Page 10 - Jupiter Spotlight - August '20

Page 10, Jupiter Spotlight
Canadian Rockies: Splendor Beyond Belief

By Don Kiselewski, MCC,
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens
Travel Leaders
I’m often asked what I
believe is the most beautiful
spot on the North American
continent … my consistent
reply has always been the
Canadian Rockies. The Lake Louise
Canadian portion of the Banff Springs Hotel Photos by Don Kiselewski
Rocky Mountain range
is, arguably, the most filled with glacier silt particles that remain suspended in the Running along the mountain ridges of the Front/Rocky
spectacular. The Rockies themselves actually stretch down water. This effect causes light to reflect off the water with an Mountain Range is the Continental Divide. In addition to
to the Sangre de Cristo Range in north-central New Mexico unnatural color of green, making the lake look unreal. The dividing the water flow that falls onto the North American
… considered the southern boundary, northwest to the Yukon parkway continues in the valley of the Mistaya (Cree Indian continent between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the
Territory’s Arctic Rockies. In all, the Rockies form a nearly for “grizzly bear”) passing the Athabasca Glacier. It is one ridgeline also serves as the separation of Alberta (east side)
continuous range on the western edge of the North American of dozens that flow from the Columbia Icefield. Specially and British Columbia (west side). At the western base of
continent that is more than 3,000 miles long. Ranging from built motorized vehicles transport visitors onto the glacier
70 to more than 300 miles in width, the Rockies cover more for a truly unique experience. Canadian Rockies on page 11
than 300,000 square miles. Only the Andes Mountains of
South America are longer.
Many of the major rivers of North America originate in
the Rockies, and the peaks and ridges of the Rockies divide
the continent. The waters in the rivers of the Missouri,
Yellowstone, Platte and Arkansas find their way eastward to
the Atlantic Ocean. The Pacific receives the westward flow
from the Snake, Colorado, Columbia, Frazer and Yukon rivers.
Geographically, the Rockies are divided into four
sections … Southern, Middle, Northern and Arctic ranges.
The Southern portion starts in New Mexico and continues
northwesterly into Wyoming. Included in this range is Mount
Elbert, the highest peak in the Rockies, which reaches 14,433
feet. This is but one of the fifty-five peaks in Colorado that
soar above 14,000 feet including Long Peak and Pikes
Peak, two of the most well-known mountains in America.
The Middle Rockies cover a major portion of Utah, Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming. Most dramatic in this portion of the
Rockies is the majestic Teton Range.
The phrase “you ain’t seen anything yet” could never
be truer than when you continue north from Montana into
Canada for the next 1,000 miles. It is here where the Front
Range – or Canadian Rockies – have taken form and stand
alone in their magnificent splendor. West of the Front Range
lies the Rocky Mountain Trench, which extends some 900
miles northwest to the headwaters of the Yukon River.
Bordering the trench on the west are the Purcell and Selkirk
mountain ranges.
About 130 miles north of the U.S./Canada border, on the
eastern side of the Canadian Rockies is an important stop on
the Canadian Pacific Railroad. It started out as just another
whistle stop on the Trans-Canada rail route, however, today, it
is the nucleus of the “Jewel of the Rockies” – Banff National
Park. Founded over a century ago, it is the third oldest national
park in the world. It was established as a national park to
preserve the hot springs that are just outside of the present
day town of Banff. These springs were first noted during the
construction of the transcontinental railroad in the 1880s.
When the railroad was built, there weren’t any hotel
chains plopping down dozens of lodgings for the travelers.
The railroad found itself in the hotel-building business along
with tracks and trestles, and as a result built some of the most
outstanding structures in Canada. These hotels remain today
as landmarks.
Towering above the surrounding pine trees is one such
structure … the Banff Springs Hotel. With granite spires
and more than 600 rooms, it was built in 1888 with the
original purpose of serving the needs of the visitors to the
nearby hot springs. The upper floors were divided into
smaller quarters for the servants who personally attended
the needs of the visitors. Built in a Scottish baronial-style
castle, the hotel comes with kilted pipers and even a ninth-
floor ghost. Location also contributed to the success of the
hotel. The Spray River joins the turbulent waters of the Bow
River that have just passed over Bow Falls, where they turn
and continue through the valley created between Tunnel
Mountain and Mt. Rundel. It is perhaps one of the most
fantastic views of nature on Earth.
An event that will indelibly mark the memory of visitors
to the Canadian Rockies is arising at daybreak to watch the
sunrise spread ever-changing colors across the landscape
of beautiful Lake Louise. The lake was discovered by a
railroad worker in 1882 and named in honor of Queen
Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise. Over a mile high, the
lake is ¾ miles wide and 1½ miles long. Its 220-foot depth
is maintained by the runoff of the Victoria Glacier. This
passive atmosphere lends well to a gentle canoe ride in the
still waters of the lake, or a leisurely stroll along the water’s
edge.
Extending north from Lake Louise is the Icefields
Parkway, one of the world’s greatest mountain-viewing
drives. Along the way, a stop at Peyto Lake, set in the Mistaya
River Valley, will truly tempt your imagination. The lake is