Our 25 day tour of Canada's Rocky Mountains and Alaska's Inside passage departed Melbourne on Sunday the 22 June. While we were away we updated this blog as we went. In addition to this page our full photo gallery is available by clicking here and our video clips are available here.
Sunday 22 June - Welcome To Vancouver
Our group departed on time out of Melbourne and arrived into the Hotel Vancouver at 4:30 this afternoon after a pleasant but long flight across the Pacific. We have been welcomed by a glorious sunny day with light winds and a temp in the low twenties. The full group will get together tonight for a welcome dinner
Monday 23 June - Vancouver to Whistler
Today we awoke to another sunny and glorious day in Vancouver. Our morning was spent on a half day tour of Vancouver including China Town (North America's second largest), the delightful Old World, Gastown, Stanley Park and Granville Island with its craft stores and produce market. Before departing for the scenic drive up Howe Sound to Shannon Falls for lunch. We arrived into the alpine village of Whistler around three for a presentation on Black Bears by researching Michael Allen. Whistler is one of my favourite towns on this trip and tomorrow the group has a free day to explore the village and Blackcomb Mountain with a variety of free choice activities. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Shannon Falls
Tuesday 24 June - Whistler Village
Another great day meet the group as we spent the day relaxing in Whistler. Today was a free day full of activities to make the most of this all season alpine resort. Activities ranged from a Hummer tour of the glacier, Canoeing on the lake, Chairlift ride to the top of Blackcomb mountain, or Tree Trek nature adventure through the old growth rain forest. In addition to the activities today also gave the group a chance to unwind and relax after the hectic couple of days of international flights to get to Canada. One of the 80 local Black Bear inhabitants made an appearance in the late morning happily grazing on the lower slopes under the Wizard Chairlift. Whistler in the largest ski able area resort in North America and at present construction is almost complete on it infrastructure upgrades for the 2010 Winter Olympic games. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Wednesday 25 June - Whistler to Sun Peaks
The weather gods continue to shine on our tour group with yet another delightful day greeting us this morning. With some reluctance we departed the delightful Whistler on our trek across the coastal mountain range to Whistler. The drive was spectacular as we ascended the range through multiple switchbacks entering the more arid interior region which resides in the rain shadow of the Coastal Range. Our lunch stop today was at the historic Hat Creek Ranch where we were treated to an informative cultural experience on one of Canada's First Nations - the Shuswap people.
Following lunch we continued through Kamloops to our overnight stop at the alpine resort of Sun Peaks. During an afternoon walk some of our group were again treated to a couple of Black Bear sightings as the creatures happily grazed on the slopes above the village. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Thursday 26 June - Sun Peaks to Jasper
Following a great night at Sun Peaks and some pre departure Bear sightings we headed for the Rocky Mountains and Jasper. The weather today wasn't so kind with an overcast sky and some light rain. Our first stop for the day was Clearwater, a delight village on the edge of a small but tranquil lake. From Clearwater we headed on to Mt Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. We were hoping for a clear view of the mountain but the top was obscured by cloud as is the case on all but 30 days of the year. During the course of our lunch stop the weather cleared just enough to allow a view of about 90% of the mountain including the spectacular glacier. From Mt Robson we headed on to our home for the next two night the unique and pretty Jasper Park Lodge. Jasper Park Lodge is situated in its own 750 acres of land including two beautiful emerald green lakes. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Meet our Tour Director - Josh Sears
When not busy managing tours for Australian based Scenic Tours, tour leader Josh Sears returns to his home in Victoria BC for quality time with friends, family, and dog Chloe. Whether sea kayaking, paragliding, or simply lazing around home, Josh prefers to be kept busy pursuing various projects and interests his flexible lifestyle provides. His background is forestry, tourism, and wine tasting…
Friday 27th June - Jasper
We were again greeted with a magnificent day with bright sunshine, clear skies, and a very pleasant temperature of 24 degrees. Today the group went their separate ways to enjoy the variety of free choice activities on offer. We had some go up the Jasper Tramway to enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys below, some to the delightful Maligne Lake cruise, others enjoyed kayaking, and I accompanied a group to Mt Edith Cavell to walk the Path of the Glacier right at the foot of the mountain. The afternoon was spent lazing around the grounds of the Jasper Park Lodge with many choosing to Kayak in the Lake and others completing the hour long walking curcuit of the lake. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Saturday 28th June - Jasper to Lake Louise
Our weather luck continued with yet another beautiful day as we entered the most spectacular day to date. From Jasper we entered the Rocky Mountain trench with majestic peaks rising on both sides of the bus continually. Out first stop for the day was at the Athabasca Falls and with the recent rains were flowing at the best I have seen them. The sight was spectacular (that word will feature a lot in today's blog). Our next stop was at the Athabasca Glacier which is one of the absolute highlights of this trip. We were transferred to a snow coach for our journey onto the Glacier which is fed by the Columbia Ice Field. The Ice on which we were standing was over 10,000 years old and over a 1000 feet thick. Our final stop for the day was the beautiful blue Peyto Lake before arriving into the indescribable Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The setting of this hotel has to be seen to be believed so take a look at today's photo gallery. It can say a lot more than these words. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Athabasca Glacier
Athabasca Falls
Sunday 29th June - Lake Louise to Banff
Some of the group took advantage of the early morning wake up call the Chateau offers as the sun is about to hit the glacier in the early morning. The lake was still and the reflections were perfect as the sun hit the glacier with a light orange glow. After a leisurely morning the group very reluctantly left Lake Louise for our journey to Banff. On route we stopped at the famed Spiral Tunnels. The tunnels were built to reduce the gradient of the rail line by performing a figure 8 through the mountains. We were extremely fortunate to see two trains pass through the tunnels while we were stopped at the viewing platform. Our lunch stop was at the picturesque Emerald Lake followed by a stop at Natural Bridge. Natural Bridge is a similar formation to the Athabasca Falls with the bridge still intact. On our way into Banff we came across another Black Bear happily grazing on the side of the road.We arrived into Banff in the late afternoon and have a brief walk around the town and a visit to the Bow River Falls before arriving at the famed Banff Springs Hotel, the Castle in the Rockies. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Rocky Mountaineer in the Spiral Tunnels
Monday 30th June - Banff
Today was our Scenic Free Choice day in Banff. Selections were varied from Helicopter Flightseeing, Sulphur Mountain Gondola, Float trips down the Bow River, Golf on the Banff Springs course. A great day was had by all and many people chose to go up the Gondola in the afternoon as an additional activity, as well as a well earned shopping break in the township of Banff. Tomorrow we will begin our journey out of the Rockies and back to the coast on the Rocky Mountaineer. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Tuesday 1st July - Banff to Kamloops on the Rocky Mountaineer
Our tour changed pace today with us saying goodbye to our driver and now good friend Dan MacKenzie as he dropped us off at the Banff station to begin our journey out of the Rockies on the famous Rocky Mountaineer. Our journey began with a champagne toast followed by a magnificent breakfast as the scenery floated past. The dome carriages of Gold Leaf class brought the scenery right inside the carriages as followed magnificent and raging water courses the entire morning. The recent hot weather has brought on a major snow melt with all of the the rivers now in flood. It made for a grand spectacle as we threaded our way through the mountains. The fun on board was heightened by the fact that it was Canada Day, but I will let the photo gallery do the talking. In a very happy state we arrived into Kamloops our stop for the night. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Wednesday 2nd July - Kamloops to Vancouver
After the thunderstorm that greeted us into Kamloops last night today had cleared to a sunny and hot day. We rolled out of Kamloops station at 8am for our journey down to Vancouver. The Rocky Mountains had been replaced with the stunning scenery of the Thompson and then mighty Fraser Rivers. Due to an overnight freight train derailment our progress was slow as we switched to the Canadian National Line tracks, which would ultimately see us arrive into Vancouver at 7:00pm one and a half hours late. The service and food aboard the Rocky Mountaineer was again stunning and we all literally rolled off the train at the end of our two day journey. The pace of the trip has again changed as we leave the mountains behind and head for the quaint seaside village of Victoria tomorrow. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Thursday 3rd July - Vancouver to Victoria
Today was a leisurely start with an 8:00am departure from the Hotel Vancouver bound for Victoria on Vancouver Island. To our groups delight Dan had made the trip from Banff to Vancouver and was our driver for today. After an hour drive to the ferry terminal we boarded the ferry for the hour and a half journey across to Victoria Island and then on to the Butchart Gardens. The Butchart's were famous for introducing portland cement to the Nth American continent and Jenny Butchart created the now famous Butchart Gardens. Being now early summer the gardens were in full bloom but as before I will let the photo gallery do the talking. After a couple of hours we continued our journey to Victoria and our destination for the next two nights the Fairmont Empress Hotel. This grand old lady is situated right on the inner harbour of the picturesque city. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Friday 4th July - Victoria
After our arrival into Victoria yesterday today was a free morning and very leisurely day. Our free choice activities started from the early afternoon and ranged from a float plan sightseeing tour, a zodiac whale watching tour, a launch whale watching tour, high tea at the Empress, a carriage ride around the quaint streets of Victoria and an historical sights tour. Our day was perfect with sunshine and light winds making all activities thoroughly enjoyable. Our tour takes a major change of pace tomorrow as we leave Canada and head for the United States and Seattle to board the Golden Princess for our Cruise to Alaska. This makes the end of our daily blog as uploading facilities are limited on board our cruise liner. We hope to bring you updates from Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, and of course from San Francisco. Click on the image to view the days photo gallery
Horse Drawn Carriages Victoria
North To Alaska
Saturday 5th July
After our near perfect day in Victoria and a very leisurely start to the day we left the grand old Empress at 10:00am for our short bus ride across to the Clipper for our two and a half hour journey across to Seattle. The journey is a picturesque one as we passed down the channel to Seattle harbour.The famous Space Needle came into view at the far left of the city's skyline and shortly thereafter the site of the magnificent Golden Princess docked at the passenger terminal, our home for the next seven days. Next to it was Holland America's Oosterdam. As we all settled into our Balcony cabins the Oosterdam set sail and was a magnificent sight as it eased its way past us down he channel to begin its journey Alaska. At four fifteen to the traditional sound of the three blast of the horn the Golden Princess slipped its moorings and we began our journey Northwards
Oosterdam
Seattle Skyline
Space Needle
Sunset over Victoria Island
Monday 7th July - Juneau
After leaving Seattle we headed out and around Victoria Island and encountered the remnants of a storm front making a rougher than normal passage throughout Sunday until we entered the sheltered waters of the Chatham Strait early Monday morning. The passage down the Strait is spectacular with snow covered mountains flanking us on both sides. Two pods of whales were sighted as we made our way to Juneau pulling alongside the dock at Midday right on schedule. Our group had chosen a variety of shore activities and I chose the Glacier Trek which was spectacular. After a full afternoon the Golden Princess set sail at 10pm bound for Skagway.
Chatham Strait
Golden Princess at Juneau
Mendenhall Galcier
Mendenhall Galcier
Juneau
Juneau
San Francisco
After a stunning cruise to Alaska and the ports of Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan the group has arrived on our final leg into San Francisco. For most of us today is the final day with an evening departure tonight. Every one has has a truely great time and I hope that those of you who have been following us at home have enjoyed the photos we have brought to you along the way. The final two photo albums are presented below.
When not busy managing tours for Australian based Scenic Tours, tour leader Josh Sears returns to his home in Victoria BC for quality time with friends, family, and dog Chloe. Whether sea kayaking, paragliding, or simply lazing around home, Josh prefers to be kept busy pursuing various projects and interests his flexible lifestyle provides. His background is forestry, tourism, and wine tasting…
