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Woke up to a sunny sky with some clouds – much better mountain-viewing weather! Still cold, though! Saw these wildlife bridges that let animals pass safely above the highway.
Drove right to Yoho and check in at Kicking Horse Pass campground. I stayed here as a kid when I did this trip. Went through a couple of sites before we found one we could use, and then it took us an hour to set up the trailer – so uneven. So, at 1 pm we grabbed our lunch and started our Yoho adventure. We took the Yoho Valley Rd to Takakkaw Falls. This road has a brutal switch-back, so you can't take trailers. Lots of climbing and it ends with a gogeous waterfall. I don't know how high, probably a few hundred feet? We had our lunch along the Yoho river, listening to the sounds of the falls. Afterwards, the kids and I went down to the river and skipped rocks in 'Grampa Gray', who passed away almost 2 years ago. DD1 has very clear memories of skipping rocks with him, so it was a nice way to remember him.
After the Falls, we check out the Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Sites. Lots of storyboards about why this pass was chosen, even though it should never have been so. Originally the pass was known as the 'big hill' – a 4.5% grade which is double what was normally allowed for trains. In the early 20th century, they build the spiral tunnels to make the grade more manageable. The train actually spirals into two mountains on its way through the pass. We had a view of one of the spiral tunnels, and actually saw a train go through it. The design of the tunnel means the train actually loops over itself!
After the spiral tunnes, we went to the Natural bridge, where the Kicking Horse River has eroded a rock archway. The force of the rivers in the Rockies and the speed of their currents is impressive. We haven't let Fenten swim yet, because we are nervous of him being swept away. He doesn't understand, of course, and is desperate to get in the water.
Back to camp, to enjoy a steak supper surrounded by mountains and listening to the passing trains. Evewhere you look you see mountains, and every 20 minutes you hear a train going through the tunnels. The trains make a distinctive high pitch whine here, maybe because of the extra pushers needed to get them up the hill or the extra brakes need to get them down!
Enjoyed a campfire with those humungous and messy marshmallows. DH made a delicious discovery: instead of making s'mores, he just stuffed chocolate in the middle of the roasted marshmallow. It was like a heavenly little cake!
My ponder is how long does it take the wild life to know that there is a bridge for them to cross. I seem to recall fencing being involved as well, to prevent them from crossing the highway?
ReplyDeleteYou have some very awesome photos. Nice to have a moment to reflect with you father's memory too! How nostalgic, since you may have done this trip with them last time?
I see that now you are taking the antibiotics orally - a lesser evil I guess. Hope you feel better soon!
I do have to say, you are eating almost better than I do, and I am still at home! Jealousy is beginning to set in. :)