July 5
Driving to Muncho Lake was another breathtaking adventure, packed with spectucular scenery. The journey took us through mountains, winding curves, thrilling ascents and descents, and past serene lakes and lively rivers... it was pure, unspoiled beauty.
Our first stop was Testa where they made delicious artisan meats, sour bread and cinnamon buns. We bought an Andouille and Chorizo sausage and a cinnamon bun.
After we left Testa’s, as we drove along 97 N we enjoyed passing by Summit Lake, which is beautiful, and seeing a playful baby black bear, a field horses, and Stone sheep.
Fun Fact:
Summit Lake Park is a beautiful 6 hectare park located with in the Nakusp range of the Selkirk Mountains. Park visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout or swimming in the lake’s clear, refreshing water.
The mountainous backdrop of the park is a stage to the wonders of nature. A natural spectacle occurs as thousands of toads emerge from the lake and migrate to the nearby forest to hibernate for the winter. Mountain goats can often be viewed on rocky outcroppings and in late summer, while birds in flight paint the skyline.
Our intention was to boondock at Mucho Lake but both campgrounds were full. We were thankful to get a RV spot at the Northern Rockies Lodge which is on Mucho Lake. We got some steps in down by the lake and throughout the area that has cabins. Quiet and a great place to hunker down for the night.
Fun Fact:
A few minutes from the Alaska Highway, Muncho Lake Park has the serenity and seclusion expected in this area of the north. Some of the most stunning natural landscapes can be viewed at this park. Spectacular mountains, bountiful wildlife and brilliantly colored wildflowers are just a few of the wonders to discover here.
In the southern portion of the park, you will see the very impressive Folded Mountain towering above the road. Keep an eye open for moose which frequent the many swamps within the park.
Twelve kilometers of jade-colored water will tell you that you have reached Muncho Lake.
You have the choice of camping at Strawberry Flats campground or at MacDonald campground, 11 km further north. The lake’s cold, deep waters are tinted green by minerals and provide a home to lake trout, arctic grayling, bull trout and whitefish.
July 3
On the Alcon Highway….off to Fort Nelson, BC. We are excited to meet with the Young Living farm Manager, Kevin. This is where the Northern Black Spruce is grown, harvested and distilled.
Fun Facts:
"Black Spruce oil was in great demand but in short supply, so Gary was determined to find land on which to build his own distillery so that Young Living would never have this problem again. After flying over millions of acres of northern Canada, he found the perfect farm with virgin soil, free from chemicals, and enveloped in the beauty of the Northern Lights. This farm has expanded to produce several oils that are key ingredients in many important Young Living products.”
Mary Young, Young Living Co-Founder and CEO
If you don't already use Northern Black Spruce.....here are some reasons I am suggesting you do!
Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil has been known to the Lakota Indians to strengthen their ability to communicate with the Great Spirit. Traditionally, it was believed to possess the frequency of prosperity. Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil is steam distilled from the needles of the tree at the Young Living Northern Lights Farm and Distillery in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. Its woodsy aroma offers a grounding aromatic experience and supports the appearance of skin and hair, making it a great addition to your lotion or facial moisturizer.
July 4So much fun today in Ft Nelson, BC. We had the pleasure of meeting with Kevin LeBreton, Farm Manager. He had Young Living ship 10+ pallets of NingXia Red and a lot of Red Zinger to give to the firefighters in the area. Extremely generous.
Wes, Young Living's Lab Tech, educated us on the process of steam distilling. Also on the art of testing small batches weekly to determine the optimal time to harvest. This is an amazing, precise and complicated process to ensure we have the highest quality essential oils to support our bodies - mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.
Young Living has expanded their production to include, White Spruce, Lodge Pole Pine, SubAlpine Fir along with their Black Spruce. They all smelled wonderful. I have to say it was a very “heady” wonderful aroma in the building.
After that we went in to town and enjoyed splitting a Ruben along with quinoa salad at Amanda’s Northern Delights. It was excellent!
Then some grocery shopping (we like to eat! lol) and a trip to the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum. This covered much of the ALCAN HWY history, the equipment used, cars, telephones, washing buckets and so much more.
Tomorrow we head to Muncho Lake, Canada to boondock for 2 days......
NingXia Red & Red Zinger
Stainless Steel Containers where the essential oils are stored
This is from 2017 when Douglas was in Fort Nelson helping with cutting the Black Spruce trees, distilling and producing the essential oil. Water and essential oils do not mix so the EO's rise to the top.
July 1
Our journey to Dawson Creek was beautiful most of the way. It was a long drive.
Somethings we do to reenergize ourselves is:
- Stop at a rest area and go for a 10-20 minute walk
- 10-20 minutes of Qi Gong
- And of course eat snacks; cherries, pears, apples, cheese, GF pretzels and or crackers.
We arrived at the Northern Lights RV Park late afternoon and settled in.
July 2
Traveling with our fellow RV enthusiasts on our epic road trip to Alaska has been a delight. One of our first stops was the local Visitor's Center, where we discovered a quaint yet captivating museum filled with an impressive array of taxidermy exhibits. Beautiful Dalias and other flowers outside the Visitor/Museum!
Fun Fact:
Dahlias symbolize elegance, creativity, positivity and growth. It also represents inner strength, likely due to the plant's ability to tolerate harsh conditions. Other general meanings associated with the dahlia is gracefulness, standing out in a crowd, and embracing positive changes.
A quick grocery run ensured we were stocked up on some needed food, followed by a visit to a delightful health food store. This little gem of a shop was a treasure trove of wellness goodies—crystals, diffusers, luxurious soaps, and organic & natural foods.
It's been nice having full hook ups, running my 2 diffusers throughout the day. One with Thieves and Orange and the other with Eucalyptus and Lemon. Breathing deep and enjoying the fresh, clean and immune enhancing aromas.
Incorporating Young Living essential oils can elevate your travel experience. Whether you’re diffusing Lavender for a peaceful night’s sleep or using Peppermint to boost your energy during the day, this is a perfect addition to your travels!
It's been awesome to have our fireplace aglow, offering a comforting, warm, and serene ambiance.
Fun Facts:
- Dawson Creek is the start of the Alcon Highway (Alaska Hwy). It is 1,486 miles long and ends in Delta Junction, Alaska. Driving this highway through Canada is a bucket-list adventure for road trippers in cars and RV’s!
- Dawson Creek is the service centre for the Peace River Regional District. The community was one of many farming communities established by European-Canadian settlers moving into the Peace River Country.
- The Canadian government began issuing homestead grants to settlers in 1912 and the pace of migration increased. The Mennonites took full advantage of the land grants/grabs. With the opening of a few stores and hotels in 1919 and the incorporation of the Dawson Creek Cooperative Union on May 28, 1921, it became the dominant business centre in the area.
- The Northern Alberta Railway built its western terminus in Dawson Creek and the golden spike was driven on December 29, 1930. The first passenger train arrived on January 15, 1931. The arrival of the railway and the construction of grain elevators attracted more settlers and the need to provide services led Dawson Creek to incorporate as a village in May 1936.
June 28
We enjoyed another beautiful drive to Jasper and settled into our space at Whistlers Campground. After walking around downtown, we headed back to our motorhome. What a treat it was to see two elk right across from our site, enjoying their dinner!
June 29
We had a great time hiking Lake Edith with our RVing to Alaska friends, Mike & Katy. Gorgeous…. so hard to explain the beauty. We were having so much fun chatting and enjoying the views that we made a wrong turn and hiked quite a bit more than we intended to.
After our hike we enjoyed a picnic lunch.
Fun Facts:
Edith Lake is a glacial fed lake about 8-10 (4 - 6 miles) kilometers from the town of Jasper.
There are private cabins surrounding the lake. The cottage community began in 1908 when writer Agnes Laut obtained permission to begin an artist/writer community at the lake.
Parks Canada granted limited access leases to Agnes and some of her friends.
Lake Edith freezes over in the winter and skating on wild ice is something to take in and experience. On the right conditions, cross-country skiing can be very good.
Starting the Hike Around Lake Edith
Dinner was another fun time. We met Katy & Mike and our new friends, Greg & Sharon, from Frisco Lakes (who happened to be in Jasper) for dinner at The Raven Bistro. Fantastic, delicious food and great conversations and laughter. They sat us outside on the patio, lovely evening. We were so busy enjoying each other's company's I forgot to get a picture of the 6 of us.
Ice cream after dinner at Scoops & Loops next door.
June 30
Another incredible journey driving to Lake Maligne! The drive was breathtaking, with mountains so majestic they left me speechless. The colors and intensity were simply stunning.
Douglas and I rented a canoe for an hour. It was a serene, beautiful morning on the water.
Dandelions are like "candy" for bears! We’ve learned that when berries start to ripen, they become an irresistible treat as well. By the end of the season, the berries begin to ferment, and the bears love them, giving them the nickname "drunken bears."
Later, we met up with Mike & Katy for a picnic lunch.
Back at the campground now, preparing for another exciting adventure tomorrow!
Jume 26
We left Banff this morning heading to Silverhorn Creek CG, passing through the entrance to Jasper National Park. We purchased a pass for the National Parks while in Banff. All the National Parks in Canada require this pass.
Driving along Hwy 93 North into the Park was another spectacular drive. We stopped at Bow Lake to take some pictures and enjoy the majestic mountains. It was short drive to the campground on Silverhorn Creek. No Services with 45 RV/Tent sites. Completely full for the night, by reservation only. We’re in a valley surrounded by glaciers and mountains. We enjoyed a hike along the river and around a small lake. Visiting with some folks from Holland was great. Extremely peaceful space for the next 2 nights.
It stays light past 10 PM and the sun rises about 5:00 AM!
Silverhorn Campground
June 27
Woke up to a cold 46 degrees. We started our morning with some of Douglas’ delicious, homemade pancakes. I had mine with almond butter and a side of turkey bacon and Douglas had his with almond butter and strawberry jelly. We topped breakfast off with hot tea. Patiently waiting for 9:00 AM when we can run the generator and have our electric fireplace going. :-)
For our adventure today we packed a picnic lunch and set off for another wonderful drive to the Icefields located in Jasper National Park. Stopping along the way to admire Bow Lake.
Interesting Facts:
- In 1844 the Athabasca Glacier covered the entire area where the parking lot is today. Through the centuries changes in world climate have caused glaciers to expand and shrink as the balance between snowfall and icemelt shifts.
2. The world’s glaciers have lost about 400 billion tons of ice every year since 1994.
3. Glaciers in the Canadian Rocky Mountains are melting. From the Icefield Centre you can trace the retreat of the shrinking Athabasca Glacier. Many researchers hypothesize that it will be gone by 2100.
4. The Columbia Icefields and it’s Glaciers have probably existed in some form for about 3 million years. They grow and shrink with climate variations, making them much smaller or much larger than they are today.
The last major advance of the glaciers was during the Little Ice Age, also known as the Cavell Advance. At its peak around 1844, the Athabasca Glacier was about 2 kilometers longer than it is now.
5. Jasper National Park is one of the world’s largest and most accessible dark sky preserves. There is very little light pollution here. Some of the best locations for night sky viewing are the Pyramid Island, Maligne Lake, Old Fort Point and at the end of the Athabasca Glacier.
What an experience hiking up to the Glacier. It was steep, rocky, cold and so worth it. I have to admit I had to stop a few times to catch my breath. Coming down was a bit tricky here and there. Perfect timing when we got to our car because the rain started to fall.
Driving back to our lovely campground we stopped to admire a beautiful waterfall and the Saskatchewan River. Then we spied a baby black bear running across the road.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM are generator hours and we welcomed turning our fireplace on and sitting on our recliner chairs.
June 28
Another gorgeous drive to Jasper, settled into our space at Whisters Campground. Walked around downtown and then headed back to our motorhome. Right across from our site were 2 elk eating their dinner, what a treat to see!
