When you Think of Escaping your Everyday Life, How Do you Picture it?

Posted on September 30, 2011 by lesleycarter

Escaping to Jasper, Alberta was like stepping into a holiday Christmas card. Although it’s a small town, it holds big dreams, big mountains, and big animals. Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies with 10,878 square kilometres of mountain wilderness.The breathtaking vistas make the drive a little longer than planned because it’s impossible not to stop for photos with every turn of the head.

Weaving through gorges and exploring caves sculpted by eons of time and water was exhilarating.

Mountain sheep, bears, wolves, elk, and mountain goats have a secure home in Jasper and can usually be seen when simply driving down the road.

Hiking between majestic mountains in Jasper’s National Park made me feel like a speck on the landscape and my worries became insignificant.

71 thoughts on “When you Think of Escaping your Everyday Life, How Do you Picture it?”

abu zar on September 30, 2011 at 12:04 am said:

lovely place and one trip that i’ve been meaning to do for 2 years now..something or other happens and i am still longing …
what time of the year are these pictures from? I havent checked official guide yet but i would assume that the roads (or atleast major portions of it) would close for the winter,wouldnt it ?

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on September 30, 2011 at 5:26 am said:
  
  These pictures were taken in March and I’m quite certain the roads are open year round. It is a major tourist attraction and a top ski destination so winter is the best season.
  
  I hope you make it there someday. It truly is spectacular.
  
  Thanks for commenting 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on September 30, 2011 at 5:40 am said:
  
  This link, http://usparks.about.com/library/miniplanner/canada/bljaspernp.htm, gives information about Jasper National Park and the year=round schedule. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
cocomino on September 30, 2011 at 4:14 am said:

How beautiful.I like the reflection of water.The water is so clear that the nature things get more beautiful.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on September 30, 2011 at 3:52 pm said:
  
  That is one of my favorite photos from the entire vacation. I felt like my head was on a swivel during the drive and it was impossible not to stop every five minutes for pictures. What a beautiful experience!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
dcarter9 on September 30, 2011 at 5:44 am said:

What unbelievable pictures! What route did you take to get to Jasper? Via the Icefield Parkway? Did you say hi to the Old Man while in Jasper?

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on September 30, 2011 at 4:00 pm said:
  
  We were traveling from northern Manitoba so we took a more northern route than I would suggest for most people, but it did allow us to travel through new places that I hadn’t seen before.
  
  We didn’t do Old Man Mountain because we spent 3 hours of our day hiking Maligne Canyon. Jasper was just one day of our week-long Alberta vacation.
  
  I’d like to visit again sometime but maybe not for a few years; I’m loving the heat and sun of California too much to venture back into the cold. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
sartenada on September 30, 2011 at 6:12 am said:

Awesome, terrific photos. I love all of them. I cannot praise enough, but I do love them. Especially the photo from melting ice (055_1) captured my eyes. Here in Finland melting ice is normal, but I have never seen anything so mighty than in Your photo.

Have a wonderful day!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on September 30, 2011 at 4:03 pm said:
  
  I have a new appreciation for the ice and snow now that I live in southern California. Although I have no desire to move back to the cold, icy parts of Canada, there is something truly beautiful about snow covered mountains and long, fresh icicles.
  
  Thank you for your wonderful comment; it is appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Bron on October 1, 2011 at 5:17 pm said:

Stunning photos! My geography of Canada is patchy as best but I’ve marked this on my mental map for the future – definitely hope to get to Canada one day.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 1, 2011 at 7:02 pm said:
  
  Alberta is on the west coast and it is stunning, especially the mountains.
  
  Have you ever visited Canada before?
  
  Thanks for commenting; it is appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Jim Brickett on October 2, 2011 at 4:59 am said:

Leslie: Your images are breathtaking and your travels and adventures are fascinating. I’m looking forward to read and see more on your blog – I had to keep it a short visit tonight – I’m on a 12 hour shift at work. Have a great day!
Best Regards
Jim Brickett

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 2, 2011 at 4:22 pm said:
  
  I love to travel and experience new things; the posts/writing seem to be second nature. Unfortunately, the pictures don’t come as easy. I wish I had your artistic ability.
  
  Keep the comments coming; they are appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
katesomethingdutch on October 3, 2011 at 12:26 am said:

I have been to Jasper National Park, and it takes the cake for photographic opportunities! Your photographs are beautiful- thank you for sharing your adventures!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 3, 2011 at 12:42 am said:
  
  It’s an amazing experience!
  
  I noticed that you travel a lot; do you have a favorite country?
  
  Thanks for taking the time to comment; it is appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Nise en Scène on October 3, 2011 at 10:15 pm said:

Awesome pictures! 🙂 Re your title, I used to think of a beaches and islands, but increasingly I’m LOVING the mountains too.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 3, 2011 at 10:44 pm said:
  
  I still think of beaches and islands as the perfect escape, but the mountains in Jasper were a worthy trip.
  
  Have you been there before?
  
  Thanks for taking the time to comment.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
yankinyorkshire on October 4, 2011 at 2:12 pm said:

Absolutely stunning photos! The reflection shots are incredible.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 4, 2011 at 3:53 pm said:
  
  Thank you! It was such an amazing drive that every photo was perfect.
  
  How long have you been living in Yorkshire?
  
  🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - yankinyorkshire on October 5, 2011 at 8:37 pm said:
    
    Just moved here at the beginning of September! But, I spent 5 weeks here this summer before I applied for my visa. Have you been?
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
    - lesleycarter on October 5, 2011 at 9:02 pm said:
      
      I haven’t been there. Does it rain a lot? What are the highlights?
      
      🙂
      
      LikeLike
      
      Reply ↓
alphathread on October 4, 2011 at 9:12 pm said:

It is certainly a lovely part of Canada. Have visited there twice, once in the early 1970s and again in 1995. Your photos and narrative bring back fond memories of those visits. Its a long way to travel from New Zealand though!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 4, 2011 at 9:14 pm said:
  
  Eastern Canada, which is where I’m from, is equally beautiful. Have you ever been there before?
  
  I’d love to travel to New Zealand. I’ve been to more than 30 countries, but never there.
  
  Thanks for taking the time to comment; it is appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Of the Angels Designs on October 5, 2011 at 9:51 pm said:

Gorgeous shots! I love to travel too, and my camera is always with me. Thanks for sharing the world with us!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 5, 2011 at 9:55 pm said:
  
  Some women carry a purse full of make-up, nail polish, hair products, etc.; I don’t leave the house without a camera. I love to travel and experience new things, but the memory is never complete without a great photo to remember it.
  
  Thanks for taking the time to comment; it’s appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
rerunprevention on October 5, 2011 at 10:19 pm said:

Love this post and the photos. I try to step out of my every day life once a day and then…I blog about it. Thanks for visiting! rerunprevention.wordpress.com

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 5, 2011 at 10:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks! Jasper has a magical landscape that makes every photo beautiful.
  
  I love your picture in Searching for Treasure; great shot!
  
  Thanks for commenting,
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Noel Tendick on October 6, 2011 at 12:24 am said:

Great sense of adventure in your blog – love that spirit, thanks for bringing it here. Gorgeous photos!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 6, 2011 at 12:26 am said:
  
  I love to travel and experience new things; writing just seems like second nature. The photos almost take themselves when you are surrounded by beauty and nature.
  
  Thanks for taking the time to comment; it’s appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Sukanya Ramanujan on October 6, 2011 at 5:01 am said:

This place looks amazing! Makes me want to pack my bags and travel now!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 6, 2011 at 5:03 am said:
  
  it certainly is amazing for a “cold” place. I’ve become accustom to the warm weather and sunshine of California.
  
  Thanks for commenting; it’s appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Minna on October 6, 2011 at 7:53 pm said:

Amazing pictures, looks absolutely stunning!! I visited your blog for the first time and I will definetively return!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 6, 2011 at 7:59 pm said:
  
  I love your blog as well! I spend a great deal of time reading and checking out photos.
  
  Good luck on your travels. I’ll be waiting to read your next adventure.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
paul on October 7, 2011 at 7:55 am said:

Cool, great landscape! I like the GRAND mountains and wide breathtaking view. Hope to take a trip or backpack there some day!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Xandi on October 8, 2011 at 3:40 pm said:

very good pictures of this great landscape. I like the mountain pic…
very nice 😀

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 8, 2011 at 6:28 pm said:
  
  It was easy to get great shots in such an amazing surrounding. have you ever been to Jasper before? I see from your blog that you like the mountains. I think you’d really enjoy western Canada.
  
  Thanks for commenting,
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
thebigbookofdating on October 8, 2011 at 7:36 pm said:

What an amazing post! the photos are stunning, I need an escape!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 9, 2011 at 3:30 am said:
  
  Although my idea of escape is relaxing at the beach, there was something surreal about being in the mountains. I hope to return soon.
  
  Where was your last vacation?
  
  Thanks for commenting,
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
crowcanyonjournal on October 8, 2011 at 11:18 pm said:

Hi Lesley. Thanks for visiting my blog! These are great photos! We visited Alberta in 1984 and spent some time in Calgary, Lake Louise and Jasper. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world! The boat ride on Lake Maligne was especially memorable.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Claude on October 11, 2011 at 2:08 pm said:

Wow, what an amazing place! I hope I can visit Canada someday.. Mountains and wilderness are also my favorite place for escapes!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
jenz611 on October 12, 2011 at 9:38 am said:

This is beautiful! I love your love of life and the amazing world that we live in!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 12, 2011 at 3:07 pm said:
  
  Thank you!
  
  Your gravatar picture is awesome.
  
  🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
pixilated2 on October 14, 2011 at 7:34 pm said:

That does it! I’m pressing the follow button NOW! I’m not sure if it was the ballet leap in your wedding gown, this post, or the baby news, or… ?

I don’t want to miss a word or picture,
Lynda
Thanks for finding me today!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 14, 2011 at 8:11 pm said:
  
  Thank you for the beautiful words Lynda!
  
  I love traveling, adventure, and life and I try to always make the most of it.
  
  Have a great day and thanks for following!
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
placetodream on October 18, 2011 at 9:40 am said:

Those pictures are absolutely stunning !
If the society is going through the darkest times, the Nature will always has a lot of stars to put in our eyes..

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on October 18, 2011 at 2:56 pm said:
  
  If I only had your eye for photography, I could actually hold the true beauty of my experience in my hand! I’ve journeyed to several countries and had unbelievable, adventurous experiences, but I can’t ever seem to see the world through a lens like a photographer. Your photos are inspirational.
  
  Thanks for reading,
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Craig on October 19, 2011 at 7:41 pm said:

The photo on your home page caught my eye and I’m glad I chose to look at the whole post. There are some absolutely stunning shots here, thank you for sharing them. I especially like the reflections.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
thirdhandart on October 19, 2011 at 9:10 pm said:

Breathtaking photos! Beautiful scenery!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Tom Baker on October 21, 2011 at 3:23 pm said:

Beautiful images! When I think of escaping I usually think of Hawaii. I suppose the ultimate escape would be to view Earth from space. Gotta have my camera for that one! I really enjoyed your site.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Hot Rod Cowgirl on November 7, 2011 at 5:52 am said:

Your travels are incredible as our your pictures….makes me feel like I am there:) My parents were married in 1939 and they drove from Oregon to Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise…Mom said it was an incredible adventure as the roads were mostly gravel…can you imagine? And there was not the tourism there is today. I have never been but it is on my bucket list for sure!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on November 7, 2011 at 6:08 am said:
  
  I hope you make it there some day soon and I love reading that you have a bucket list!
  
  Do you have any bucket list plans for this year?
  
  Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment; it’s appreciated.
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
cjf on November 7, 2011 at 9:17 pm said:

Fantastic photos an post on Jasper, Lesley. It is a special place an hard to justify, you have done a great job at bringing it to life.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
David Halliday on November 11, 2011 at 1:01 am said:

Many years ago I took a train trip across Canada. (I tried hitchhiking but got stuck for 2 days in Sudbury so decided to train it.) We entered the Rockies in the early morning. I woke in my room and looked out. We were on the edge of a mountain. And it seemed to go down forever. I almost lost the breakfast I hadn’t yet eaten.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
fitlife funlife on November 16, 2011 at 2:24 am said:

The Canadian Rockies are one of my favorite places in the whole world. We’ve been to Banff several times in the winter and have snowshoed and hiked in the Lake Louise area. I’m dying to go to Jasper,and reading this just cemented our ski trip this year! Great pics!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on November 16, 2011 at 4:44 am said:
  
  Let me know if you make it there. I’d love to hear about your experience 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Danielle on November 24, 2011 at 11:43 pm said:

Amazing pictures!! I live in Edmonton, Alberta so it was really nice to read a post about my home province!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Leah on November 30, 2011 at 4:16 am said:

AHHH THIS post made me smile huge beause I too like Daniell live in Edmonton, Alberta. My dad grew up in Jasper so I visit a ton. LOVE.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on November 30, 2011 at 4:18 am said:
  
  I haven’t been to Jasper in a few years, but it certainly is memorable.
  
  🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
KaiaO on December 5, 2011 at 5:41 pm said:

Beautiful pictures! I grew up nearby and miss the mountains all the time!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Karl Kovacs on December 31, 2011 at 1:36 pm said:

Nice article. I’ve lived in Jasper and spend a lot of time hiking and backpacking year round. You’ve done a great job of capturing the essence of the park (which is solitude and tranquility).
If you ever make it back up to Jasper, you can count on your on personal guide.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- lesleycarter on January 1, 2012 at 12:40 pm said:
  
  I loved Jasper and I do hope to return someday.
  
  Thanks for reading and Happy New Year,
  
  Lesley
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
rixgal on January 16, 2012 at 4:16 pm said:

A beautiful tribute to our homeland. We lived not far from Jasper and traveled through MANY times. Great shots!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
cdjanie on January 27, 2012 at 1:26 pm said:

Yes, Jasper (and Banff) are national treasures. I have been on the Icefields Parkway many times, though always in the summer months. I’m a bit chicken to try those roads in the winter. But, I have been skiing at Lake Louise and Sunshine – heaven on earth! (Took the shuttle bus.) Wonerful blog BTW – your joie de vivre is infectious.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
mavimet on February 3, 2012 at 6:14 am said:

Jasper is one of my favourite places to go and have made it there a few times – driving from Manitoba. 🙂 It is so beautiful and I love seeing the wildlife there.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Elaine Ori on May 7, 2012 at 8:35 pm said:

I LOVE Jasper; you’ve done it justice with your pics and the post! I try to make there from where I live in Calgary at least once/year. After all my time living in Alberta, Jasper still amazes me! Thank you for the post! Elaine

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Chris Weaver on August 25, 2012 at 8:08 pm said:

Great pictures. Next time you are there, check out Grassi Lakes. It’s a half-day hike about 15 minutes drive from Canmore. Gorgeous scenery and an amazing view of the valley, plus the lakes are crystal clear. Lots of rock climbers too last time I was there. The hike is not too bad, a steady climb but a clear trail. Whole families do it.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
bucketdave on August 28, 2012 at 9:41 pm said:

I used to live in Alberta, and I would go here every summer. Then I moved… what was I thinking?! And you’re right. Seeing animals along the road is really common. I saw some big horn sheep running alongside my train. It was an incredible sight!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
adventuroustrips on September 25, 2012 at 11:04 pm said:

I can’t wait to get to Jasper, sounds like its the ultimate wildlife experience

LikeLike

Reply ↓
The Soaring Eagle on September 26, 2012 at 10:30 pm said:

Jasper is a paradise. If you had a chance to visit Alberta again, you might want to take the 200-KM Banff National Highway going south to Banff and Lake Louise. On that route, you Shall see Big Animals for sure! Let alone the breathtaking nature…

Vancouver and Vancouver Island should be on your list too. If you’re interested, I could suggest few places.

All the best, and thanks for liking “I won’t Let Go”.

The Soaring Eagle

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Fresh on November 25, 2012 at 10:16 am said:

Great photos of an amazing place! We were there about 11 years ago and would love to go back.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
martin4olga on August 12, 2013 at 11:47 am said:

Thanks for the great photos. We can’t wait to be there in about six weeks. Can you catch the ice there all year round? Martin

LikeLike

Reply ↓