Canada : Sunday 5th August 2007 - Yoho National Park

We got up early, at around 6am and left the Fintry Provincial Park campsite, heading north along Lake Okanagan with Yoho National Park as our ultimate destination. The drive took us through some lovely and increasingy mountainous landscapes as we entered and crossed the Columbia Mountains and finally entered.... The Rockies.

It being a Sunday, many places seemed closed, but at 8am we eventually found a diner just opening and had a (large) breakfast.

Continuing on our way, we passed through Revelstoke National Park and then the splendid and aptly named Glacier National Park. And coming around a long sweeping bend... we saw our first bear! It was a black bear, ambling across the road and we watched it as it reached our side and then climbed over the wall and disappeared into the forest. Cool! Finally, at around lunchtime, with our watches set an hour forward, we arrived at Yoho National Park.

It was still the "long weekend" and so the availability of places to camp was still an issue, but we found ourselves a spot in the Monarch camp ground, only 5 minutes from the visitor's centre and 15 from one of the park's attractions, Emerald Lake. It was basic (no showers or hot water) but did the job.

Once we had pitched our tents, we headed for the visitor's centre and looked around and picked up a trail guide. We decided that for our first afternoon we'd visit Emerald Lake and walk the trail that goes around it. When we arrived at the lake however, the weather rapidly changed and we found ourselves sat in the car in the midst of a torrential downpour of rain and hail. Welcome to the mountains!

The rain slowed down and even stopped for a short time, but we drove off, thinking that we needed to find something else to do rather than walk in the rain. Not far away was the "Natural Bridge", a large gap worn in the rock by a glacial river, so we went and had a look at that and took some photos. Martin alarmed Marina by climbing down to the river and jumping across the gap!

The weather calmed down a little more and so we decided to do our walk. The lake is beautiful and a striking greeny tourquoise colour, depending on the light, and surrounded by mountains. This is a consequence of "rock snow", fine particles of rock suspended in the water, which absorbs all except certain frequencies of light. It really is spectacular and not at all like what you are used to seeing. Whilst walking, Bekky and Martin saw a large bird of prey, which we're pretty sure was an Osprey, fly away from the lake with a live and freshly caught fish in its beak. And a chipmunk! But happily, no more bears!

Back at the camp site, it was raining again and we were hungry, it now being early evening. Fortunately at the entrance to the campground there was a wooden shelter complete with a couple of picnic tables and an excellent and very effective wood burning stove. Martin got the gear from the car and cooked a meal in the shelter, along with a number of other campers who had taken refuge there. After eating, Jack thrashed Martin at chess, just for a change. Hot chocolate and marshmallows were consumed :-)

On the way to Yoho National Park... this is probably Glacier National Park.

Our camp site at Yoho National Park.

The view from where we camped included... mountains... not surprisingly!

Camping in the Canadian National Parks is similar to the USA equivalent.... large pitches, table and fire pit.

There were loads of these little critters at the camp site. They're Columbian Ground Squirrels and they make a cute squeeking noise!

As we got to Emerald Lake it started to absolutely pour down... but being high in the mountains, we got a mix of rain and hail.

See the hail?

The small town of Field was near to where we were camping. It is built to one side of the railway that runs through the Rockies here. We could hear the huge freight trains passing our camp site by night (which was not good!).

We headed back towards Emerald Lake as the weather improved and made a stop at "Natural Bridge". The river, being sqeezed through that small gap, was hugely powerful.

Martin freaked Marina out by jumping across the gap. Apparently she was saying "What *is* that *stupid* man doing?!!" to the amusement of other on-lookers!

The very beautiful Emerald Lake...

Chipmunk!