Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park
Coming into Jasper National Park all Kerri could talk about was Maligne Lake. She was told by a ex-local that this was *the* lake to see, and she believed that person. We scanned it from satellite view ahead of time and the one thing that stuck in my mind was that it was very large… or to be more accurate, long. 14 miles long! No way I was going to kayak that distance. On top of the distance the impression I got was that it had more a reservoir feel than a true lake with little to see or do via kayak. Let’s just get this out there; I was wrong.
Sure the turquoise color of the water which is eye catching, but I have grown use to the color since Montana – even at risk for taking it for granted – it is the mountains that surround this huge lake that drop the jaws. Paddling along the lakes I could not help but keep looking up at Leah and Samson Peaks, and Mounts Paul, Charlton, Unwin, Mary Vaux and Llysfran Peak… you get the point, lots and lots of peaks. And I did not bring my wide-angle lens, so we paddled…
… until we traveled past the 4-mile mark and found the Maligne River inlet where we turned into and paddled up until we could go no more and scuttled our boats on the bank to set down for a warm lunch of black bean and vegetable soup, washed down with a few left over chocolate chip cookies from the previous night.
On our way back we dropped in on the Hidden Cove where we jutted around a small island that a person could camp on. On that island, in plain view was a mother Moose and her calf (Moosie, Moosee… baby Moose!) which turned out to be a glorious way to end such an adventure so we sat there in awe…
… and just when we thought it was all over, from above the island, just above the two Moose comes an enormous bald eagle – wings spread to land in the tallest tree. We sat there stunned, so much so that I did not raise my camera to take a photo. I just pointed and grunted like an ape, “ugh?” to inform Kerri of the splendor.
In the end, we paddled more than 9 miles round trip, our longest to date.
Tim, Bill and I are enchanted with your pictures. Kerri has always posted great pictures on FB but now we have great stories to go along with the pictures. We hope we get to meet you someday and we always look forward to seeing Kerri.
Thank you Jeannie. Do keep in touch and let us know if we are in your neck of the woods.
Hi Tim, Gary and I also are thorouhgly enjoying your blog! We love reading all of your stories and adventures with our dear Kerri and seeing your wonderful pictures. We are very much looking forward to meeting you when you and Kerri you come to “Camp Mom and Dad” here in Grass Valley.
Bill and Jeannie are very dear family friends, and we hope you can meet them when you are here.
Have a good journey through the Yukon, and we hope the tundra doesn’t misbehave and treats you, Kerri, Calypso, and the truck kindly.
Thank you, I look forward to meeting you both as well. So far the trip up the ALCAN is going very smoothly and we are making good time.