Kootenay National Park

Kootenay National Park

We continue along the road that crosses the Kootenay National Park, skipping the places we saw yesterday. We can't see Marble Canyon, as it is closed due to numerous fires. The entire area is dry, but here too, the philosophy is the same: it's part of the natural cycle, so there's no need to complain. We meet at least twenty... donkey. Particularly beautiful are the small, speckled white ones that resemble deer. We travel on Route 93 to Vermilion Pass (1650 mt.) to head north along the Icefield Parkway (about 19 km from Banff) and then climb again to see the section of Banff National Park we were missing. We join onto Route 1A, on Bow Valley Parkway, to see the Johnston Canyon and We are returning to Banff..

Excursion to Kananaskis Country

City tour, which we expected to be more touristy in the negative sense of the word. It's still a city, but at least they have tried to give it some character. The weather was slightly overcast, but that doesn't matter anymore. We take a walk along the hill overlooking Banff for views of the Bow Falls (nothing special), Mount Castle, as well as a walk near the Vermilion Lakes in search of beavers. We finally leave the park and head south to... Kananaskis Country, in a landscape full of vibrant colors. Mountains first and grasslands then This is the main theme. Some goats are peacefully grazing on the asphalt, and cars must respectfully give way. Further east, we can see oil extraction facilities. As the ground becomes level, the inevitable ranches appear, with livestock roaming freely, and the Rockies in the background. It feels like reliving a movie, but our trip is coming to an end, and it's wonderful to think that the credits will roll right here, with the Rockies now far away but still impressive. Nature, the true star of this film, says goodbye to us. Along straight, flat roads, we arrive in Calgary, our final destination. We take a quick drive through the skyscrapers of the city center, just to get used to "civilization" again. There's still time for a delicious steak, one with the highest quality rating for Alberta beef. Enjoyed in Calgary, the land of cowboys and herds, it even seems to taste better here.