, east and west. This time we will take 10 days for the whole journey. If we want to go all the time, we don't want to go too fast. So this time we chose the Rocky Mountains to the west as the main destination. The Rocky Mountains include four national parks, Jasper, Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay. The largest city closest to the Rocky Mountains is Calgary. Therefore, the starting point and ending point can be determined as Vancouver and Calgary. But if you drive the whole journey, you will go back. So I decided to fly to Calgary. So the ticket is set for Shanghai-Vancouver + Vancouver-Calgary, and then rent a car from Calgary and drive back to Vancouver through the Rocky Mountains.
Day 1 Vancouver; Vancouver-Calgary
The next day Calgary
Day 3 Banff National Park
Day 4 Banff National Park
Day 5 Yoho National Park
Day 6 Jasper National Park
Day 7 Kamloops
Day 8 Vancouver
Day 9 Vancouver
The tenth day Vancouver-go home
[Day 1]-Calgary
Flew across the Pacific Ocean to Vancouver, and then flew from Vancouver Airport to Calgary.
Arrive at Calgary Airport and pick up the car. The mid-to-large SUV of Alamo is set, and the four-wheel drive explorer of Chevrolet is mentioned. Rent the car for 10 days, return the car in another place (Calgary mention, Vancouver return) for a total of 5900 yuan. The seats of the four of us were quite spacious, and there was no pressure on the three large suitcases in the trunk. At that time, there was no special request for a four-wheel drive when ordering the car. When it was given, it was given as a four-wheel drive. This is still helpful for later snow driving in the national park. Moreover, it is estimated that Canada will have to face rain and snow all the time, with snow tires. There are also tools for shoveling snow in the trunk. We used it one day in the national park. So after you get the car, let's see if there are these tools. Canada is also driving on the left. Canada has a small population of adults, so the road conditions are still good, that is, everyone drove very fast, and everyone did not slow down when turning. So get used to it.
It's 3-4 o'clock in the afternoon after picking up the car. I booked a homestay on Airbnb for two days in Calgary. Two-bedroom, two-living, two-bathroom apartment, the house decoration style is very American. It’s the style you like, and you can cook your own food with your own kitchen. The community where this homestay is located is quite large, and there are parking spaces dedicated to visitors, which is very convenient. The price is 1600 yuan for two nights.
Next to the hotel is a small shopping mall with supermarkets and restaurants. The first day of the old rules must be to go to the supermarket to purchase all the necessary materials, water + breakfast + fruits + snacks must be bought. When the purchase is completed, it is already sunset, and the sunset is accompanied by a quiet residential area.
[Day 2] Calgary, hang out & Outlet
Today is a sunny day, so the weather is good and the mood is good. We are going to Calgary Tower in the morning. Then I am going to buy and buy in the afternoon. Look at the blue sky, with white clouds floating. It’s the first time my dad drove abroad. He said that he was in a different mood, although he has been an old driver for more than 30 years.
The highway that comes out of the hotel is not full of high-rise buildings like in the country, and it feels like a million miles away.
It takes about 20 minutes to drive to downtown Calgary. The streets of Calgary are clean. I found a parking lot near the Calgary Tower and parked the car. Walk to Calgary Tower.
The Calgary Tower was completed in 1968, and it is said that ascending the tower means standing on top of the city. The Calgary Tower is famous all over the world because the torch was lit on the top of the tower during the 1988 Winter Olympics. From a distance, the entire Calgary Tower became the largest torch in the world. Until now, that torch will still be lit at certain special moments. Standing under the tower and looking up at this behemoth, it was quite shocking. However, he opened the door and found that the elevator maintenance of the Calgary Tower had to be repaired until the end of the year. So the entire tower is closed. Petrochemical on the spot, what kind of elevator takes so long to repair! !
Fortunately, there is a famous steakhouse Saltlik Steakhouse next to the tower. I ordered two steaks, which were half-ripe and medium-ripe. The meat is still very good. We also ordered some snacks and burgers. The average per capita is about RMB 200. There is always one thing for stomach and eyes to be satisfied.
After eating, I found a big goose in the city center. I wanted to say that since I came to Canada, I don’t have to bring down jackets. You can go to the mountains by buying a big goose. I want to buy a royal blue, but there is no good-looking color at all. I feel like I'm going to freeze like a dog after entering the mountain. Then we arrived at Calgary's outlet: CrossIron Mills. This is Canada's relatively large Outlet.
The tower I wanted to go to on the first day was closed, and the things I wanted to buy didn't have the color I wanted. I only ate delicious steaks and life-sustaining milk tea. I feel that all the luck in this life is spent on eating. I hope to enter the mountain tomorrow smoothly!
[Day 3] Banff Red Chair: Minnesota & Double Jack Lake
Waking up early in the morning, it was cloudy, and went to the supermarket next door to replenish the food and water needed in the national park in the next few days. Then we drove all the way to Banff National Park. Banff National Park is about 150 kilometers away from Calgary. It is the oldest national park in Canada and one of the three earliest national forest parks in the world. Its history is comparable to the Yellowstone National Forest Park in the United States and the Royal Park in Australia. There will be a row of cabins on the highway that is about to reach Banff, which is the ticket booth of the national park. There is no railing, because many locals do not go to the national park to play but use the highway normally. So you have to take the initiative to park your car to buy a ticket. If you drive, you will buy a Family Group (2-7 people) for 19.6 Canadian dollars/day per car. Several national parks are included in it, so you just need to buy a ticket for a few days after you count how many days you can play. The ticket is a small settlement ticket, which will show the date you bought the ticket and the expiration date. Just put the small ticket on the windshield inside the car.
When you enter Banff from Calgary, you will pass by Minnewanka Lake & Two Jack Lake. The two lakes are actually connected. There are parking lots near these two lakes. You can enter on foot if you stop the car. The most famous national park is nothing more than the two red chairs. In fact, there are a lot of red chairs in the entire park. If you want to check in for each one, you can download the map of Red Chair from the official website.
These two are authentic red chairs, and simple versions are also placed in some places. The authentic red chairs are made of wood, and there will be introductions of small animals in the park on them.
There are a few simple versions in the dock. Although they are not genuine, the scenery is not inferior.
A lifetime is very long, and you have to sit and watch the most beautiful scenery in your life hand in hand with the right person!
There are hiking trails along the lake, belonging to the Easy Trail. Take a walk around the natural oxygen bar and feel refreshed.
From Minnewanka Lake we went to the small town of Banff. Banff town should belong to the most mature shopping and dining center in the entire national park. If you need to add clothing or tools due to the weather, you can buy them in the town. Walk around the town for almost 2 hours. We had a Chinese meal in the small town and it tasted good.
During the two days in Banff, I booked a two-story cabin. Not far from the town of Banff, it looks like a 10-minute drive. It is also two rooms, two halls and two bathrooms, a total of 1,900 for two nights.
[Day 4] Sulphur Mountain & Lake Louise & Emerald Lake
Waking up early in the morning was another sunny day, and immediately went straight to the Sulphur Mountain. Sulphur Mountain is not far from the small town of Banff, and you will soon reach the Sulphur Mountain Lam station through the town. There is a large parking lot at the foot of the mountain, free of charge. You can park your car there.
Sulphur Mountain is about 2,200 meters above sea level. Ascend the Sulphur Mountain Observation Deck, and you will have a 360° panoramic view of Banff National Park. You can choose to hike or the cable car to climb the Sulphur Mountain. We chose the cable car. The round-trip price of the cable car is 72.5 Canadian dollars/person. The cable car can directly reach the viewing platform on the top of the mountain.
The Sulphur Mountain Observation Deck has 4 floors, the first floor is a souvenir shop, the second floor is the movie hall, the third floor is a restaurant and bar, and the fourth floor is a 360° observation deck. To reach the best view point, you need to walk on the boardwalk for about 20 minutes to arrive at the weather station. I think the Meteorological Observatory is the best view point with the broadest view.
This picture was taken at the observatory. The castle below should be the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, the river behind is the Bow River, and across the river is the small town of Banff, and you can see Lake Minnewanka from a distance.
After walking the plank road and returning to Lam Station, it is almost the point of lunch. The third floor is a restaurant with a view, with a very good view. Unfortunately, there are only two people by the window. We each ordered a set of burgers, and they all tasted good.
In the afternoon, we continued to drive to Lake Louise, which is directly opposite the famous Fairmont Hotel.
The color of Lake Louise seems to be Tiffany blue velvet, so it is also called "Blue Velvet Lake", known as the "Sapphire on the Rocky Mountains". There is a kayaking dock on the lake. I wanted to go boating. of. But there were too many people in line that day. The number of kayaks is limited. You have to wait for the previous group to come back before the next group can go. We had already shopped at 3-4 o'clock, and felt that we might not be able to get in the queue before dark, so we gave up. So if you want to boat, you still have to come in the morning.
There is Moraine Lake on the edge of Lake Louise, but the parking lot of Moraine Lake is already full and there are only cars going down the mountain. The road uphill is closed. We went to Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake is not as famous as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and not many people go there. The entire lake is super calm and the reflections are picturesque!
[Day 5] Moraine Lake & Icefield Avenue
Today's end point is to reach Jasper National Park, so we got up early. The surprise of life is that I opened the door to see the golden roof in a casual place.
Because we could not go to Moraine Lake yesterday, but today we will try our luck while we get up early. Moraine Lake is not a lake that is open to the public all year round. It is 14 kilometers away from Lake Louise. The road from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake is a mountain road. Therefore, the road is closed every snow season and the opening time is not fixed every year. Therefore, visitors who intend to visit Moraine Lake must always pay attention to the national park website. Yesterday we did not let the car go up the mountain because the parking lot on the mountain was full. The parking lot on the mountain only had 30-40 seats. It should be because it was too early today, and there are not many cars going up the mountain. So we drove smoothly along the intersection where we were stopped yesterday, and we arrived at the parking lot of Moraine Lake in about 20 minutes. We went too early, and the mist in the mountains had not yet completely dispersed. But it does not affect the beauty of Moraine Lake at all, and the naked-eyed Tiffany blue beauty is in the heart. Compared to yesterday's Lake Louise, I think Moraine Lake is more beautiful.
This dead tree branch should have fallen down from the hillside of the mountain, and just stood on a boulder on the hillside and the shore, and the trunk stretched out to the lake. Everyone lined up in turn, waiting to take pictures on the trunk. Trunks are actually at a certain height from the ground and the lake, and those who are brave walk over the trunks. We were sitting and slowly moving over.
To see the full view of the lake, you need to climb to a small hill on the shore. There are two ways to climb the hill, one is to climb all kinds of big rocks from the front to the top of the hill, and the other is to go around to the side and take a long road full of steps. We still walked up the steps. It rained the night before and the road was quite slippery. We walked for a little half an hour and climbed to the top.
After leaving Moraine Lake, we headed to Gasper National Park. The road is almost 300 kilometers. Among them, I will pass Icefield Avenue, and I want to go to Columbia Icefields to play. We arrived at the visitor center at about 1:00 in the afternoon. There is a souvenir shop and a restaurant. You can make supplies here. In addition, it is also a good choice to stop on the platform of the visitor center, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery around the glacier. There are several different ways to visit the glacier: one is to take a guided walk on the ice field, you can also take a snowmobile to climb the ice field, or you can climb the glacier sky trail to overlook the magic of nature. Then after we arrived at the visitor center, it started to rain heavily and the wind started to get stronger. We originally wanted to ride on the icefield and snowmobile, but we were told that all activities in the afternoon had been cancelled because of heavy wind and heavy rain. Fortunately, we entered the visitor center, and the next 2 hours were really windy. We simply ate lunch in the restaurant and waited until 3 o'clock when the wind and rain became lighter before we proceeded to Gasper. These uncontrollable situations are also a little bit of surprise in travel. At 5 o'clock in the evening, we arrived at the only hotel booked for this trip (other hotels are all homestays). The hotel environment and rooms are pretty good, that is, the price is already above the five-star standard in Shanghai. A standard room for 2 nights 2500 yuan (including breakfast)
[Day 6] Marlene Canyon & Pyramid Lake
It's already snowing in Gasper in October. We wake up with a thick layer of frost on the glass of our car. Fortunately, the car is equipped with tools, and Dad Kaka solved it in a few clicks. In the morning we go to Maligne Canyon.
Marlene Canyon is the longest, deepest, and most peculiar canyon in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The narrowest part of the canyon is only 2 meters wide. Marlene Gorge is a good place for hiking. There are scenic trails in the canyon. There are six bridges marked by the mileage here. Hiking is very user-friendly, and different routes are set up for people with different needs. If you just want to punch a card, it will take about 10-15 minutes to walk to the second bridge and return. It takes about an hour to return to the fourth bridge, and it will take a few hours to walk back to the sixth bridge. Because of the snow, all the places on the ground where there is water are frozen. So we walked very carefully. The whole process took almost 2 hours.
In the afternoon we went to Pyramid Lake. This lake is a niche lake compared to several lakes in Banff before. Although not as big as the previous lakes, walking among the pine trees and squirrels foraging in them has a different beauty!
There is a small island in the center of Pyramid Lake, which is connected by a wooden trestle bridge. The naturally growing squirrels complement each other with the snow-capped mountains behind!
[Day 7] Maligne Lake & Kamloops
Today is the last day in the national park. In the morning we are going to drive to Maligne Lake, 80 kilometers away from the town. After two days of heavy snow, the road to Maligne Lake has been covered by snow and ice. Old drivers all said that it was the first time driving on ice and snow, so the speed was basically 40-50 yards. Fortunately, the car was equipped with snow tires.
Maligne Lake is the second largest glacial lake in the world and the only lake in the Rocky Mountains where motor boats can travel. There is a fairy island in Maligne Lake, which is the most beautiful scenery in the entire Jasper Park, and it often appears in various travel books and landscape postcards. But you need to take a cruise to get there. When we arrived, we just drove away, and the next search was about an hour away. Due to time constraints, we have no chance to go to this wizard island.
The entire Malin Island is covered by snow, and the lake is as calm as a mirror.
On the way back, I encountered a bus slipping on the ice and snow slope, blocking the roads on both sides. People from all over the world get out of the car to see what can be done to help. After tossing for more than half an hour, the bus finally started. Summarize the knowledge points: on ice and snow roads, you can’t brake suddenly and skid, and you can’t stop uphill at a stretch.
After a jam for more than half an hour, there were about 10 cars in the queue opposite to Maligne Lake. Gasper is not that popular for Banff National Park. It belongs to the niche national park.
In the national park, we encountered various deer slowly dangling on the road and basking in the sun several times.
This head should be a North American moose, crossing the road leisurely. I am not afraid of the car at all. If the car does not drive to the front, it will not leave at all if it is blasted with the engine.
It takes 400 kilometers from Gasper to Kamloops, and the whole journey is a highway of winding mountains. The road conditions are still pretty good, but it's a bit farther away. Before the sun went down, we went to Airbnb in Kamloops. There are also 2 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 2 bathrooms and a small garden. 1,000 yuan per night.
After arriving, we still found a nearby supermarket to supply water and food. I made dinner and breakfast by myself, and the Chinese stomach is really not used to eating foreign food for too long.
[Day 8] Vancouver
Fill up the gas early in the morning and set off for Vancouver. The whole journey is 400 kilometers long, crossing mountains and ridges and finally reaching the center of the city.
Vancouver's Airbnb is also two rooms, two living rooms and two bathrooms, 2,500 yuan for two nights. In North Vancouver, it is a long time away from Lynn Canyon, and it takes about 15 minutes to drive to Stanley Park. This day is mainly to adjust and buy, buy and buy.
[Day 9] Maple Leaf in Vancouver
We arrived in Vancouver on October 10th. The maple leaves have just started to red. If you want to see the red maple leaves all over the street, you have to wait until late October. There are several places to see the maple leaves in Vancouver. I chose Maple Leaf Avenue and Stanley Park. In the morning, we went to Maple Leaf Avenue first. In fact, this street is surrounded by residential areas, just like the plane trees on Wukang Road in Shanghai. We parked the car at a racetrack nearby. Then walked a few blocks around Maple Leaf Avenue. Although there is no time for the maple leaves to be all red, there is really a different kind of scenery. Red, yellow, blue and green are set against each other.
Falling red leaves all over the ground, like a red carpet. The people living next to this place are too happy. It's such a beautiful view in front of the window.
In the afternoon we drove to the vicinity of Stanley Park, found an underground parking lot, and parked the car. Then I found a hot pot restaurant and ate Sichuan hot pot. My mother said that the hot pot meal was better than any meal in China. It may be that the stomach hasn't encountered this familiar taste for too long. In fact, the streets of Vancouver are full of maple leaves, so you don't need to look for them. Anyone who looks up is full of red eyes. This picture was pressed at the intersection after eating hot pot. It's really beautiful.
The maple leaves picked up by Stanley Park are red in the sun
There are little squirrels everywhere in Stanley Park, with all kinds of colors and sizes!
[Day 10] Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
On the last day, we were on the plane at 8 o'clock in the evening. In the morning we want to go to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park for a stroll. In the afternoon, I went to a relative's house in Canada to sit down. Then we will set off to return home. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is Vancouver's oldest tourist attraction. This is known as the greatest suspension bridge in the world, with a total length of 137 meters. Since more than 100 years ago, the suspension bridge has been suspended in the 230-foot-high Capilano Valley with two thick hemp ropes and fragrant wood. Below is the Capilano Valley, which is frightening. In the Suspension Bridge Park, there are totem poles carved and placed by Indians 60 years ago. The colors are bright and eye-catching. The entire park is divided into east and west sides by a suspension bridge. There are roughly 4 parts: suspension bridge, cliff walk, tree walk, and promenade. This park is a bit heavier than the commercial atmosphere, and the tickets are not cheap 35 Canadian dollars/person. But the inside is a bit like a virgin forest. It's still worth a visit. Shuttle among the towering trees.
