Rocky Mountain High

August 25, 1998 Janet told, that her family would probably arrive just after noon. She was not quite sure, who would accompagny her parents. We decided to spend the morning going to Mt. Whistler, approx. 6 km south of Jasper. Jasper Tramway to Mt. Whistler Usually Birgit is not very fond of heights. But she overcame her natural fear and joined us, when we took the tramway - almost to the top of Mt. Whistler. Jasper Tramway is Canada's longest aerial tram operation. The upper terminal lies at 2,500 metres. A one-way trip in the 30 passenger cabin takes 7 minutes. In fact the distance is longer, than you would think. Because when you think, that you have reached the top, you realize, that you are only half way. The view of the surrounding area is spectacular. On a clear day you can see 75 km to the south to Columbia Icefield, 100 km to the west to Mt. Robson. Right in front of you is Jasper Town and Athabasca River. There is a cafeteria, a dining room and a gift shops at the top. Besides that there are hiking trails to and around the top. Janet and Claus continued towards the top. Some people seem to be unable to relax and enjoy the view. In the meantime we enjoyed the many chipmunks. Of course, I did not feed them! Too many people were watching me. The color of the chipmunk varies from yellowish-grey above with tan dark stripes to brownish-grey with black side stripes. The striped continue to the base of the tail; the sides are generally an orange-brown; the belly greyish-white. The tail is long and light brown above, yellowish below with long, black-tipped hairs. It is the most widely occurring species in Canada. Bighorn Mountain Sheep This picture of Janet and Claus was taken, after we had returned safely to mother Earth. Janet suggested, that we should drive to a place in the neighbourhood of Jasper, where chances were good for seeing mountain sheep. And sheep we saw. A herd of maybe 30 or more, close to the highway. A dangerous situation occured when a mother sheep was separated from her baby, who preferred the green grass on the opposite side of the heavy traficated highway. The mother just crossed the highway and brought her baby back, and then they climbed the rather high rocks. A spectacular view. And now back to Jasper to meet Janet's family. Meeting Janet's family Janet's parents - Mildred and Elwin - were accompagnied by sister Linda and her husband Pete(r) and their 2 sons, Thomas and Alexander. We quickly split up, so that the women went shopping, and the men would find a place to learn to know each other. Reluctantly we followed Pete into a shabby? bar. I don't know, how he found this bar, since there were no signs to be seen from the street. Did I tell, that Birgit followed the men - she has never missed the chance for a beer. And they do have great beer in Canada. Birgit and I had been a bit anxious, whether we would have any difficulty in talking to Janet's family. But we had no reason for worry. Both Elwin and Pete proved to have lot of homour. Elwin has retired, but they were still living on the farm in Hythe in Alberta. Their son Jim was busy with the harvest. And his wife Lorna busy with sewing on their daughters wedding gown, She is to be married in November this year. Mildred and Elwin have 1 son and 5 daughters. I asked Elwin, if he in the earlier days ever wanted, that he had had 5 sons and 1 daughter - like his parents had had. And he told us, that Mildred had often driven the tractor, when it was needed, and they had been working 24 hours some days. I asked, if then had not considered moving to Hythe, after they had retired. Elwin told, that in fact they had had a house in town for some time. But that Janet one day had put an "On Sale" sign in the window and sold the house 'over his head', when he had been ill. The first house in Hythe to be sold for 10 years. (When I later blaimed Janet for this, she just told me, that she had not even got a commission for the work). Determined women in that family! Pete seemed to be a busy man, Besides running a farm he has 2 computer shops in Grande Prairee. But he did not seem stressed, and like Elwin wit a lot of good homour. Lake Patricia Janet proposed, that we should go to Lake Patricia and Pyramide Lake, which are situated approx. 7 km north of Jasper. As you can see, these lakes are just wonderful and very quiet. After some 10 minutes walk, Mildred and Elwin turned around and went back to the cars. Janet told, that her mother was afraid of bears. At first I could not believe this, but I have later seen in a book. that bears and coyotes are often met at these premises. Strange for us Danes, who only know Yogi Bear from the cartoons. Pete said, that it is impossible to outrun a bear. But as Thomas wisely pointed out, you just have to outrun the slowest member of the company. When we had returned to Jasper town, we made a short visit to the museum. I don't think, that our Canadian friends found the museum very interesting, since they were very familiar with the development, that was represented. But to us Danes it was quite an experience to learn fx. how the railroad come to the region. Dining in Jasper In the evening we had dinner at the Greek family restaurant, which we had frequented earlier. After dinner we followed Janet's family to their hotel in Ametysk Lodge, where we continued talking until late at night. When Birgit and I walked back to out bed-and-breakfast, we spotted 3 elks lying in the grass in the middle of the road. It had been a heartwarming experience to meet Janet's family. The only uncomfortable thing was, that we had not been allowed to pay for the food or the beverage. We had promissed to come to their hotel the next morning, before leaving Jasper.