Our day started this morning with an early morning alarm so that we could check out early before our morning tour.
Before heading downstairs we called VIA Rail to check that the train was running on time as we were warned a few days ago that it was running two hours late. This phone call changed our plans and mood for the rest of the day. We were told that the train was now running 9 hours late. Bummer! The initial 2 hour delay didn't seem so bad now. Can we have the first option back?
A train delay is fine as long as there are no transfers (bus and ferry) the other end to worry about! But we do....
Anyway, mild panic trying to think of a solution and get ready for our tour and deal with the delay later. We had booked onto the Maligne Canyon ice walk tour. We were picked up from the hotel and taken to the tour office to gear up with rubber boots and cleats. The drive to the canyon was about 20 minutes and the scenery along the way is nothing short of spectacular. Once we arrived at our destination it was time to put on our cleats and head along the bank of the river. This portion of the river does not freeze as it is constantly being filled with ground water above freezing temperature. However further up the canyon there is no ground water feeding in so the floor of the canyon is frozen over. The canyon is 55m deep and widest part being about 10m across. This canyon is a favourite amongst extremists in the white water kayaking circles.
We walked for about 4km over 2 hours so there was plenty of time to take photos and even stop to watch some ice climbers propel down and then climb back up over the edge. We saw some frozen waterfalls ice shelves, fossils and caves that can only be accessed in the winter when the water levels are low and it is just ice. All in all it was a pretty amazing morning. Also we would like to point out that there was a cougar warning in place for the area. No sightings, all is good!
Once we returned to town we got dropped off at the train station to see if we could talk to somebody from VIA rail face to face. This was way more helpful than the people on the phone. They explained that it was looking more like a 6 hour delay and helped us get information about trying to change our transfers at the other end. They also gave us dinner vouchers for a local restaurant as we were supposed to be eating dinner on the train. They informed us that we could check our bags in early and leave any hand luggage with them that we needed on the train but didn't want to cart around town all afternoon. They were very helpful and pleasant to deal with. Just as we were about to leave the station for a tour of Jasper we looked out onto the tracks and notice a whole pile of elk just walking around like they owned the joint. They don't seem to be scared of the trains and only jump out of the way at the very last second.
We went for a walk around town and by this stage it was starting to get very chilly. We were glad that we did the early morning canyon walk as it was sunny and fairly warm (about 5 degrees). By this afternoon it was close to 0 degrees and starting to rain and a few of the locals were saying it was looking like it was going to snow. Unfortunately this didn't happen but it certainly rained.
It seems that a few people from our bus from Banff yesterday had the same idea about catching the train to their next destination. They all look about as equally pleased as us about the delay. I just thank our lucky stars that we have each other as they are travelling by themselves and one lady has a little boy with her also. He has been very well behaved though.
Well that is it from us for now. We will speak to you again from the other end of our 17 hour train journey (yes we have a sleeper cabin) and 4 hour bus and ferry transfer to Vancouver Island (if we make it that is)!
PS Did we mention that Gordo has purchased some new PJ's! Emergency Exit Eh?
Before heading downstairs we called VIA Rail to check that the train was running on time as we were warned a few days ago that it was running two hours late. This phone call changed our plans and mood for the rest of the day. We were told that the train was now running 9 hours late. Bummer! The initial 2 hour delay didn't seem so bad now. Can we have the first option back?
A train delay is fine as long as there are no transfers (bus and ferry) the other end to worry about! But we do....
Anyway, mild panic trying to think of a solution and get ready for our tour and deal with the delay later. We had booked onto the Maligne Canyon ice walk tour. We were picked up from the hotel and taken to the tour office to gear up with rubber boots and cleats. The drive to the canyon was about 20 minutes and the scenery along the way is nothing short of spectacular. Once we arrived at our destination it was time to put on our cleats and head along the bank of the river. This portion of the river does not freeze as it is constantly being filled with ground water above freezing temperature. However further up the canyon there is no ground water feeding in so the floor of the canyon is frozen over. The canyon is 55m deep and widest part being about 10m across. This canyon is a favourite amongst extremists in the white water kayaking circles. We walked for about 4km over 2 hours so there was plenty of time to take photos and even stop to watch some ice climbers propel down and then climb back up over the edge. We saw some frozen waterfalls ice shelves, fossils and caves that can only be accessed in the winter when the water levels are low and it is just ice. All in all it was a pretty amazing morning. Also we would like to point out that there was a cougar warning in place for the area. No sightings, all is good!Once we returned to town we got dropped off at the train station to see if we could talk to somebody from VIA rail face to face. This was way more helpful than the people on the phone. They explained that it was looking more like a 6 hour delay and helped us get information about trying to change our transfers at the other end. They also gave us dinner vouchers for a local restaurant as we were supposed to be eating dinner on the train. They informed us that we could check our bags in early and leave any hand luggage with them that we needed on the train but didn't want to cart around town all afternoon. They were very helpful and pleasant to deal with. Just as we were about to leave the station for a tour of Jasper we looked out onto the tracks and notice a whole pile of elk just walking around like they owned the joint. They don't seem to be scared of the trains and only jump out of the way at the very last second.We went for a walk around town and by this stage it was starting to get very chilly. We were glad that we did the early morning canyon walk as it was sunny and fairly warm (about 5 degrees). By this afternoon it was close to 0 degrees and starting to rain and a few of the locals were saying it was looking like it was going to snow. Unfortunately this didn't happen but it certainly rained. It seems that a few people from our bus from Banff yesterday had the same idea about catching the train to their next destination. They all look about as equally pleased as us about the delay. I just thank our lucky stars that we have each other as they are travelling by themselves and one lady has a little boy with her also. He has been very well behaved though.
Well that is it from us for now. We will speak to you again from the other end of our 17 hour train journey (yes we have a sleeper cabin) and 4 hour bus and ferry transfer to Vancouver Island (if we make it that is)!
PS Did we mention that Gordo has purchased some new PJ's! Emergency Exit Eh?
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