After taking a punt based on some weather forecasts, we woke, dropped Sean and Alex off at Emerald Lake and headed for Fernie along the Bow Valley Parkway, passing out of the gorgeous Banff National Park into the Kootenay National Park.
Emerald Lake.
We moved into some awesome terrain - almost rainforesty - steep chasms and tight roads and very green flora, as we moved close to Radium Hotsprings. There was a lack of snow - perhaps the mountains are a little warmer here.
After passing through this pass, the surrounds changed from a craggy peak-dominated horizon with endless pine trees to a more grassy plain savannah type environment, notable for a much reduced footprint of snow, and much more lively forestation, with lots more wildlife either obviously evident (eagles, no photos sorry) or obviated by tracks and numerous warning signs.
The weather was sunny and reasonably clear, and warm enough for just a tshirt.
As we moved past Cranbrook, the sky darkened ominously and the pinetrees typical of the snowy Rockies re-appeared and replaced the windswept plain. Soon, the rain that had been omnipresent turned to sleet and then heavy snow.
Our gamble appears to have paid off. As we got into Fernie, the snow thickened further, with reports pointing to anywhere between 15cm-30cm fresh tomorrow. We scored an awesome hotel room for $79 a night; laundry, gym, spa...and, get this, AN INDOOR WATERSLIDE. Oh yes, a fully fledged, big-kid, indoor waterslide (photos of this tomorrow).
Dinner was at the Central, where Wednesday night is dub/reggae/dancehall night - YAY! I will see if I can get them to play some Red Eyes (myspace.com/themightyredeyes)...a very cool pub.
$4 Jager, clean clothes, snow - a great day. Well apart from the 11 Hershey's Cookies and Cream bars we consumed. Mums: we have a problem. There'll need to be a well-planned intervention.
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1 comment:
Great snow, great food, great hotel, what's the problem???Don't keep us in suspense??
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