Canadian Rockies Between Banff and Jasper, Alberta

Sunday, June 1, we arrived in Banff, which is a major Alberta tourist destination and also the site of some of the Calgary Winter Olympics twenty something years ago, What we hadn't realized when we headed to Canada last weak was that July 1 is the equivalent of our July 4th. Additionally things are ramping up for the Calgary Stampede (allegedly the biggest rodeo in the world). So, the result is an abundance of tourists (some from pushy shovey cultures :) and a shortage of camping and lodging places. But, being resourceful ,we did score a campsite (w/o fire ring, boo hoo) and celebrated Canada Day in grand style at St James Irish Pub. Being camped in Grizzly, country, Redsy slept in his tent with a loaded shotgun.I was tired and left my shotgun (borrowed from Florida friend Dick Wooley) in the trailer, useless, and left my fate in the hands of Redsy "Grizzly Adams" Goshow. We talked to a couple Monday morning who camped at Lake Louise (between Banff and Jasper) Sunday night. Everyone with a soft sided trailer or tent, was required to camp in an area surrounded by an electric fence. They saw 3 Grizzlys outside the fence when they went to the showers in the morning,

Monday June 2, we had intermittent rain and couldn't find an available camp site, so stayed in a Best Western in Hinton, Alberta. We'd camped 6 nights straight (since Fargo, ND).

Elk East of Jasper, Alberta