Summary
On our final day in Jasper, we rose early, primarily to maximize our breakfast experience and make the most of our last day before returning to Edmonton in the afternoon.
We commenced our adventure shortly after breakfast with an intended snowshoeing trek around Jasper, guided by Paula (her website is www.walksntalks.com, and she possesses extensive knowledge about Jasper).
For context, snowshoeing provides a significantly more efficient means to explore the snow-covered environments of Jasper compared to standard footwear.
Much to our surprise, we initiated the day with a drive around Jasper in pursuit of Canadian wildlife. Initially, I harbored doubts about our chances of encountering any animals (after two days without sighting even an elk); however, within five minutes, we observed a coyote in the distance! (*A photograph exists, but lacking my telephoto lens, the image quality is not optimal).
Continuing our journey, we soon spotted male elk alongside the roadside. Paula’s exceptional wildlife spotting abilities impressed me; prior to our guided excursion, we had not seen much wildlife despite our lengthy stay.
Our adventure continued with a search for beavers, as they are generally found near their dams and lodges. After some quick research, I discovered that a beaver’s home is indeed called a lodge.
Upon examining the lake area that is typically inhabited by beavers, we unfortunately did not see any due to the cold and the nocturnal nature of the creatures. However, having already encountered an elk and a distant coyote made the excursion worthwhile, far exceeding my expectations for observing Canadian wildlife during our stay.
Snowshoeing typically progresses across Pyramid Lake to the base of Pyramid Mountain (a scenic location discussed previously); however, due to time constraints, we managed to traverse only roughly half of this before returning to the hotel for check-out. We bid farewell to Paula, stored our luggage in the vehicle, and made our way back to the lake for a special treat.
*As illustrated by my antics while attempting to walk backward in snowshoes! 😀
As we traveled to Jasper for lunch, serendipitously, two deer appeared on the road! What a remarkable day for observing wildlife! It might be fair to assume that the temperature change influenced their appearance.
During our time in Edmonton, we resided at the Crash Hotel. As our flight to London was not scheduled until the following day, we ventured to enjoy an authentic ice hockey match.
The match took place at Rogers Place (a location I previously referenced), where the atmosphere was exhilarating! Everyone was there to enjoy themselves, and the venue’s enormity is impressive; it’s entirely plausible to get lost within its confines.
During the match, the combined moments of outreach from fans—accompanied by occasional shouts of “Oooh!” and “Ouch!”—provided an entertaining experience as players collided with the sidelines or when errant pucks found their way into the audience (thankfully, without incident).
Ultimately, the experience of watching an ice hockey match was a fantastic way to conclude our stay in the wonderful city of Edmonton! 😀
As we departed for the airport the following morning, I continued to reflect on the desire to relive the entire experience—potentially during the summer months when conditions change and provide opportunities for an entirely new array of thrilling activities in magnificent Edmonton!
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