My TripAdvisor Review No.557: Rocky Inn, Valemount, BC, Canada.

Motel With A Frontier Feel.

This accommodation was booked for us by our tour group organiser. We stopped here just for one night after spending the evening shopping and sight-seeing in Jasper town.

The hotel had a feel of a real frontier town motel as the building structure was made from logs of wood, there was a wide open parking space for many cars and buses, and a central log cabin with a pit for a campfire with benches and picnic tables to sit around and enjoy a barbecue party. In fact, that is exactly how our group enjoyed the chilly evening having a barbecue dinner around the fire. We were served with barbecued sausages and rolls, with vegetarian patties for the vegans, and coleslaw salad, with everyone learning how to make marsh-mellows on the open fire from our tour guide. It was great fun.

Our ground floor wooden cabin was quite basic but comfortable with three large beds, and a small dining table with chairs. The bathroom was spotless and had a tub with the basic toiletries. There was wi-fi but no microwave, tea or coffee maker in our room.

Being located next to the Southern Yellowstone Highway we went out for a morning walk in the open areas around Swift Creek and George Hicks Regional Park nearby. We did not have breakfast at the hotel but checked out with our group for an outdoor breakfast and dance at Willow Ranch.

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Date of stay: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.556: Jasper Information Center, Alberta, Canada.

Beautiful Architecture.

The Jasper Visitor Information Centre attracted our attention as soon as we emerged from the Jasper Rail Station. It is located in a nice park like compound opposite the Rail Station. It is housed in a very beautifully designed rustic style building with many layers of red tiled sloping roofs with peaks at different levels. It is constructed from locally sourced materials. No two doors or windows look the same. The building has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.

We went to the Information Centre to find out about the various hikes and trekking routes, as well as the popular places to visit. The staff were friendly and helped us out by offering us printed maps and brochures of the town and surroundings. Since we were in Jasper for a very short time they advised us to do a ride on the Sky Tram as the best option.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.555: The Raven Bistro, Jasper, Canada.

Excellent Food And Service.

After a bit of window shopping in Downtown Jasper we were looking for a restaurant to have lunch. We happened to be walking near ‘The Raven Bistro’ and read some nice online reviews about it. It was not very busy and we liked the ambience of the place. The hostess welcomed us in with a friendly greeting and settled us down at one of the tables near the window.

They had some exotic sounding dishes on the menu like; Canary Island Buddha Bowl, Salade Nicoise, Coconut Kaffir Lime Seafood Pot, Buffalo Chicken Wafflewich, Falafel Naanwich and some more. They even had elk meat on the menu for that day.

I decided to have a Spiced Lamb Burger with some Raven Salad, and my wife ordered a Cheese Pasta with ham and bread crumbs. We enjoyed the food and the friendly service. Prices were reasonable, maybe a bit on the high side.

We would love to visit again on our next visit to Jasper.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.554: Bear's Paw Bakery, Jasper, Canada.

Very Popular Bakery Of Jasper.

Being located just next door to the Jasper Downtown Hostel we went to Bear’s Paw Bakery after leaving our luggage at the hostel. We thought we would get some muffins or burgers for brunch around noon. But most of the savory items seemed to be over and we got to try some cheesecake and a spicy sausage roll. We ordered some latte coffee too. The taste was OK but nothing exceptional.

Next morning we thought we would go down for an early breakfast, but there was already a long queue of people waiting their turn. The bakery seems to be quite popular in Jasper and is always crowded. They serve quite a good variety of items like croissants, buns, muffins, pastries, cakes, scones and a variety of coffees and hot chocolate. They have very limited seating inside and most tourists prefer to take-away.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.553: Jasper Downtown Hostel, Jasper, Alberta, Canada.

Decent Dorm Rooms.

Getting budget accommodation during the peak summer season in Jasper can be really difficult, but we managed to grab the last few bunks available in Jasper Downtown Hostel a couple of weeks before doing our VIA Rail trip from Vancouver to Prince Rupert. We spent two nights in an 8 bedded mixed dorm room in the hostel.

The hostel is just a 5 minute walk from the Jasper Rail Station and we did it in 15 with all our baggage, admiring the mountain scenery along the way. We had arrived early as check in time is 4 pm, but we were allowed to deposit our luggage in the downstairs lockers and go out for lunch and some window shopping.

Our room was nice and simple with 8 bunk beds, each having their own curtain, reading lamp, charging point and a small shelf to keep small bedside stuff. We were each given a towel and bedding kit, and a kitchen kit which we kept in the common kitchen locker. The room was very clean and there was a common en-suite separate toilet and bathroom. Only a few lower bunk beds had storage lockers under the bed, so the others had to keep their bags next to their bunks. All common lights were supposed to be switched off by 11 pm.

There was a large community kitchen with cook-tops and microwaves. Tea and coffee makers were also available. One could buy food and drinks from the downtown market and store it in the large refrigerators with glass doors, with our name and room number tags. We used the utensils provided by them and had to wash it after use with the liquid soap provided by them and return the kitchen kit before departing. We cooked our own dinner, and breakfast next morning.

There was a common lounge with TV and a bookshelf, and some sofas near the reception area and a small garden with outdoor seating. The staff were quite friendly and helpful. Free parking is available on the road next to the hostel.

We enjoyed the experience of staying in a hostel, though getting up and down from the upper bunk was a little challenging for us senior citizens.

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Date of stay: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.552: McBride Visitor Center, BC, Canada.

Whistle Stop Station.

The McBride Visitor Centre is housed in the heritage station building of the village of McBride which is located 166 km west of Jasper and 210 km southeast of Prince George in the Robson Valley region of British Columbia. The train station was built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in the year 1913. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1919 after being burnt down by a fire in 1918.

What we thought would be a whistle stop on our VIA Rail journey from Jasper to Prince George turned out to be a much longer halt at the McBride Rail Station. We were probably waiting for a freight train to pass. So we were allowed to get down and stretch our legs at McBride. We found the station building to be quite interesting because the McBride Visitor Centre is also located here. We found quite a good collection of free pamphlets and maps of the interesting places of British Columbia and particularly of the Rocky Mountains.

There is also a gallery of paintings and art works done by the local artists on display and yes, the name of the gallery is ‘Whistle Stop Gallery’. There is also a café and coffee shop called ‘The Beanery’.

We wish we could have browsed a bit more but the locomotive’s engineer sounded the train’s hooter, the conductor blew her whistle, and we had to board our train to head to Prince George.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.551: Mount Robson, BC, Canada.

Rocky Mountain High.

Mount Robson located in the Mount Robson Provincial Park of British Columbia is the highest peak in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The peak stands at an elevation of 3954 meters or 12972 feet. The Fraser River originates as a trickle from up this mountain eventually flowing down to the Pacific Ocean. It can be easily seen and photographed from the Yellowhead Highway and the VIA Rail train running from Jasper to Prince Rupert. The nearest towns are Jasper in the east and Valemount in the south-west.

We passed Mount Robson twice while doing the VIA Rail trip from Jasper to Prince George and back. The first time we passed it was covered by thick clouds so we did not get to see the peak, but on the return trip we got a clear view of the high mountain and took some pictures too. It was an impressive sight to behold.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.550: Jasper Train & Tour, Canada.

All Aboard The 'Skeena' to Prince Rupert.

We decided to take the VIA Rail tour to explore and sight-see the western parts of British Columbia. We took ‘The Skeena’ train from Jasper to Prince Rupert, sometimes referred to as the ‘Rupert Rocket’ by the train staff. The journey takes about 20 hours to cover the distance of 1160 kms with an overnight stop at Prince George.

Our Economy Class seats were very comfortable with lots of leg room. Of course one can also choose to travel in the Touring Class, which has free access to the Dome Car and Park Car, by paying a higher fare, and which also includes buffet meals and drinks served on the train. For the economy class, meals, snacks, fruit juice and coffee have to be purchased separately and it is served to you at your seat. Some passengers opted to bring their own packed sandwiches and snacks. While traveling to Prince Rupert we did not have access to the Dome Car, but while returning we did, as there was only one couple in the Touring Class and they very kind and did not mind mingling with us.

The train staff were friendly and ever helpful. We had lady Louise as our guide, ably assisted by gentleman Anthony. They would periodically inform us about the route and stations we were passing, as well as the main attractions and points of interest along the way. Wildlife spotting was high on everyone’s agenda and we did spot some deer and elk along the route. The snow covered mountain peaks and fast flowing rivers, the Fraser and the Skeena, always kept our gaze riveted out the large windows during the day. The train would slow down while passing points of interest like Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.

One of the most controversial aspects of this way of travelling was that the VIA Rail trains were given lower priority than the freight trains, and we would have to stop at a siding quite often to let the freight trains pass, sometimes for as long as an hour. But this gave us an opportunity, with the engineer’s permission, to get off the train and stretch our legs and explore the countryside at ground level. As a result the ‘Skeena’ could never stick to its schedule. We had to check in to our Prince George hotel once at 11 pm, and beyond midnight on the return trip.

We had to arrange our own accommodations in the frontier towns of Prince George and Prince Rupert.

On the whole we quite enjoyed our rail trip from Jasper to Prince Rupert through the mighty Rocky Mountains.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.549: Tags Jasper, Alberta, Canada.

Convenience Store.

Tags was a nice grocery and convenience store and delicatessen located close to the Jasper Downtown Hostel where we stayed for one night. We could get a variety of ready to eat food items and also a selection of green teas and coffee. Bread, cookies and chocolates were also readily available. Ice-creams, fruit juices and soft drinks were also available, as well as frozen meats.

We bought some dips and cracker biscuits which we had as a light snack in the hostel kitchen. We also bought some packets of Doritos to munch in the train to Prince Rupert.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.548: Barako Cafe & Gifts, Jasper Railway Station, Alberta, Canada.

Brunch At Jasper Station.

Our train ‘The Skeena’ to Prince George was delayed by over an hour so we were waiting in the Jasper Station Lounge and beginning to feel hungry. The complimentary coffee and cookies provided by VIA Rail was not enough to keep the hunger pangs at bay.

We found this nice café and gift shop in the annex of the railway station. I ordered ham and cheese sandwiches and some coffee with latte and cream. It took them a while to prepare and I was wondering why. When I was served I found the sandwiches really hot and tasty, and the coffee was also exceptional. Full marks to them for providing freshly prepared stuff. They have some chairs and tables to sit and eat near the café and out on the platform, but we carried our brunch to the lounge where we had occupied seats next to our luggage.

There are some gift items and memorabilia also which they have on display, like picture post cards, coins, key-chains and bookmarks which we were almost tempted to buy.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.547: Jasper Station, Alberta, Canada.

Heritage Building.

We had to change trains at Jasper on our trip by VIA Rail from Vancouver to Prince Rupert. After boarding ‘The Canadian’ at Vancouver we arrived at Jasper the next morning and alighted at Jasper Station. We had to stay one night at a Jasper hotel and come back the next morning to catch ‘The Skeena’ which travels to Prince Rupert on the north western coast of Canada.

Jasper Station is housed in a beautiful heritage structure which was reconstructed after a fire burned it down almost 95 years ago. It is managed by the Canadian National Railway. Both VIA Rail and The Rocky Mountaineer use the station as transit points for their tourist trains.

There is a large high ceiling-ed waiting hall cum lounge where passengers can relax till their trains arrive. Heavy suitcases can be weighed at the check-in baggage counter next to the VIA Rail enquiry counter. Free tourist literature about the Rocky Mountains and the rest of western Canada can be picked up from the racks. Complimentary tea and coffee with cookies is available, and there are clean restrooms. There is a restaurant, coffee and gift shop in the annex. There is a large parking lot in the building compound. Services of tourist buses and taxis can be availed at the kiosks within the station.

The station is within a short walking distance from downtown Jasper and the shopping boulevard is just across the road. One can easily walk across to a regular restaurant while 'The Canadian' stops at Jasper for its onward journey to Toronto.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.546: Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure, Alberta, Canada.

A Walk On The Glacier.

We were on a bus tour of the Canadian Rockies which stopped at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. We did the Snocoach ride to the Athabasca Glacier in the Ice Explorer bus, operated by the Brewster Bus Company. Due to the limited time at our disposal we did not do the Skywalk.

A shuttle bus took us from the Discovery Centre to the Snocoach Terminal from where we boarded the giant Ice Explorer Bus. The tires of the bus were huge. Our guide and driver was Prince Philip who kept us engrossed with his entertaining stories and jokes. Atop the glacier we alighted on the glacier ice and had a short walk to where the flags of various countries were planted in the snow. We collected some freshly melted glacial water in a bottle to drink later.

We had an out-of-the world experience walking on the glacier, and learnt a few lessons on why the glacier is receding at an alarming rate. The ride itself lasted less than an hour both ways, and we were trudging on the glacier for about 25 minutes. We were thankful to have worn our warm jackets, shoes and scarves and visited the restroom before going as it was very cold up there.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.545: Columbia Icefield Discovery Center, Alberta, Canada.

Midway Pit Stop Between Banff And Jasper On Icefields Parkway.

The Discovery Centre is located just opposite the Athabasca Glacier on the Icefields Parkway midway between Banff and Jasper. You can walk to the toe of the glacier from the Centre. There is a restaurant and a cafeteria in the Centre, and Glacier View Inn has rooms where you can stay the night.

Our tour bus halted at the Discovery Centre for lunch and some sight-seeing. The Centre was quite crowded with tourists milling around the gift shop, where you can buy clothes and memorabilia from both Banff and Jasper. There is a small museum and an information desk where we got some information about the Columbia Icefields and its glaciers. You can buy tickets for the ‘Glacier Experience’ operated by the Brewster Bus Company which operate the giant Snocoach buses to take you up on the Athabasca Glacier.

A shuttle bus took us from the Centre to the Snocoach Terminal from where we boarded the Snocoach. We had an out-of-the world experience walking on the glacier.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.544: Columbia Icefield, Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada.

The Glacier Is Just One Toe Of The Giant Icefield Beyond.

Going up the Athabasca Glacier in a Snow-Coach was one of the highlights of our Rocky Mountain trip experience. In reality the glacier was just one protruding toe of the giant Columbia Icefield.

After traveling a few hundred meters up the glacier in the Snow Coach we realized the true enormity of the Columbia Icefield which stretched into the horizon between the two mountains. It is the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains. It straddles the Continental Divide and spills over into the province of British Columbia. The Icefield feeds five other major glaciers besides the Athabasca Glacier which we were standing on.

This was our first ever experience of walking on a glacier, and we then understood the importance of preserving the icefields on the top of mountains. It is these icefields which hold the snow and ice in winter, to slowly melt and supply us with water to drink and to irrigate the land so that farmers can grow the crops and plants which feed us throughout the year.

Be prepared to face the chilly winds and maybe some snow when going up the glacier. The temperature drops quite drastically even in mid-summer.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.543: Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada.

Walking On Cloud Nine!

Going up the Athabasca Glacier in a Snow-Coach was one of the highlights of our Rocky Mountain trip experience. We had pre-booked our SnoCoach tickets at the time of booking our bus tour so we did not have to wait much at the Icefield Discovery Centre.

First an ordinary bus took us up midway to the SnoCoach terminus where we boarded the giant coach with huge tires. It took about 15 minutes to reach the glacier where we were allowed to get down and walk on the crunchy ice of the glacier. Suddenly it was freezing cold in mid-summer, enough to make my cell-phone shut down. We were thankful to have worn warm clothing and proper walking shoes. There were flags of different countries planted in the ice, and a trickle of pure glacier melt water which we collected in a bottle to drink later.

There were signs that the glacier is receding at an alarming rate, which is a clear indication of global warming.

For us the glacier walk was like an other worldly experience, as if we had been walking on Cloud Nine!

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.542: Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada.

Breath-taking Drive From Banff To Jasper.

We traveled the Icefields Parkway, which is part of Alberta Highway No. 93, north of the Trans-Canada Highway No.1. It links Lake Louise, near Banff, with Jasper in the north, a distance of about 230 km. It is always open in the summer months from May to September. In winter, chains or winter rated radial tires are required by law, and there may be road closures without warning. There is no cell coverage and trucks are not allowed on this road.

The drive from Banff to Jasper along the Parkway is known to be one of the most beautiful and breath-taking drives in the world with snow capped peaks, glaciers, forests and lakes along the route where one can stop to admire the stunning scenery. There is plenty of wildlife like bears, wolves, elk, moose, deer and many other creatures roaming the forests, but you have to be lucky to spot any if you are merely driving along. We drove under many wildlife overpasses, or corridors, which have been specially constructed and are inaccessible to the normal traveler due to it being fenced.

A Canadian national parks permit is required to travel on the Icefields Parkway, but since we did the route in a guided tour bus we left that worry to the tour company. We stopped at many of the popular tourist places along the Parkway; prominent among them being Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Bow Summit, and the Icefields Centre at the Athabasca Glacier.

We finally stopped in Jasper for an evening cup of coffee and some shopping before carrying on further to Valemount where we stayed the night in a motel.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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