Avalanche on Icefields Parkway

Much like the signs warning drivers of wildlife on the road, highways in this area have signage warning that this is avalanche country. In both cases the last place you expect to see a moose is where the sign warns you to be vigilant. With our bighorn sightings that occurred within the warning zone every time and then this scene, I'm beginning to believe.

This was just a few km up the Icefields Parkway. We passed it on the way in and I marked the location. On our return I pulled over and took a few shots. I did some research and found that this was supposed to be a controlled avalanche. Two American snow-shoers were killed in another avalanche close to this spot below Mount Hector.

Here is the CBC article I found date May 05, 2017:

More than 24 hours after an attempt to trigger a controlled avalanche brought down more snow than intended and buried part of the Icefields Parkway near Lake Louise, there's still no sign of when the section of road will be re-opened.

"We have road crews in there with heavy road machinery," Parks Canada spokesperson Tania Peters told CBC News Friday.

"We're working to clear out that debris. There is a large volume of it. It's going to take them some time," Peters explained.

The Icefields Parkway, which is a section of Highway 93 North, is blocked between Lake Louise and the Saskatchewan River Crossing. The snow debris is 15 metres deep and covers 100 metres of road, Peters said.

Crews triggered the initial avalanche as part of their seasonal risk reduction efforts, but it brought down more snow than intended.

"Routine avalanche control work on the Icefields Parkway yesterday

[Thursday] evening produced a larger result than expected from Mt. Hector," according to a statement on the Banff National Park Facebook page.

Park officials immediately closed Highway 93 north between the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 11 after the avalanche was triggered.

At the time, officials expected the route to be closed for at least 24 hours.

Avalanche technicians and road crews remained on-scene Thursday night. 

Pictures posted with the article 

I could hear melt water rushing about 100 feet below the road. Notice the guard rail that was destroyed for about 125 feet. The 8 x 8 posts were snapped clean at the ground as were trees pictured.  Another article reported that last winter was the worst avalanche cycle in more than 25 years.

Pictures I took of the scene.

twisted guard rail

looking up the path of the avalanche

looking down the steep hill below the highway

Day 16, Here Comes the Heat

Saturday night after returning from the mountains, AJ and Jess were over for a supper consisting of various apps, fruit and salads. And cheesecake. The boys fight over the fruit topping but both love it when Sal comes to town and makes their favourite homemade dessert. A very relaxed evening with the whole gang.

On Sunday we went to Red's Diner for brunch with AJ and Jess. It was a great place for breakfast/brunch. On to Cross Iron Mills for some shopping. We had to walk almost the entire circuit of the huge, crowded mall to find a usb stick. But it was worth the search to be able to repair the Chromebook.  The temperature is starting to heat up, topping out at about 29 Sunday, but low 30's forecast for the week. 

AJ and Jess were back for supper of salads, hot dogs, burgers and smokies. It sure is great knowing that the boys and their families are so close. When they were young they disagreed more often than not but they have grown into great friends. Watching Campbell and Cullen, they seem to get along better than I remember the boys at that age. 

Mike and Mel are off to Vegas for 3 nights in the morning so we're on our own with the boys for a few days. AJ and Jess were invited any time they want, in case we need backup but I'm sure we'll be fine.

Christmas in July, Campbell found this and brought it out,
then expected Santa to stop by.

Day 15, Back to Our Home Away from Home on Canada Day

I started the morning early again, reading and listening to some jazz while trying the hotel supplied coffee. Not bad but it left me wanting something a little more. Weather was perfect for a walk so I dressed and went towards the main street. At 6:20 the sun was just coming over the mountains on the east side of the valley and bringing the details of the Three Sisters on the western side into view. They are visible from almost anywhere in Canmore. I strolled along passing over a small creek before entering the town center. I stopped and took a few pictures with my phone. I had passed a few businesses that would have had coffee, had they been open. I passed another early morning walker and asked if everything was closed. We walked for a bit with his dog close by. He suggested the Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. a few blocks up. If I hurried my coffee would only be $1.50. We went our separate ways and I got my large coffee and sat at a table outside, just sipping real coffee and watching the sun moving on the sisters. I really can't understand how anyone gets any work done in Canmore or Banff. I'd be caught staring at the mountains a dozen times a day.

I refilled my cup for another buck and a half and returned to the hotel down the main street that was all set for the Canada Day Parade. There were lawn chairs, folding chairs, restaurant chairs and blankets lining the street even though it didn't begin for another 5 hours. Small towns, must be nice to be able to leave something outside overnight and not have it grow legs.

We decided on a light breakfast after the large meal the evening before. I had overheard the owner of the bagel place tell a customer that there was another location on the 1A so went there, grabbed another coffee and a bagel. We each picked a muffin for later. Then it was up the Three Sisters Parkway, where oddly enough we couldn't really see the sisters. The parkway wound its way up over Canmore and we got a quick glimpse down to the valley from elevation before the parkway intersected with the TC and we were off to Kananaskis.

We made this 150 km drive last summer from the south without stopping except for Bighorn sheep. This time we took a much more leisurely pace from the north and stopped often for pictures and just to pause and look at some of the mountains, the last we will see of them for at least another year. This area is home to several provincial parks and since only the national parks are offering free admission the road was not very busy. The TC heading towards Banff looked like rush hour on the 401.  

About 100 km in I saw a dark brown shape on a slope along the far side of the road and quickly pulled onto the shoulder. Scrambling for my camera, I told Sal 'Grizzly'. It was a young bear about the size of the black bears we had seen the previous day, slowly roaming the hillside nibbling at plants. I changed to my longer zoom lens, put the drivers window down and snapped away for 5 minutes. It was something I never expected so see on the side of the road. We had almost counted on seeing bighorn sheep again as they were on the road right after all the warning signs last year, but not a grizzly. He paid no attention at all to us or the other 2 cars that stopped. Earlier in the week it was reported that someone had walked right up to a grizzly to get a picture. Park officials are getting more and more upset as they have to react when one dummy causes a bear to get a taste of the easy life on the side of the road. Feeding them causes the bears far more trouble. 'Our' grizzly put on a good show, stopping to pose so that we could snap away and then we left him, totally amazed at what we had just witnessed.

At the southern end of the road just as were were dropping into the foothills, we came around a corner after another ad for wildlife and a group of bighorns were standing in the middle of our lane. 2 adults and 3 smaller, scraggly looking young sheep. They had no fear of the cars that stopped to check them out. Our day was complete and it was barely lunch time.

Some may look forward to Canada Day for the partying and fireworks. For us, this was a special Canada Day. Being able to drive through such beauty without crossing a border is a blessing we should all learn to appreciate. Our country has so much to offer. Why the crowds are flocking to the national parks simply because they save the $20 entry fee is beyond my comprehension. If I lived here I would gladly spend $20 any time I could to further explore.

We're going to start buying lottery tickets in the hopes that someday we might move a little closer to the part of the country we share a love for.

Surprise visitor

Three Sisters

Bighorn sheep at the end of the drive