Morning came quickly at the Pocahontas Cabins… the last one up out of the kids was Trinity, though I woke up with Echo first and then after a bit of a snuggle and letting Ken get in some more sleep went back to bed. This coincided with the boys waking up so we were able to shuffle them out of the bedroom and not wake up Trinity. 

Trinity sleeping in

Well they did get up for a bit and then fell asleep watching tv

We had a route already mapped out the night before and a plan to put into action so after cobbling a breaky for the kids together out of the night before’s supper (Trinity’s) and the travel rations it was time to pack up and say good bye. Chris and Chris and Jocelyn were going on to the west coast and we had our drive through TWO national parks (well not the whole of Banff National Park, but some of it) to accomplish before getting home. Off we went with a van full of kids VERY unsure of how much fun was actually to be had in a vehicle for that long…

Don't the clouds look marvellous?

Our first stop was Maligne Canyon, 15 min from Jasper the information we had called it a “startlingly deep canyon”… well they were right!

All ready to walk the canyon path

A little info about the area... and the only animal we actually saw was the squirrel!

Out in the sunshine with Fat Sheep as well

We learned about lichen….

Reading the lichen info... the boys were quick to point out the example right in front of the sign on the mountain itself and its bright orange colouring

Crossed TWO bridges…

View from the bridge

And saw a squirrel eat a nut! 

SQUIRREL!!

With a quick walk through the gift shop to get two educational postcards and two children tripping and scraping knees (Trinity and Zander, thank goodness I had bandaids in my purse) we were off again. Next stop – Jasper and gas and food.

Such a pretty sign

Gas was 1.22 a litre (OUCH) but you HAVE TO fill up there as the road we were taking to Banff National Park had no commercial traffic allowed on it so no gas stations. The best we could do for “cheap” fastfood was an A&W that was pricier than any other we had been too. Great quality food though and HUGE ketchup packets. 

Ketchup

After Jasper it was on to Banff National Park. We were going to stop at some falls but were unsure of the access road and instead opted to drive through (with potty stops) to the Athabasca Glacier… of course we were super prepared… NOT… all of us in shorts or skirts (Trinity) and sweaters for me and the kids… and the only people crazy enough to drag 5 small children up the un-paved path to the toe of the glacier. BUT we did it! It was a slow progress and I was amazed that no one ended up wounded but it was well worth it! There were even signs showing the progression of the melting. Two stood out – one the year my brother was born and the other when a certain cousin was a year old! 

From a distance so lovely

1982

1992, the glacier actually shrunk rather quickly

There was a nice man who offered to take a family picture for us (they were just as crazy – two small children AND the wife was pregnant!).

Up at the glacier toe

Reading about the glacier

One of the signs talking about the dangers of going onto the glacier... the other sign mentioned 3 different rescue attempts on the glacier last year - all 3 were failures.

Yet so many ignore the warnings and climb on in

After trekking back down (VERY carefully) it was time to start the real drive home… with some stop offs to cool the breaks and see the sights of course…

Until in Banff National Park we hit a lovely potty stop and Trinity was SURE she had to go… and she DID! She was so proud we had to take a picture! And then Ken ran off to the vantage spot solo to see what was there…

Potty!!

At the scenic vantage point Ken checked out solo

The view

From then on it was home home home. Except when we stopped at a gas station before Nordegg for snacks and a nap for Ken. Then it was time to let the kids wiggle in the van while they ate snacks. Poor Kenny was a bit worn out already. We had been on the road since about 10:30 am and done numerous stops WITH hiking and kids… 

Kenny enjoying the mountain drive

Of course post nap we had a bit of a van scare (seriously is ANYONE who knows us surprised?? I think NOT)… what we later determined was water vapour came pouring into the van on my side of the dash so we had to pull over and pop the hood. After a very careful examination of the vehicle and a somewhat frantic texting on my part to Cousin Veronika and Karyn so SOMEONE knew we were having a van worry we figured driving on would be best… and while yours truly was tense (but then when am I not when it comes to vehicles?) and a little cautious and VERY unhappy in those patches of road where cell phone reception was NONE we had no further issues. 

Echo on the big rest... pre van scare

A first for us we drove through Rocky Mountain House on our way – Tim Hortons potty break with coffee and hot chocolate for the worn out adults. And then the last hour home. And you know, the kids STILL got excited over seeing cows??? Go figure! Their moods and attitudes while unsurprisingly crabby were MUCH better than when we had to drive on through places without all the stops. We managed to learn a lot about our province and the mountains… see places NONE of us had seen before and go on a family adventure. 

On the way UP to the cabins we drove past an interesting sign – Scenic Route to ALASKA!! OH how tempting! But no passports and too many children on board for that. Maybe a future adventure when either everyone is bigger and we have a trailer OR when we can go without all 5 in tow? 

It was about 7:30 when we got home, our camera full of pictures, our kids less than enthused. There was a van to unpack, kids to feed (yay for the leftovers we sent home with our lovely ladies that were there waiting for us) and Ken’s folks to call. Of course Ken called them while *I* was unpacking things and chasing kids and then talked for an hour… do I love the man or what? As shown by the fact that when he DID finally get off the phone I DIDN’T kick his bum! 

The kids did up pictures on our drive (thank goodness I did pick up crayons and colouring books especially for this weekend) and were very excited to explain what they saw.

Some of the "van art"

We are planning a special poster just for Maligne Canyon as well as our usual Adventure File pages… maybe do a mini book with the pictures made, there are some ideas rumbling around in my head! And once we get all of that out on paper we move onto our next year of schooling and our September focus – dinosaurs!!! But first – I promised ALL of the kids ONE DAY OFF… Minecraft, tv and NO school. 

A few more mountain photos

So beautiful

Sunshine in the mountains by the canyon

The short answer… LOTS!!! But first a hearty breakfast with Grandma before collecting ourselves to get out the door around 10:30/11 am.

Out on Grandma's front lawn saying bubye.

The kids were less than enthused with the idea of over 5 hours in the van after spending so many days away already but we stopped at a grocery store for food for on the road and pull ups and headed out. We side tripped briefly at the old house to pick up some mail (forwarding is said to be set and going but nothing yet…) and then on we went. There was plenty of rain, a road with just golf resorts and ONE gas station (potty break!) and COWS… for some reason that is ALWAYS exciting for the kids???

Potty stop means COOKIES FOR BABY

And then we got into mountain territory… THAT was exciting for our driver. Of course we kept in contact with our hosts and their other guest (Chris, Chris and Jocelyn) via texting and were able to co-ordinate nicely. Even when they (who were ahead of us by at least an hour) found out that the cabins were IN the national park instead of outside of they were able to get our park pass and have it waiting for us. Of course when WE hit the toll booth it was POURING so Ken got rained on to get it!

First view of the mountains through a rain splattered windshield

That pass totally changed our going home plans… after all why waste it? So instead of driving straight home the 5 or so plus hours we worked out a way to tour most of Jasper park and even some of Banff national park! But first things first – the cabins! Pocahontas Cabins!

Fat Sheep taking in our view from the private balcony off the second floor

Our cabin was a condo type thing – one in a building of two story cabins all sharing side walls (I did not get a picture of the whole building). We were right in front of the pool and hot tub (though we ended up not able to get into those). The main floor had a sitting room with tv and fireplace, a kitchen and a full bathroom.

I love how they folded the kitchen towels... note the coffee... Ken was pleased about that!

Then you went up a lovely set of wooden stairs were the sleeping quarters and another full bathroom. When you get to the top of the stairs there is a door to the private balcony and a nice sized bed… then through the door two beds and the entrance to the bathroom. So the kids (except Echo who was in a cot in our area) were in the room with a door. We got our OWN bed!!! Though the pillows were super squishy, too much so.

Photo on the stairs... lovely wooden things

So we got into the cabin, dropped our stuff, changed the baby and off to the restaurant so we could be treated to a lovely dinner! Apparently Trinity was not hungry so her meal and half of my lovely pizza came back to the cabin and into the fridge for later.

The Newly-weds

So she TASTED it but that was about it... generous servings though!

After dinner was a bit of a drive – we went to the Miette Hot Springs which are a short drive up a mountain from our cabins and an hour out of Jasper city. Of course there was one scenic stop off that we had to make. Can’t miss those photo ops!

Ready for the hot springs, but enjoying a moment of mountain bliss first

Not only snuggly but kissy kissy too

The kids were absolutely in love with Jocelyn

Our family in the mountains

The view unobstructed

The Miette Hot Springs had 2 hot springs and at least one cold pool that I saw though I, and the kids, stayed mainly in the warm spring. It was one you could slowly walk into and of the two hot springs the lower temperature. The hot and deep one was way too much for me though Ken and I did go in briefly to check it out. 

Ready to get into the springs

VERY warm

It was fun and somewhat relaxing but we did have to keep rotating the kids OUT of the pools. Emanuel especially got very red quickly and with Echo’s PDA we did not want her to strain, though she enjoyed herself immensely. After all it was just like a long bath and she LOVES baths. Trinity even let us know when she had to potty and peed in the toilet in the change room! Was I ever proud!! 

All the boys waiting on us

Echo totally got into it

This is really neat... these are pictures of the springs in the 1920's there was a big hotel and a single pool there until the 80's apparently.

After almost 2 hours there the kids and myself were wearing out so it was time to head out. But first pictures of the sunset while I breastfed Miss Echo who was really ready for bed.

So breathtaking!

Then off to the cabins and bed time for all 5 kids. We had to have two to a bed and luckily Gavin was fine with sharing with Trinity…

Two beds, 4 kids... asleep

Echo was taken from carseat to cot without barely moving and that was it for the night, leaving the adults to chat… then Chris and Chris off to their honeymoon cabin… decked out in style…

From here...

...to here without a fuss

Jocelyn, Ken and I stayed up late into the evening chatting and getting to know each other even better. So on top of all the excitement, the pictures, the outfits and all that I also have a new friend! 

And now… looking back at ALL the pictures… I think I will stop there leaving the question – How much of the mountains can a family of 7 see in 2 days? – only partially answered… but trust me… day 2 in the mountains is photo full so check back!!!

Fat Sheep out front of the newly-weds' cabin