Six Weeks/14 Parks
2008
We don’t care what gas costs!
Alberta Province
The Continental Divide I
Waterton Lakes Provincial Park
St. Mary Campground
CRANBROOK, BC TO GLACIER NP
7/27/08
Well, don’t we feel stupid - the reason gas looks so cheap in Canada is because the sell it in Imperial gallons, which are much smaller than US gallons. It really is pretty much the same price. Oh well, thought we’d be making out. Guess not. Anyway,traveling southeast from Cranbrook, we entered Alberta after approaching the Canadian Rockies mountain range.
The provincial border runs along the Continental Divide. This was the first time we were crossing it, but it won’t be the last. The mountain tops here were stunning. Alberta then levels off to high plains, some of which have wind farms on them. Some of them have cutouts of teepees! All in all, we were impressed with Alberta.
Just north of the US border is Waterton Lakes Park, a joint effort with Glacier NP in the states. Towering crags rising out of the plain, gorgeous scenery.
We reentered the US at the Chief Mt. entry, right into Glacier NP. Chief Mountain is an impressive sight.
About an hour or so later, we arrived at St. Mary’s campground, out on the open prairie where the wind NEVER stops blowing! Take a tip - if you have a choice, do not camp in this campground. There are so many other places to try which are much nicer, have more scenery and are less exposed. St. Mary Lake is pretty, but you can’t see it from your tent.
