jasper + the dry December
I'm just going to be forthcoming and admit that I do not like winter. I know the seasons are important for our environment, the sustainability of crops, etc., but it’s just not a season I thrive in. Maybe it’s because I was born in the summer, and the hotter the weather, the happier I am. But, being Canadian, the grueling winters are inevitable, and unlike the snow bunnies (skiers and snowboarders), it’s not something I look forward to. I think I’ve made my point, and you get it – winter and I will never be besties.
Fast forward to November/December and the historically mild weather we were experiencing. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t tickled pink that the annual anxiety about my winter morning commute on the highway (if you know, you know) was being tentatively delayed. Not to mention, with safer road conditions, the possibility of a road trip over the holidays was back on the table!
After a brief deliberation between Mike and me, it was decided (or perhaps I peer-pressured him into deciding) that we were going to make a getaway to Jasper before New Year’s.
Now, if you’ve ever been to Jasper, you know there are two ways you can take to get to this ski town. Though I’m more inclined to take roads where there are more photography opportunities, I wouldn’t completely discourage someone from taking the route that cuts through Edmonton, especially if you’re more comfortable with frequent rest stops (Tim Horton’s, McDonald’s, gas stations) versus traveling down the Icefield Parkway, where you risk losing cell service for an extended period of time in exchange for the potential of a wildlife sighting by the roadside. Honestly, the world is your oyster when it comes to this road trip; there is no “better way” to go. In fact, Mike and I ourselves decided to play it safe and cut through Edmonton this time because, in case you weren’t aware, weather in the mountains is significantly more unpredictable, and had we followed through with our initial plan (the Icefield Parkway), we would have been flirting with the possibility of having to turn around due to a potential road closure.
Plus, had we gone the other route, Bailey might have missed out on discovering one of the biggest sticks he’s ever found, and we wouldn’t have wanted that! Seriously, name a better mood booster than a golden retriever running around with the best toy nature could give him. That was a trick question; you can’t.
After what felt like 8 hours of driving (it was actually 5), we made it! Okay, we made it to Hinton and still had about an hour to go, but with the panoramic view of nature around us, we finally felt like we were where we intended to be – in the mountains!
To be honest, once we arrived in Jasper, we were quite eager to stretch our legs instead of heading to our hotel straight away (we won’t talk about our experience with our accommodations either; it’s too soon to reopen that wound) and were quite happy when we found a dog park so Bailey could let out the zoomies he had been holding in the whole drive. I will say, despite my ranting about how much I dislike winter, the absence of snow in a mountain town, especially in December, was strange. I’ve always said I wanted to get more pictures of the mountains in the winter, and having traveled this far, you would think there would be some trace of a flurry from time to time, but nope, the closest thing we would get to being reminded it was actually winter was the odd icy sidewalk or hill from time to time.
Once Bailey’s energy had come crashing down (he finally had a road trip poop), our next mission was figuring out what we wanted for dinner. At this point, time was ticking because we had an Edmonton Oilers game we wanted to watch once we got settled at the hotel. Our search didn’t take long; you don’t have to twist Mike’s arm when you mention pizza, so much so that we (Mike) would highly recommend L&W Restaurant if you’re ever in Jasper. 10/10 chef’s kiss for the quality of the food and the service.
Considering the long drive took a lot out of us, when we retreated to the hotel room, we turned on the game (Edmonton won in case you’re wondering) and succumbed to a deep sleep shortly after. Such is life when you’re in your thirties; gone are the days of staying up till 4 am.
Due to the daunting task of having to drive back home the next day, we decided to check out early in hopes of getting home at a reasonable hour. However, this wasn’t before I coerced Mike into having breakfast in the car and taking pictures of the elk that had set up camp near the train station.
Our plan to get home at a reasonable hour was successful, and as per usual, I couldn’t wait to hop on my computer and check out all the photos I had taken that day. Overall, I would call the trip a success. We were able to adventure around a town that is still semi-new to us, indulged in some great food, and who could complain about “elk watching” before heading back to the prairies?! If you have a chance to visit Jasper, I wouldn’t pass it up.
