Should’ve gone to the spa

Kananaskis Country, AB

• We woke up wishing we could sleep in - we should have planned a day at the Nordic spa instead of a 3-hour there and back trip to the Columbia icefields 

• But everyone was a trooper and in the end glad to have had the experience 

• We drove up the icefields parkway - we stopped for gas and snacks (Emily introduced us to cheesies, sour brats, the Canadian KitKat, Aerobars, sour keys and sour patch cherry blasters); we passed Mistaya Canyon and remembered Tangle Falls was also nearby 

• We got to the discovery center just in time for a bathroom break and boarded the bus 

• We got onto the glacier bus and rode to the Athabasca glacier - the road was a 36% grade and the steepest road in North America

• We walked around the glacier and filled our water bottles with fresh water 

• Then we went to the skywalk where the rain picked up; we saw a few mountain goats just beneath the skywalk; Harry made a new friend - a red headed toddler in a waterproof jumpsuit 

• We napped most of the ride home after stopping at the weeping wall where cascading waterfalls trickled down the side of the rock face; Harry, Cathy, Rush and Jay saw a black bear cross the road 

• We ate at Blacktail Bar, sharing halloumi, poutine, nachos, carrot soup, etc. 

• Matt met Alec at the pool to hit the water slides before bed 

• “Campground”: Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge