{"id":8649,"date":"2017-06-26T08:10:10","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T14:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8649"},"modified":"2021-03-18T21:33:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T03:33:33","slug":"parker-ridge-the-saskatchewan-glacier-banff-national-park-canada-9-6-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=8649","title":{"rendered":"Parker Ridge & the Saskatchewan Glacier, Banff National Park, Canada (9-6-16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 39 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska<\/em><\/p>\n

6:20 AM on this beautiful early September morning found Lupe already on the road, heading SE on\u00a0Yellowhead Highway No. 16.\u00a0 Ever since leaving Alaska, Lupe had made her 450 mile daily\u00a0quota or a little more.\u00a0 Today she didn’t need to go so far.\u00a0 She could spent part of the day visiting some favorite places in the Canadian Rockies.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s first stop came\u00a0before mid-morning when\u00a0she\u00a0reached her favorite picnic ground in Jasper National Park.\u00a0 For some unknown reason, there’s no signage for this great\u00a0picnic area right along the E bank of the\u00a0mighty Athabasca River.\u00a0 It’s\u00a0located 5 or 6 miles S of Athabasca Falls along the W side of\u00a0Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.<\/p>\n

The Athabasca River was much lower than Lupe had ever seen it before, but until today she had never been here this late in the season.\u00a0 Previously, the river had always come right up to the bank at the edge of the picnic ground.\u00a0 Now a wide expanse of riverbed was exposed beyond the bank.\u00a0 Lupe went down to the riverbed, and trotted over rounded stones to the water’s edge.<\/p>\n

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Lupe had never seen the Athabasca River so low before. She went way out across exposed riverbed to this boulder. Photo looks upstream (SE).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Loop at the Athabasca River near her favorite picnic ground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every other time Lupe had seen the Athabasca River, it had been a light gray color, running high, and full of silt.\u00a0 Now\u00a0the river\u00a0was a beautiful blue.<\/p>\n

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When the Athabasca River is running higher, it is a light gray color and full of silt. Today the river was running low and a beautiful blue. Photo looks downstream (NW).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Time for a late breakfast.\u00a0 After checking out the river, Lupe returned to the picnic ground.\u00a0 While SPHP heated up soup and Swiss Miss, Lupe had a fine time barking at squirrels in the trees.\u00a0 When breakfast was ready, Lupe helped SPHP devour the soup.\u00a0 She didn’t get any Swiss Miss.<\/p>\n

Lupe got to spend nearly 2 hours at the picnic ground.\u00a0 She took short walks through the forest along the river with SPHP, barked at squirrels, and returned to the Athabasca River.<\/p>\n

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Looking upstream again toward Mount Christie<\/a><\/span> (10,236 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Happy times at the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park! Mount Christie in the background. Lupe’s still keeping a sharp eye out for squirrels up in the trees on the riverbank. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Late in the morning, another vehicle pulled in to the picnic ground.\u00a0 No doubt more would be coming as lunch time approached.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP hit the road again.\u00a0 Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 through the majestic Canadian Rockies is always a spectacular drive.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP enjoyed the scenery, passing by many gorgeous places Lupe had explored on her 2013 and 2014 Dingo Vacations.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t stop again, however, until she reached the trailhead for Parker Ridge<\/a><\/span> (7,612 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 By now it was early afternoon, and the trailhead parking lot was packed.\u00a0 SPHP had to wait for a parking spot to open up.<\/p>\n

Parker Ridge is Lupe and SPHP’s favorite short day hike in the Canadian Rockies.\u00a0 A well-traveled trail switchbacks up the side of the ridge.\u00a0 On the other side is a tremendous view of the\u00a0huge U-shaped valley carved long ago by the Saskatchewan Glacier.\u00a0 The glacier can still be seen in the upper part of the valley\u00a0flowing down from the Columbia Icefield.\u00a0 The trail\u00a0gains over 800 feet of elevation on its way to the ridgeline.<\/p>\n

The Parker Ridge Trail was very busy, but the glorious view of the Saskatchewan Glacier from the other side of the ridge made dealing with the crowd totally worthwhile.<\/p>\n

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Once over the ridgeline, Lupe had fantastic views of the Saskatchewan Glacier. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge. Photo looks SW using the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The way the terrain is configured, Lupe’s view of the Saskatchewan Glacier actually improved as she followed the trail on the other side of Parker Ridge away<\/em><\/strong> from the glacier.\u00a0 More of the toe of the glacier could be seen from here.<\/p>\n

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The farther Lupe followed the trail away from the Saskatchewan Glacier, the more she could see of the glacier’s toe and the pond below it. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking W along Parker Ridge. On the other side of these mountains is Jasper National Park and another impressive glacier. The Athabasca Glacier can be seen from Icefields Parkway Hwy 93, but for a truly amazing view of it, Lupe recommends taking the trail to Wilcox Pass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Saskatchewan Glacier flows down from the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in North America’s Rocky Mountains.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge using the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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An even closer look at the toe of the Saskatchewan Glacier through the telephoto lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Across the huge valley carved by the Saskatchewan Glacier, Lupe saw high peaks and impressive snowfields. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe followed the Parker Ridge trail far enough away from the Saskatchewan Glacier to where she could see its entire toe.<\/p>\n

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Lupe with a view of the entire toe of the Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A close-up showing the entire toe of the glacier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several groups of people had gone this far along the trail, too.\u00a0 Everyone was hanging around enjoying the glacier view.\u00a0 After several minutes, Lupe realized people and Carolina Dogs weren’t the only ones interested in being here.\u00a0 A mountain sheep wandered up the steep side of Parker Ridge from the valley below, likely more interested in finding something to eat than the grand view.<\/p>\n

After all, mountain sheep are so used to splendid scenery they pretty much take it for granted.\u00a0 A good meal can be harder to come by.<\/p>\n

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A mountain sheep wandered up to the Parker Ridge trail from the deep valley below. The sheep seemed used to people, but rather alarmed to be confronted with the presence of an American Dingo!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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When the mountain sheep saw Lupe, it hesitated before coming any farther up. Lupe and the mountain sheep were both extremely interested in each other, but for different reasons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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For mountain sheep in the Canadian Rockies, spectacular scenery is easy to come by. Photo looks ESE from close to the end of the Parker Ridge trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a few minutes, Lupe and the mountain sheep had a stare down.\u00a0 Lupe was a very good American Dingo.\u00a0 She did not bark or lunge at the sheep.\u00a0 She wouldn’t have gotten anywhere anyway, since she was on her leash.<\/p>\n

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Lupe and the mountain sheep stared each other down for several minutes before the sheep decided it was safe to come farther on up Parker Ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Lupe didn’t do anything except stare in rapt attention, the mountain sheep decided maybe it was safe to come farther on up Parker Ridge.\u00a0 It turned out this sheep was an advance scout.\u00a0 Several more mountain sheep suddenly made their appearance.<\/p>\n

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The first mountain sheep was only a scout. When the scout decided it was OK to advance despite Lupe’s presence, the rest of the flock started appearing. Six sheep ultimately came into view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A total of six mountain sheep came up onto Parker Ridge from below.\u00a0 Lupe still didn’t bark, but\u00a0the sight of all these mountain sheep wandering around nearby\u00a0was almost more than she could bear.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was trembling with excitement from nose to tail.\u00a0 She kept glancing up at SPHP pleading to be turned loose.\u00a0 She was absolutely 110% certain fresh mutton would taste better than the soup she’d had for breakfast.<\/p>\n

This situation wasn’t going to be sustainable.\u00a0 To Lupe’s enormous disappointment, SPHP insisted that she head back away from the mountain sheep.\u00a0 She was most reluctant to comply, but in the end, she had no choice.\u00a0 Parker Ridge had certainly been an exciting adventure, but oh, how much better it\u00a0might have been!<\/p>\n

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Lupe on Parker Ridge on the way back to the G6. Mount Wilcox<\/a><\/span> (9,462 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is in view at Center. To the R is Wilcox Pass, where there are tremendous views of the nearby Athabasca Glacier. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP returned to the G6 (3:48 PM, 48\u00b0F).\u00a0 Lupe continued S on Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.\u00a0 Her biggest adventure for the day up on Parker Ridge was over, but she still had some fun ahead of her.\u00a0 Overcome with drowsiness from the gorgeous, relaxing drive, SPHP eventually parked the G6 at Lupe’s favorite picnic ground in Banff National Park on the SE side of Bow Lake.<\/p>\n

After an hour’s nap, Lupe got to go see wonderful Bow Lake.<\/p>\n

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Lupe at beautiful Bow Lake. Photo looks W from near the picnic ground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The red roof of the Num Ti Jah Lodge is in view at the foot of Mount Jimmy Simpson<\/a><\/span> (9,731 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> across Bow Lake. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking S along the shore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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On a path at the picnic ground. No one else was around. Lupe and SPHP had the whole place to themselves.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The picnic ground was completely deserted, even though it was dinnertime.\u00a0 After a good look at Bow Lake, SPHP prepared dinner at a table near the shore.\u00a0 At this late stage of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation, supplies were almost completely exhausted.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP shared the last of the soup and sardines.<\/p>\n

Good thing Lupe was well on her way home!\u00a0 Swiss Miss and tea was all that remained to sustain SPHP, though Lupe still had some Taste of the Wild and Alpo in reserve.<\/p>\n

By the time this feast\u00a0was over it was 7:00 PM, but there was still light in the sky.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP drove over to the Num Ti Jah Lodge at the N end of the lake.\u00a0 Lupe went down to the shore and saw a curious thing.\u00a0 A piece of wood was swimming around as if it were alive!<\/p>\n

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Near Num Ti Jah Lodge, Lupe saw a curious sight. A piece of wood was swimming around in Bow Lake as if it were alive!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe had spotted a beaver!\u00a0\u00a0The beaver paddled around near the shore completely unconcerned by Lupe’s presence.\u00a0 Lupe wasn’t really certain why that piece of wood seemed so lively, but finally lost interest in it since it never came out of the water where it could be properly sniffed and inspected.<\/p>\n

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The beaver paid Lupe no attention. Since it never left the lake, Lupe eventually lost interest in it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The beaver had a short stick it was gnawing the tender thin bark off of.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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After a few minutes, the stick didn’t have much bark left. The beaver looked quite satisfied with this treat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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After a few minutes, the lively piece of wood (seen beyond Lupe) swam away. Photo looks SSE across Bow Lake. Part of the Crowfoot Glacier is in view R of Center beyond the opposite shore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe, the beaver, Bow Lake & the Crowfoot Glacier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The beaver eventually swam away farther out into the lake.\u00a0 Lupe never did figure out what made that floating piece of wood so much livelier than any other she’d ever encountered.<\/p>\n

Off to the SW, part of Bow Glacier and Bow Glacier Falls were in view.\u00a0 A trail that Lupe took once before on her Summer of 2013 Dingo Vacation goes all the way to the base of Bow Glacier Falls.\u00a0 It\u00a0would be dark long before Lupe\u00a0could do that again, but there was still time to follow the trail partway along the N shore of Bow Lake.<\/p>\n

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Beyond Bow Lake, part of the Bow Glacier and Bow Glacier Falls were in view. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bow Glacier & Bow Glacier Falls using the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Too bad there wasn’t time to take the trail all the way to Bow Glacier Falls again, but it would be dark before Lupe could get there. It’s a great, easy, scenic hike with a good trail and very little elevation gain along the way. Lupe highly recommends it!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Num Ti Jah Lodge is at the N end of Bow Lake. The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts here. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This hefty, wooden bridge crosses a small creek entering Bow Lake near Num Ti Jah Lodge. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bow Glacier flows down from the Wapta Icefield. Another small lake exists out of sight below Bow Glacier above the falls. Neither the small upper lake, nor the glacier are visible from the base of Bow Glacier Falls. However, a distant view of both, plus part of the enormous Wapta Icefield can be seen from Cirque Peak<\/a><\/span> (9,820 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP only\u00a0took the trail to Bow Glacier Falls\u00a0along the N shore of Bow Lake for 20 minutes.\u00a0 Lupe hadn’t even made it to the end of the lake yet when the time came to turn around.\u00a0 Darkness was coming, maybe rain, too.\u00a0 The sky was clouding up.<\/p>\n

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Lupe on the trail to Bow Glacier Falls. She would have to turn around in another 10 minutes due to oncoming darkness. Crowfoot Mountain is on the L.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Clouds were rolling in and starting to hide the mountains. The sky looked increasingly like rain was a possibility. Photo looks SSW using the telephoto lens toward a peak S of Bow Glacier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bow Glacier & Bow Glacier Falls through the telephoto lens from the point of Lupe’s farthest advance along the trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The upper portion of Bow Glacier Falls with the telephoto lens cranked up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way back to the Num Ti Jah Lodge, a\u00a0gentle steady\u00a0rain did start falling.\u00a0 The lodge was lit up and looked inviting when Lupe returned.\u00a0 The soggy Carolina Dog couldn’t go in, though.\u00a0 She had to return to the G6.<\/p>\n

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Num Ti Jah Lodge was lit up and looked inviting when Lupe returned in the rain from the Bow Glacier Falls trail. The soggy Carolina Dog couldn’t go in, though. Back to the G6!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Around 8:30 PM, SPHP parked the G6 for the final time.\u00a0 The steady rain was coming down harder.\u00a0\u00a0The temperature\u00a0was only 38\u00b0F.\u00a0 Maybe Lupe was going to get snowed in overnight in the Canadian Rockies?\u00a0 It sure seemed like a possibility.<\/p>\n

Lupe had only made 250 miles today, but that was OK.\u00a0 She’d spent a lovely day in the Canadian Rockies.\u00a0 Maybe it wasn’t the most spectacular day she’d ever spent here, but she’d seen many beautiful sights, gone to some favorite places, and had several pleasant, relaxing outings.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s only regret was that with supplies running desperately low, SPHP hadn’t allowed her to secure a great new supply of fresh mountain sheep mutton!<\/p>\n

Sigh … Carolina Dogs try to be man’s best friend.\u00a0 They really do.\u00a0 Humans are hard to understand, though.\u00a0 Sometimes they don’t have any sense at all.\"\"<\/a>Note:<\/strong>\u00a0 The Parker Ridge trailhead is\u00a0located at a pullout right\u00a0along\u00a0the southbound side of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 several miles S of Sunwapta Pass, the border between Banff & Jasper National Parks.<\/em><\/p>\n

Links :<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Parker Ridge & the Saskatchewan Glacier, The Icefield Centre & the Athabasca Glacier (7-23-13)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Bow Lake & the Trail to Bow Glacier Falls (7-25-13)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Cirque Peak, Banff National Park, Canada (7-24-14)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Parker Ridge Trail, Banff National Park, Canada (7-29-14)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from Lupe’s <\/span>2016 Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span> <\/span><\/a><\/strong>or<\/span> Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free to New Lupe Adventures<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 39 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska 6:20 AM on this beautiful early September morning found Lupe already on the road, heading SE on\u00a0Yellowhead Highway No. 16.\u00a0 Ever since leaving Alaska, Lupe had made her 450 mile daily\u00a0quota or a little more.\u00a0 Today she didn’t need … Continue reading Parker Ridge & the Saskatchewan Glacier, Banff National Park, Canada (9-6-16)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[726],"tags":[105,32,31,106,26,104,45,46],"class_list":["post-8649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2016-canadian-rockies-yukon-alaska","tag-american-dingo","tag-banff-national-park","tag-canadian-rockies","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-lupe","tag-parker-ridge","tag-saskatchewan-glacier"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_2890.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8649"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8649\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19889,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8649\/revisions\/19889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}