Yes you read right we did it in a day!
Just in case someone is wondering why I wrote that, it's because it is quite a distance away from Edmonton. We set off at around 6:30am and the drive there was bloody horrible. Not because of the shear distance but because the roads were very icy.
There were moments you felt your wheels skid and there were one or two cars that had come off the road. Here in Alberta if the sign states 110km's the drivers think you shouldn't be going any less than that even if the roads are bad! They get right up your backside sometimes with their high beams on and blind you before going into the overtaking lane and passing you.
On this 110km road I only felt comfortable driving at 80km and in fact I had to let Neil take over because my hands were that sweaty, I was so scared. 
At one point we were driving along and a lorry overtook us, because he was going so fast he picked up all the loose snow and it was like a snow drift. I couldn't see a thing and had to slow right down.
Even if you drove at the speed you wouldn't be able to drive to Jasper from Edmonton in 3 and half hours like we have been told it can be done. Its a 770km round trip there and back.

These are some photos as we got nearer to Jasper

By the time we got to the car park at Marmot Basin it was 12 noon. We had a good ski and packed up at the car again around 4pm and set off for the long drive back home.

Marmot Basin

No idea who he is, I thought he added to the picture


Neil just to the left with his arms out

The picture for next years Christmas Cards, what do you think?

The drive back wasn't as icy as the drive there so we didn't take as long to get back. It was a very long day though as it was 9:30pm when we got back and all we wanted was our bed!
Would we go back to Jasper on a day trip? I'm afraid to say we probally wouldn't. It takes far too long so I will plan to stop over for the weekend if we were to do it again. I jotted down the names of a couple of accomodation places that we passed which were close to the mountain. I think we will be sticking to Rabbit Hill for our daily ski at the hill.
31st December 2008
Well its New Years Eve today and like I've said in a prevous entry we are off to the Casino to ring in 2009 there. We are due to be there for the buffet at 6:30pm so it should be a good night. Neil is driving as he is T total (all the better for me)
So Happy New Year to you all and I will be getting to my computer one way or the other tomorrow probally with a very sore head. |