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A Rockies road trip

Clint Bizzell | November 20, 2013 | 8:27 pm | Comment

Canada’s Rocky Mountains are epic in every way. There’s just so much to discover. Stunning landscapes, adventure, relaxation, wildlife… and the friendly locals who are ready to welcome you into their amazing backyard.

Mount Robson with sign
Epic Mount Robson on a clear day

We’re on a Rockies road trip to Jasper, and the scenery surrounding the Yellowhead Highway on which we’re travelling starts to reveal wide valleys and mountain ranges that get bigger around every corner.

The highest point in the Canadian Rockies regularly hides beneath a veil of cloud. However, today the fog’s lifted, the sun’s shining and Mount Robson is soon before us in all her glory. At 3,954m tall, it towers over its neighbouring peak.

It’s a spectacular welcome to the Rockies! Famous for their pristine beauty, adventure sports, lakes and wildlife, they’re high on the agenda of anyone travelling to Canada.

We soon cross into Alberta and Jasper National Park. Arriving in the early afternoon into the town of Jasper, the quaint alpine village is alive with locals and tourists, all here for a mountain experience.

Clint and Ted Medicine Lake Jasper National Park
One of the more spectacular motorbike journeys

A Harley Davidson tour of the area is a popular choice and I meet Ted, my driver, who immediately offers to get me dressed up in leathers. Then, with a roar of the bike’s engine, we take off down the main street of Jasper.

As we roll out of town, I relax in the sidecar, ready for adventure. We’re winding our way up into the National Park, and nothing could prepare me for the sights ahead.

Around every corner, mountain ranges present themselves, autumn colours highlight pine forests and, around one final bend, the sun speckles off one of Ted’s favourite views, Medicine Lake. It’s a picture postcard, with water so still clouds reflect off its surface. Filled with glacial waters during the summer, it drains through sinkholes in the bottom in autumn and winter.

Our afternoon adventure ends at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. I sink into a chair in front of the lake. Elk roam freely around the grounds, the sun dips behind the mountains and in the main lodge, fires are being lit in grand fireplaces.

The next morning we’re back on the road and travelling along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s most scenic drives and a national treasure that stretches 232km through the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.

Clint and Ice Explorer Athabasca Glacier
Thrills on the ice

Dotted with more than one hundred glaciers on either side, it’s home to the Columbia Icefield and the Athabasca Glacier. After an hour of jaw-dropping scenery, we rug up in our warmest gear. A snow shuttle delivers us to incredible ‘Ice Explorer’ vehicles, waiting to take us the rest of the way. These enormous 6WD vehicles have been custom-built to tackle the terrain, and only exist here and in Antarctica. We descend the steepest commercial road in North America, and then up and onto 300m of glacial ice, as deep as the Eiffel Tower is tall!

We spend around 30 minutes walking on ice that stretches 6km long and 1km wide. It melts at a rate of 2-3m per year, and over the last 125 years has lost over half of its volume.  It’s an incredible feeling, walking on ice formed from snow that fell perhaps 400 years ago, and so pure that you can fill your drink bottle up.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Stunning Lake Louise

Back on the road, we’re entering Banff National Park and arrive at one of the Canadian Rockies most iconic locations, Lake Louise. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise sits proudly at the foot of the emerald lake – one of the most photographed sights in the world.

The hotel’s existed since 1890, when a mountaineering base was set up to cater to alpinists. It graduated in several different forms to the luxury retreat that it is today, welcoming thousands of visitors who come for hiking, skiing and simply, the views.

As the sun sets, I settle back in the lounge area of the hotel and marvel at the incredible scenery, which has welcomed us with big, wide, pristine arms, at every single turn.

We travelled to Canada thanks to APT.

About Clint Bizzell

From climbing mountains, to finding himself in bronco-branding competitions in the Outback, Clint is always up for a good time and willing to give anything a go. Clint enjoyed 12 years as an AFL footballer, but these days he shares his love for the world and it's people through Places We Go.

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I was lucky enough explore regional Victoria earli I was lucky enough explore regional Victoria earlier in the year (between lockdowns!), and tour the Goldfields with @big4holidayparks – Sure, I got my much-needed fix of the outdoors and was able to feed my insatiable curiosity as I explored the regions utterly fascinating history & culture, but it was sitting up at the old bar of family run Munari wines, just outside of Heathcote that got me.
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 Chatting to the chief winemaker Adrian Munari, and his daughter India (over a lovely red, of course) I heard all about the historic sheep station that was established in 1871, and life on the property today. (I wonder how the farmers endured the pandemic in 1919?)  
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Here’s to a happy summer holiday for us all, of enjoying those ‘moments’, wherever we are. 
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 I based myself at the @BIG4BendigoAscotHolidayPark 
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 See link in bio if want to plan your own getaway 😍
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#holidayhearthisyear #ExploreBIG4 #BIG4HolidayParks #VisitVictoria @visitmelbourne
WHO WANTS TO **WIN** A LUXURIOUS 2-NIGHT GETAWAY? WHO WANTS TO **WIN** A LUXURIOUS 2-NIGHT GETAWAY?
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How would you (and a friend!) like to escape to NSW’s New England Tablelands on a 2-night LUXURIOUS getaway, experiencing the best of Armidale’s premium accom, stunning food, wine & beer, an immersion in the local arts AND a World-Heritage Listed backyard to cap it off? 
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Your weekend will include: 
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- 2 night premium suite package at the historic Tattersalls Hotel (including food & drink from their award-winning restaurant & breakfast included) 
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- A special "Private Directors Tour" at the New England Regional Art Museum of HINTON: Treasures of Australian Art, plus some goodies to take home! 
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- Grabbing a beer at Great Hops Brewing Company PLUS some special gifts delivered to your home
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- A special Hema Australian Atlas & Guide plus a NSW State Map 
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Take it from me, this is worth entering, and if you do in fact WIN, set your alarm and get up for sunrise in the New England National Park, followed by a trip to Wollomombi Falls (the second highest falls in the county!) - it was sincerely exceptional.
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Oh and say hello to John at the Tattersalls Hotel, Rachael from the Art Gallery, and Sam from Great Hops Brewery. 
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 **TAG A FRIEND YOU'D  LOVE TO TAKE, and increase your chances of winning by both entering.. I know I would 😉❤
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Good luck, 
Jen xx
WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! ON TV TODAY 😎🕺 . Would WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! ON TV TODAY 😎🕺
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Would love you to join me as we celebrate the locals of #armidale on TV today
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Tune in (or set your record buttons) @ 1.30pm, ON TEN **TODAY**
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A special thanks to all those that not only shared their magnificent backyard with us, but who opened their hearts and let our TV cameras in.
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Armidale, you can no longer use the term “hidden treasure” 😉
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Ps did I say “today” enough times? 😆🤪🙏 Jen xx
ARMIDALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT Ready for another cele ARMIDALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
 
Ready for another celebration of a brilliant person and travel experience for us all?
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Meet James Rainger from @fleetadventures 
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