August 26, 1998 The next morning we departed from Janet's family. They were considering taking to Mt. Whistler tramway, but the weather was not to convincing. After all they had a 5 hours drive back to Alberta. Our plan for the day was going south through Banff to Yoho National Park. Columbia Icefield We drove along Icefields Parkway, that connects Jasper and Banff - 230 km. The way was built during the depression in 1930s as an employment project. We made a stop for lunch at Columbia Icefields, which is a tongue of the vast Columbia Icefield. The icefield covers an area of 325 sq km, and parts of the ice are more than 900 metres thick. After having been at the glacier we wedt to the large information centre, which presents a spectacular view. If we had more time, we could have seen films on glaciers (for free). By means of Janet's binoculars (an X-mas gift from Claus) we could see vehicles, taking tourist out into the ice. Very impressing. We were told, that 75 percent of the water supply came from these icefields. Its melting water flows into the Mackenzie, the Saskatchewan and the Columbia Rivers. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Our next stop on Icefields Parkway was at Lake Louise in Banff National Park. No wonder that the lake in the small valley surrounded by sbow-capped mountains often is called "The jewel of the Rockies". The water is green as emerald. That's the reason why Tom Wilson, the first white man at the lake in 1882, named it Emerald Lake. 2 years later it was renamed to Lake Louise after Queen Victoria´s daughter. Close to the lake is fantastic Chateau Lake Louise. Janet said, that the movie "The Shining" with Jack Nicholsen had taken place at the hotel. I can add, that one of the first musical movies, Rose Mary was taken at Lake Louise. If you don't remember the movie, I'm sure you have seen the mountie Nelson Eddy sing "Rose Mary, I love you" and "Indian Love Call" to the beautiful indian girl, Jeanette MacDonald. Oh, you are not that old. On the opposite side of the lake is impressing Victoria Glacier. We also visited Moraine Lake, the picture of which used to occur on the Canadian 20 dollars bill (I think they have changed that?) Yoho National Park Through Kicking Horse Pass (1643 m) we entered Yoho National Park, which is situated in British Columbia. The park has several mountain tops over 3000 m. The word Yoho is the Cree word meaning awe, astonishment or wonder. This 1313 sq. km national park is filled with gem coloured glacial lakes and waterfalls, snow-covered peaks and dense forests of western red cedar and western hemlock. The park is located on the western range of the Rocky Mountains and borders on the Banff and Kootenay National Parks. Kicking Horse Pass got its name i 1858, when sir James Hector during an expedition was kicked to dead by a horse. His Indian men were about to burry him, when somebody noticed, that he was still breathing. At Emerald Lake we saw a 'dam' made by beavers. But unfortunately we did not see any beavers. They seem to be on on a permanent night-shift - a time when many predators are less active. But I can show you a picture of one. Adapted for travel in water, beavers sport webbed hind-toes, a large flat tail that acts as a rudder and a thick undercoat of fur, that insulates against wet and cold. Flaps in their nose, ears and behind their front teeth close, when the animal is underwater. Elwin told us, that a beaver is quite a large animal. If it is attacked by ie. a dog, he will fight back, And his tail is a terrible weapon. Why, I am so interested in this animal? Because the beaver was responsible for the European exploration and colonization of North America. The luxurious rich, brown fur of the beaver soon caught attention across Europe. A fashion rage for beaver hats swept the European continent, and the beaver became the most lucrative commodity in North America. Explorers and fur traders followed waterways and penetrated deep into the heart of the continent, bringing sweeping changes to native cultures and the land itself. Canada was born on the back of the beaver. And when we had returned to Denmark, we read in the newspapers, that the Government has decided to bring the beaver back into the Danish wildlife, from where it disappeared some thousand years ago. Staying at Kicking Horse River We arrived late in the afternoon to the log house, that Janet had rented for the night. Situated just 50 meters from Kicking Horse River, just opposite to Cathedral Mountain. There was a fire place in the room and plenty of wood. If we were allowed to smoke in the house, when we could have an open fire? Of course not! But there was a small veranda, suitable for the purpose. Janet made a portrait of Claus in the sand of the river. Have I told you, that many members of the Nordhagen clan are gifted artists. Janet's mother Mildred carves in wood, and she has decorated the local church. Even people from Beaver Dam has recognized the art work. Birgit and I would very much like to see it for ourselves. At Janet's and Claus' appartment we admired one of Mildred's works: "Howdy Stranger". Elwin has taken up painting after his retirement. And he was not able to hide his pride, when he told, that he had sold a work. Janet usually says, that she hasn't got an artistic touch, but we don't quite beleive her. Janet told, that we this was the kind of surroundings, where we might see bears. But I think, she was just trying to cheer me up. In the evening we drove to Fielding, a small town in the neighbourhood, where we dined at the one and only restaurant within miles. Here we had an excellent meal. Not the best and certainly not the most plentyful meal, we had in Canada. And the price 50% higher than in Jasper. I think this demonstrates, what competition (rather lack of) means to the price level. When we came back to our log house, Birgit and I took a walk to a camping ground on the other side of the highway. Here we saw a camper with a mobile solar panel. We had never seen this kund of equipment before in Europe. When we came back, we relaxed in front of the fire place. Since we all had to sleep, Janet was worried, if somebody would be snoring. But I think that we all were so exhausted, that nobody heard anything.