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We drove just outside Jasper Village on Sunday to one the many unmarked trail heads, only the presents of a gravel lot and porta-potty marks its existence. This one the Five Lakes trail. The lakes are named Lake 1, Lake 2, Lake 3, Lake 4, and Lake 5… Yes imaginative. We head on to the trail, winding through the trees at steady incline. Then the first lake (Lake 2, or 3 I believe). The turquoise water, actually is is amazing the different shades of turquoise to be found. The reflection of the trees in the colored water… the Original Watercolor… And so we hike around the lakes, then along a small valley looking down among trees and bushes. One lake was not a lake. At least for now. The water table needs to rise a bit. A pig might enjoy it though.

The mountains quickly rise out of the West. rugged and and exciting with the dark clouds gathering around the tops. Snow still covering the world in white even this late in spring. April showers are April flurries here on the edge of the Canadian Rockies (OK it is early May but still…). I am driving a friend from Calgary to Jasper via the Ice field parkway. Out of Calgary down Trans-Canada Highway 1. The rolling hills of grass and dirt grow into mountains towering, leaning over us, as we winding into Banff National Park. We make our first stop of many along our 5 (no 8 hour trip) to Jasper. The sights, the mountains, the nature increase in splendor as we drive north. We make a stop in Lake Louise to gas up before getting on the Icefields Parkway. 230 km or so now to Jasper (2.5 hours if you don’t stop and take photos).

The road winds its way through the heart of the Canadian Rockies along one river and then another as we go from one valley to another. Frozen lakes sit quietly under the snow. Patiently anticipating the thaw to come. A lone coyote walks across the open space of one frozen lake, the mountains rising steeply behind him. The sun peaking through the cold clouds. Near the Banff – Jasper Park border, we pass Parker Ridge. Just last Fall I hiked this one. Wild flowers and clear views on a sunny luck warm day. But not to day. Still covered in deep snow, groups with ropes and ice picks, scale the sides and then ski down. Ski tracks drawing abstract designs into the face to the ridge. We watch and then moved on. Dropping from the high passes into another valley. An hour or so latter we pull into Jasper Village. A small town in the middle of the Park. Just waking up from the winter slumber. Like the frozen lakes waiting with expectation of a warmer days.