One of the most amazing differences between Australia and Canada would definitely be the temperatures here. I'm not a huge fan of summer, or being hot, sweaty, uncomfortable, or anything associated with temperatures over 30 degrees. So when we heard that the average temperature in Canada in winter is -7, I was happy!
There are so many amazing things that we are experiencing here because of the climate - snow, obviously, is a new exciting thing for us, and we are like little kids each morning when we wake up and look outside to see the earth covered in fresh white powder. One of the natural phenomenons that occur in Jasper are the giant canyons and valleys throughout the national park, and this week, we got the chance to go see the Maligne Canyon, and do what's called an Ice Walk through it.
The Jasper Adventure centre picked us up from our hotel and we were taken to be fitted with boots and cleats for the journey. We then drove through a valley under the Colin Ranges and eventually arrived at the Canyon, just after 2pm. At first we started to walk down a basic track, as our guide pointed out some of the features of the rock face around and below us. He talked about how most of the formations are made of limestone and another rock I can't remember the name of, and how over "billions of years" these rivers have created this incredible canyon. We came to the first foot bridge and looked down a 51 metre drop to see a waterfall, completely frozen solid.
The first part of the canyon - a frozen waterfall 50 metres down.
A friend of mine by the name of Jeff had come to visit Jasper this week, and he came with us on this walk. An avid photographer, he stopped to take many pictures... I can't wait to see how his turned out! It was a little dizzying looking down so far, even more dizzying when we saw people down the bottom looking as tiny as ants!
So we continued on, stopping at many springs that feed the falls. These springs are nothing more
than a rock with a trickle of water trailing down the mountain, but they feed much of the river system within the canyon.
We ventured further in, and I was starting to feel pretty bad.. being surrounded by all this ice and not having water was torture! Eventually we lowered ourselves into the canyon and came out on the floor - a frozen river at the entrance of the cave parts of the canyon itself. Incredible!
The frozen river at the entrance of the canyon.
Our tour guide was very precise and filled us in on every detail.. although a lot of it went over my head, lots of science talk and chemicals, blah blah.. He was a great guide, it's just that I'm not terrible interested in HOW it occurs.. I just like
looking at it, and the fact that it DOES occur. God is so cool.
Further down, we were walking through ice, and the top layer melts... so your feet go through and you end up shin-deep in water and ice! It's a bit scary at first, but the guide assures us that there is over 4 feet of solid ice beneath us, and that there is no way we're going through that ice!
Stu, on the frozen river.
We continued in deeper into the canyon, where we saw some of the most amazing formations of ice. Some parts had ice that was clear like glass, and behind it you were able to see the waterfall trickling down gently, forming more and more ice. These shapes are like looking into clouds - you see so many figures and features in it. Simply amazing.
Eventually we came to a set of waterfalls.. frozen solid. I can't even explain to you how odd it is -
to see waterfalls frozen as if in a second - complete with the gushing, churning, bubbling bottom part. It's just incredible.
A little blurry, but it gives you an idea of how cool the bottom of the falls are frozen!
Behind those falls are little cave like rooms.. very cool!
So we wandered throughout the canyon, taking in it's awesome majesty, and once again, being reminded of how incredible God's creation is! The patterns formed on the rocks over the years are just as beautiful.. and my favourite part of the walk would have been the high-ceiling area of rock and ice called "the cathedral"... God's own natural church! It was really just indescribable.
4 hours later, feeling very tired, a little cold and overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, we exited the canyon, and took a short-cut down the river, sliding on our bums all the way down to the exit. It was very fun! I'm glad I wore all my snow gear and had water proof boots on though! So enough from me, here are the pictures. They are the best description of what we saw!
lv beth.
There are so many amazing things that we are experiencing here because of the climate - snow, obviously, is a new exciting thing for us, and we are like little kids each morning when we wake up and look outside to see the earth covered in fresh white powder. One of the natural phenomenons that occur in Jasper are the giant canyons and valleys throughout the national park, and this week, we got the chance to go see the Maligne Canyon, and do what's called an Ice Walk through it.
The Jasper Adventure centre picked us up from our hotel and we were taken to be fitted with boots and cleats for the journey. We then drove through a valley under the Colin Ranges and eventually arrived at the Canyon, just after 2pm. At first we started to walk down a basic track, as our guide pointed out some of the features of the rock face around and below us. He talked about how most of the formations are made of limestone and another rock I can't remember the name of, and how over "billions of years" these rivers have created this incredible canyon. We came to the first foot bridge and looked down a 51 metre drop to see a waterfall, completely frozen solid.The first part of the canyon - a frozen waterfall 50 metres down.
A friend of mine by the name of Jeff had come to visit Jasper this week, and he came with us on this walk. An avid photographer, he stopped to take many pictures... I can't wait to see how his turned out! It was a little dizzying looking down so far, even more dizzying when we saw people down the bottom looking as tiny as ants!
So we continued on, stopping at many springs that feed the falls. These springs are nothing more
than a rock with a trickle of water trailing down the mountain, but they feed much of the river system within the canyon.We ventured further in, and I was starting to feel pretty bad.. being surrounded by all this ice and not having water was torture! Eventually we lowered ourselves into the canyon and came out on the floor - a frozen river at the entrance of the cave parts of the canyon itself. Incredible!
The frozen river at the entrance of the canyon.
Our tour guide was very precise and filled us in on every detail.. although a lot of it went over my head, lots of science talk and chemicals, blah blah.. He was a great guide, it's just that I'm not terrible interested in HOW it occurs.. I just like
looking at it, and the fact that it DOES occur. God is so cool.Further down, we were walking through ice, and the top layer melts... so your feet go through and you end up shin-deep in water and ice! It's a bit scary at first, but the guide assures us that there is over 4 feet of solid ice beneath us, and that there is no way we're going through that ice!
Stu, on the frozen river.
We continued in deeper into the canyon, where we saw some of the most amazing formations of ice. Some parts had ice that was clear like glass, and behind it you were able to see the waterfall trickling down gently, forming more and more ice. These shapes are like looking into clouds - you see so many figures and features in it. Simply amazing.
Eventually we came to a set of waterfalls.. frozen solid. I can't even explain to you how odd it is -
to see waterfalls frozen as if in a second - complete with the gushing, churning, bubbling bottom part. It's just incredible.A little blurry, but it gives you an idea of how cool the bottom of the falls are frozen!
Behind those falls are little cave like rooms.. very cool!
So we wandered throughout the canyon, taking in it's awesome majesty, and once again, being reminded of how incredible God's creation is! The patterns formed on the rocks over the years are just as beautiful.. and my favourite part of the walk would have been the high-ceiling area of rock and ice called "the cathedral"... God's own natural church! It was really just indescribable.
4 hours later, feeling very tired, a little cold and overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, we exited the canyon, and took a short-cut down the river, sliding on our bums all the way down to the exit. It was very fun! I'm glad I wore all my snow gear and had water proof boots on though! So enough from me, here are the pictures. They are the best description of what we saw!
lv beth.
Me touching a frozen waterfall.PS.. I would like to meet the person who first decided climbing up the face of a frozen waterfall with an ice pick and rope was a "fun idea"...
Frozen formations.. I think this one looks like an angel.
At the top of the canyon 
Some crazy man...
"Om nom nom nom..." 
Another crazy man.
We conquered the Canyon.
