Today is a day of natural beauty, jaw dropping scenery, and a long distance between towns. The day started just like it ended yesterday. It was flat until I needed to turn right or east onto the highway to Jasper National Park. Once the turn is made the climbing starts but the scenery only gets better. Mount Robson, the largest Mountain Peak in Canada is immediately in front of me. It only gets better each mile I travel. But before getting to the base of Mount Robson I stopped at the Terry Fox rest stop and observation area. I remember his story well.
Terry was a courageous young man who contacted bone cancer in his leg when he was 18 years old. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba but raised in Port Coquitlam, BC. Shortly after being diagnosed Terry had his leg amputated above the knee. Terry seemed to be cured of his cancer and he started going to college. Before he graduated he discovered another purpose. That was to run from St. John’s Newfoundland to Victoria, BC. Unfortunately his cancer returned and he called off his run between Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Manitoba border. It was an emotional time for Canadians. I still remember the press conference where it was announced that his cancer had returned and the run was ending. During the run Terry raised millions of dollars to search for a cure for cancer. In 1981 Terry succumbed to the terrible disease. Years later the province of British Columbia dedicated the tallest unnamed peak in British Columbia after Terry. That mountain is near Mount Robson and visible from the road to Jasper. Today the Terry Fox Foundation continues to raise money to find a cancer cure.
The views of Mount Robson are spectacular. I was glad I had clear skies to see it at it’s best. Along the road to Jasper National Park I am came across and drinking water source. What tipped me off was the road sign that warned motorists to watch for pedestrians. It was the middle of nowhere. There was also areas to pull off on both sides of the road. At first I didn’t notice the source but then I saw a pipe sticking out of the hillside with water coming out. I knew exactly what it was. When I walked to the source someone had placed a grate on the ground so one could put their water bottle down as the water flowed out of the hillside. It was cool and clean water. As I filled my water bottles people in cars, and 1 west bound cyclist, stop to get water.
Once I had my fill it was onto first Alberta, Jasper National Park, and then the town of Jasper. The town of Jasper has changed since my last time there. It is busier and there are more stores and more expensive hotels. It is a good thing that I made reservations at a National Park campground a few miles out of town because the town was very busy at 4 pm. After a quick ride up and down the main drag it was off to the campground. At the campground I learned that there were sites reserved for cyclists and I could have a site if I wanted. Since I already had a spot there was no need to make the switch. When I got to my site I was disappointed. There was no shade, the surface was rock hard making it difficult to pound tent stakes into the ground, but I did and the water source was not nearby. But the showers were fantastic.
All in all I feel good.
Today’s stats
Total mileage: 79.92 miles
Average speed: 13.5 mph
Total Ascent: 2497 feet
Total Descent: 1713 feet
Maximum speed: 31.2 mph