Glacer and Mt. Revelstoke, British Columbia

Off to explore Canada’s second national park – a very small one – Glacier.  Our campsite was small, too, but we fit well into it and had a wonderful private spot.  Smokey liked it – she went for many walks around the RV.

First in Glacier, we did a boardwalk called the “Rock garden”.  

 The rocks there tumbled to their present location about 10,000 years ago.  Look carefully;  you'll see Luke in the rocks.

 

Now, they are covered in lichens that are hundreds of years old. 

 

Also on the forest floor are “dogwoods”.   They looks almost like the Virginia state flower, but there beauties are only about 2” off of the ground, in individual plants.

 

A grand old hotel used to be at the Glacier Park site...

The grand hotel complex...

 

All that is left now are bits of foundation.  The grizzly bears like the area - we were warned to watch for a mom with her two cubs!

 

Next day, next National Park.  This one is only 30 miles from Glacier.  Mt. Revelstoke is at the center of the park.

 

The road designers used an idea from the railroad (who used the idea from the Swiss).  Avalanche sheds are built in avalanche prone spots to prevent disasters along the roadway.  These sheds create tunnels that protect cars or trains.

 Loved this sign at the base of Mt. Revelstoke….

 

The campgrounds and picnic sites in the parks all have cold weather picnic facilities.  These great huts are built to provide a warm, dry place to cook or eat.

Inside, there are log picnic tables, a wood firestove, wood, and a hatchet.  Eveything you need but the food!

 

At the peak of Mt. Revelstoke you can see forever.  Here are the flowering fields, mountain peaks in the background, and in the middle, the Columbia River.

 

The panorama views are spectacular, all 360 degrees!

  

Here us Luke, trying out an old surveying tool like the ones used to survey the region in 1807.

 

Unfortunately, the beautiful views were not the only things at the top of the mountain.  Mosquitoes!  black flies!  horseflies! In massive swarms, constant swarms.  I had to leave after 30 minutes or so and take the shuttle back down to the car.  Luke braved it out another hour or so.

We rewarded ourselves that night with the first fire of our camping trip.  Both the American and Canadian national parks charge for a fire permit for each fire.  Now, you do get the firewood, too, but $9/fire isn’t doesn’t make us feel much like making a fire each night.

 

We have traveled 164 miles south - to the Okanagan Region, a wine and fruit region.  Very different and very much like the New York State Fingerlakes region!

Unfortunately,  the lower altitude and more southern location also brings higher temperatures.  We’ve been wearing jeans and sweatshirts,  lows in the 40’s at night, highs only in the low 70’s.  It was a stinking 95 when we got here! (“here” is a Wal-Mart parking lot).   60 tonight, 97 tomorrow. I think we’ve found summer.