Labour Day 2006: Jasper, AB (Part II)

Here is PArt II of our Jasper trip. Again, I focus on the beauty and mastery of the land. However, I omit the commitment to capitalism and tourism that the townsite encroaches on. It is a pleasant place, humble like the land and relaxing, but overcrowded with overpriced and overdeveloped kitch and trinketry marred further with a living standard that is affordable by few of Canada. Imagine, a place of such beauty, placed aside for the preservation of the land, the region, the life, and everything is so out of reach for so many because everything is so overpriced and structured. Angering, to the point where the enjoyment is abated by uncanny reflection and realization that the Parks system is but a capital gaining entity, to which some economic gains are necessary, an intellegent argument can be made there, but which overrides the function of the park - for everyone to witness, understand and appreciate. No, only the rich and the willing to spend may see unobstructed nature.

Regardless, if you look in the right places and ask the right people, a deal can be found and a trip can be affordable somewhat.

And it is beautiful...


Whew...it was with the hike to Jasper! This is the pair of us sitting placidly on the top of one of the more muted mountains in Jasper. We just parked on the road and took off into the mountains, so I am not exactly sure which top it actually is but regardless is offered a majestic view. We had a cougar scare on the way up, but after consternating investigation it was found to be a rosk. A cougar coloured rock, at least. Ask Crystal for details!


Another shot of the two of us in the warmth of the late summer sun. Dammit, could I not just spend more time here.....


Me, climbing a treacherous section - this was the safer part where we were able to take out the camera. Prior, it was the point where you forget everything and focus on your next footstep, and hope the rotten (thats geologically rotten, not colloquial rotten...) rocks dopnt give way.

SCALE?!? Who needs scale.....

This pic certainly does, as justice is not done to the magnitude of the view and of the rocks. This looks like a measly rivulet scarring nothing more than a sandy dune on a beach - how can I express the audacity of geology and the grandeur of knowing how old, how spectacular, and how massive these rocks are as pervasivley as I feel it?Amazingly beautiful...humbling....diminishes the importance of one's life some. Did I properly apostrify the previous "one's"?

Can I somehow FORCE you to like geology, and view the world through my lithologically preset retinas?

Yeah, this is the place where it would have been a fairly poor decision to fall...
Crystal on the previously described rotten and perilous side of the mountain. Looks pitifully serene from the pic, certainly wasnt. It was actually the thrid or fourth time this trip that we reached a point in our pedal travels where we were too threatened to go down, but didnt want to go up.

Up, oh, up went we;

throught perils and fear;

To the top and in the sky to see;

to recognize our lives as importantly mere.

That was my ode to evolution - yes, it is an ode to evolution. I do that sometimes.