>> male announcer: WELCOME TO TRAVELSCOPE, WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK, YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.

>> Rosendo: TODAY ON TRAVELSCOPE, I HEAD INTO THE ROCKIES TO TAKE IN THE GRANDEUR OF MAJESTIC ALBERTA, CANADA.

>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.

DK CITY AND COUNTRY GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, HOTEL AND DINING CHOICES, GUIDED WALKS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.

DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.

[rain pattering] >> Rosendo: IN ALBERTA, THEY LIKE TO SAY THAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER, WAIT FIVE MINUTES, AND IT'LL CHANGE.

IT'S BEEN CHANGING INTO RAIN FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, BUT I'LL TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD.

I'M STILL HOPEFUL.

I'M HOPEFUL IT'LL BE DIFFERENT SOON.

EDMONTON AND CALGARY ARE GATEWAY CITIES TO ALBERTA'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARKS, BANFF AND JASPER.

A 90-MINUTE DRIVE FROM CALGARY AND JUST INSIDE THE PARK, THE TOWN OF BANFF HOSTS 3 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.

MOST COME BY AUTOMOBILE, BUT THE FIRST TRAVELED BY RAIL.

THE FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS HOTEL AND FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE ARE TWO OF THOSE GREAT CANADIAN RAILWAY PALACES.

BUILT BY THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, THEY HAD TO HAVE A PLACE TO BRING THEIR PASSENGERS.

THEY COULDN'T BRING THIS GREAT ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEAUTY TO THEM, SO THEY BROUGHT THEM TO THE BEAUTY.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT THESE NATIONAL PARKS ARE HERE IN ALBERTA.

WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING THE TRAM UP TO SULFUR MOUNTAIN.

YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT BEHIND ME.

FROM THE TOP OF SULFUR MOUNTAIN, THERE ARE STUNNING VIEWS OF THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF BANFF NATIONAL PARK, THE WORLD'S THIRD NATIONAL PARK AND CANADA'S FIRST.

THE PARK'S SCENIC BEAUTY STRETCHES FOR MORE THAN 2,500 SQUARE MILES, YET ITS MAJESTY WAS ALL BUT UNKNOWN UNTIL 1883, WHEN THREE RAILROAD WORKERS FELL THROUGH A CRACK IN THE GROUND AND DISCOVERED THE CAVE AND BASIN THERMAL HOT SPRINGS.

WHILE THE ORIGINAL SITE IS A MUSEUM, YOU CAN STILL GET A SOAK AT THE UPPER HOT SPRINGS.

[distant thunder rumbling] [elk bugles] RAIN OR SHINE, THERE'S PLENTY TO ENJOY IN BANFF.

AND WHILE THE HUMAN GUESTS MAY PREFER SUNNY SKIES, IT SEEMS THE VISITING ELK THINK THE WET WEATHER IS JUST FINE.

WHEN THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH, MY NEXT ADVENTURE AWAITS JUST AROUND THE BEND, THE BOW RIVER BEND, THAT IS.

TELL ME ABOUT THE BOW VALLEY.

I MEAN, SO THE VALLEY ITSELF IS CUT BY THE RIVER?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S A GLACIAL VALLEY ORIGINALLY.

YOU CAN TELL BY THE SHAPE OF IT.

>> Rosendo: UH-HUH.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

>> Rosendo: RIGHT.

>> NOW IT'S AN IMPORTANT WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.

MANY BIRDS, OBVIOUSLY, FROM THE RIVER AS WELL HERE.

SO, YEAH, IT'S A VERY, VERY RICH AREA FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING.

>> Rosendo: WELL, THE MOUNTAINS IN THIS AREA ARE INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE.

WHAT'S THE ELEVATION HERE?

>> BANFF'S AROUND ABOUT 1,400 METERS.

AND YOU'RE LOOKING UP AT MOUNTAINS AROUND HERE UP TO 3,000 METERS AROUND YOU, SO... TO OUR RIGHT HERE BEHIND US IS CASCADE, WHICH IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL ELEMENT TO THE VIEW DOWN THE MAIN STREET IN BANFF.

IT'S AROUND ABOUT 3,000 METERS, AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD DAY HIKE.

>> Rosendo: YOU KNOW, WHAT I ALSO LIKE ABOUT BANFF IS, IT KIND OF IS NOTED FOR THE SUMMER AS BEING ITS HIGH SEASON, BUT THE OFF-SEASON, LIKE WHERE WE'RE HERE NOW IN SEPTEMBER, IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO COME.

AND I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE WINTER, WHERE IT'S THE BEST TIME TO COME IN MANY WAYS.

>> YEAH, WE, ACTUALLY, WE GET AROUND 3 1/2 MILLION, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE, VISITORS A YEAR TO BANFF.

BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

MOST OF THEM COME IN THE SUMMER.

AND TODAY YOU CAN SEE WHY.

BUT YEAH, THE WINTER IS A FANTASTIC TIME.

IT'S QUIET.

YEAH, IT REALLY IS THE SECRET, I THINK.

>> Rosendo: THERE ARE THREE EXCELLENT SKI RESORTS UP HERE IN THE BANFF NATIONAL PARK AREA.

THERE'S NORQUAY OVER BY BANFF AND SUNSHINE AND LAKE LOUISE.

WE'RE AT SUNSHINE.

BUT DAVE, IT'S NOT SKI SEASON NOW, IS IT?

>> NO, WE'RE JUST GOING THROUGH A PERIOD OF BAD SKIING AT THE MOMENT, YOU KNOW.

>> Rosendo: [laughs] >> BUT UP HERE, WE GOT A BEAUTIFUL ALPINE MEADOW.

THE SUMMER IS SPECIAL HERE BECAUSE OF THE GROWING SEASON UP HERE, UP AT THIS ALTITUDE OF OVER 7,000 FEET.

IT'S ONLY, ON AVERAGE, ABOUT 45 DAYS OF THE YEAR.

>> Rosendo: THAT'S GREAT THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS ALPINE MEADOW WITHOUT HAVING TO WALK FOR HOURS AND HOURS TO GET UP HERE.

YOU JUST SHUTTLED US RIGHT ON UP TO THE TOP OF THE SKI LIFT.

>> IT MAKES THE AREA ACCESSIBLE TO ANYBODY.

EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT ARDENT HIKERS, THERE'S SOMETHING HERE FOR EVERYBODY TO DO.

>> Rosendo: YOU GET SOME AMAZING VIEWS OF THE MOUNTAINS UP HERE, DAVE.

>> OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

WELL, JUST OVER THERE NOW, WE CAN SEE MOUNT ASSINIBOINE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

>> Rosendo: OH, YEAH?

>> YEAH, IN FACT, VERY SOON, WE'RE JUST COMING UP NOW TO THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

BESIDES BEING THE WATERSHED BETWEEN THE ATLANTIC BEHIND US AND THE PACIFIC IN FRONT, IT'S THE BORDER BETWEEN ALBERTA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA.

>> Rosendo: SO ON THE HIKE WE'LL BE GOING INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA, COMING BACK TO ALBERTA?

>> YEAH, WE SURE WILL.

MAKE OUR WAY CROSSING INTO B.C.

>> Rosendo: LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING'S BEEN DIGGING HERE, DAVE.

>> WELL, YEAH, THIS IS A-- A GRIZZLY DIG.

>> Rosendo: REALLY?

>> YEAH, WHAT THE GRIZZLY'S BEEN DOING HERE IS GOING AFTER THE COLUMBIAN GROUND SQUIRRELS.

IF YOU LOOK AT A GRIZZLY BEAR, THEY'RE WELL-ADAPTED TO DIGGING.

THERE'S A LITTLE HUMP BEHIND THEIR HEAD WHICH IS REALLY JUST A SHOULDER MUSCLE.

AND THEN THEY'LL GO MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH TO GET THESE LITTLE GROUND SQUIRRELS AS A SNACK.

>> Rosendo: AS A SNACK.

>> YEAH.

>> Rosendo: THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> OH, YEAH.

HERE WE ARE NOW AT ROCK ISLE LAKE.

>> Rosendo: UH-HUH.

>> ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL HERE.

>> Rosendo: AND COMPLETELY BY OURSELVES.

YOU KNOW, DAVE, I KNOW THERE'S, LIKE, OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE THAT COME TO BANFF, BUT IF YOU TAKE A HIKE, YOU'LL LOSE ABOUT 95% OF THOSE PEOPLE.

>> OH, MOST CERTAINLY.

WE'VE JUST COME PROBABLY JUST A MILE NOW.

YEAH, AND HERE WE ARE IN, YOU KNOW, IN BACKCOUNTRY.

AND IT'S WONDERFUL, NOBODY ELSE AROUND.

AS YOU SAY, WITH JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF EFFORT, YOU CAN GET OFF AND BE--YOU CAN BE IN THE TRUE WILDERNESS OUT HERE.

OH, LOOK DOWN HERE.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING LITTLE FLOWER HERE.

SO THIS IS THE SEED PHASE OF THE WESTERN ANEMONE.

THE WESTERN ANEMONE IS ONE OF THE FIRST FLOWERS IN THE SPRING TO COME UP THROUGH THE SNOW.

IT'S STALK IS VERY HAIRY AND STRONG, AND IT PUSHES ITS WAY UP THROUGH THE SNOW PACK.

WE CALL THIS HIPPIE ON A STICK.

>> Rosendo: I CAN SEE WHY YOU MIGHT DO THAT.

>> AND THE SEEDS HERE CAN BE USED AS A PEPPER SUBSTITUTE.

I MEAN, IF YOU BITE THESE SEEDS AND... >> Rosendo: I SHOULD PROBABLY TRY THAT, HUH?

>> YEAH, TRY THAT.

AND SOMETIMES YOU GET A... KIND OF A BITTER TASTE ON THE END OF YOUR TONGUE.

>> Rosendo: OH, SURE, >> YEAH?

>> Rosendo: VERY NICE.

>> SO YOU NEED A LOT OF THESE TO REALLY MATTER, BUT IT DOES WORK.

OR IN THE FALL, WE CAN SEE THE REMAINS OF A LOT OF THE FLOWERS.

WE GOT STRAWBERRY PLANTS OVER HERE, OR A SITKA VALERIAN, THE WOOLY PUSSY TOES, AND ALSO FIREWEED.

THIS IS CALLED FRINGED GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS.

>> Rosendo: WHOA.

>> THIS IS SORT OF NEAR--SEEN ITS BETTER DAYS NOW.

BUT PARNASSUS IS THE MEADOW BELOW MOUNT OLYMPUS WHERE THE GODS USED TO PLAY, AND HENCE, FRINGED GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS.

>> Rosendo: I COULD-- I COULD ENVISION THE GODS PLAYING HERE IN THIS MEADOW.

I COULD UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD THINK OF THAT.

>> YEAH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, ISN'T IT?

[elk bugles] >> Rosendo: ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WHEN I COME TO BANFF, AFTER BEING OUTSIDE, TO WARM UP, IS TO COME TO THE RUNDLE LOUNGE AT THE BANFF SPRINGS HOTEL AND ORDER A BLUEBERRY TEA.

THERE ARE NO BLUEBERRIES IN IT.

IT'S EARL GREY TEA, GRAND MARNIER, A LITTLE BIT OF AMARETTO, AND TOGETHER, IT SMELLS LIKE BLUEBERRIES.

AND NOT A BAD VIEW EITHER.

LIKE THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY OF OLD, I TRAVEL DEEPER INTO BANFF NATIONAL PARK TO LAKE LOUISE AND ITS NOW-FAMOUS CHATEAU.

AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE CHATEAU GAVE WELL-HEELED EASTERNERS THE LUXURIOUS COMFORTS OF HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WILDERNESS.

WITH MORE THAN 1,500 KILOMETERS OF TRAILS HERE IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO DO, OF COURSE, IS TAKE A HIKE.

ONE OF THE NICEST HIKES FROM LAKE LOUISE IS THE LAKE AGNES TEAHOUSE.

IT'S ABOUT TWO MILES UP, TWO MILES BACK, ABOUT A 1,200-FOOT GAIN, NOT AN EASY, EASY HIKE, BUT A BEAUTIFUL HIKE WITH VIEWS OF THE CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE, THE LAKE, THE GLACIERS.

AND IT STARTS RIGHT HERE, CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE.

ONE THING I'VE FOUND DURING MY STAY HERE IS, YOU NEVER CAN TAKE THE WEATHER FORECAST SERIOUSLY, 'CAUSE THE MOUNTAINS CREATE THEIR OWN WEATHER.

I'M HOPING THIS IS GONNA LIFT.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S A LITTLE CHILLY.

THIS IS USUALLY A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE LAKE FROM HERE, BUT STILL HAS ITS OWN BEAUTY.

AS PROMISED, SOLITUDE.

TAKE A HIKE, GET AWAY FROM 95% OF THE PEOPLE.

LAST HALF MILE IS PRETTY STEEP, BUT AT THE END OF THE TRAIL, THERE'S SOME CAKE AND TEA WAITING FOR YOU AS A REWARD.

OH, WOW, WHAT A GREAT CHANGE FROM THE HIKE.

THE GODS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS HAVE CLEARED THE SKIES FOR US.

OF COURSE, BESIDES TAKING IN THE WONDERFUL SCENERY, THING TO DO WHEN YOU COME TO LAKE AGNES TEAHOUSE IS HAVE A CUP OF TEA.

AND THEY HAVE OVER 65 HERE TO SERVE YOU.

>> HERE WE ARE.

>> Rosendo: YOU GONNA HAVE A CUP OF TEA WITH ME, KEVIN?

>> YEAH, WHY NOT?

THANK YOU.

>> Rosendo: I'LL SERVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

BE A NICE CHANGE.

>> Rosendo: THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SETTING, KEVIN.

DO YOU LIVE HERE?

>> THIS IS HOME FOR US, YEAH.

WE DON'T HAVE TO HIKE IT EVERY DAY.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> Rosendo: WHAT A NICE OFFICE, HUH?

>> NOT TOO BAD, OFFICE AND HOME ALL IN ONE PLACE AND GETTING TO WAKE UP TO THIS SCENERY EVERY MORNING, IT'S PRETTY NICE.

>> Rosendo: WELL, IF YOU STAY HERE FOR FIVE MONTHS, YOU MUST GET TO KNOW THIS THING PRETTY INTIMATELY.

>> OH, INSIDE AND OUT.

ALL THE HIKING TRAILS AROUND.

I'VE SCRAMBLED EVERY ONE-- I'VE BEEN TO THE TOP OF EVERY ONE OF THOSE MOUNTAINS AT THE BACK THERE, AND IT'S A SPECTACULAR PLACE TO BE.

YOU COULD SPEND YEARS HERE, AND YOU WOULDN'T SEE EVERYTHING THERE IS TO SEE IN THIS AREA.

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> Rosendo: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS TEAHOUSE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN HERE FOR OVER 100 YEARS.

>> YOU GOT IT, YEAH.

THE ORIGINAL WAS BUILT JUST AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY IN AROUND 1902 BY THE CPR RAILWAY WORKERS.

AND IT WAS A TEAHOUSE BACK THEN, AND IT'S A TEAHOUSE NOW.

IT WAS BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

>> Rosendo: WELL, THANKS A LOT FOR SERVING ME.

>> CHEERS.

>> Rosendo: REALLY OPENED UP, DIDN'T IT?

LAKE LOUISE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

THAT TURQUOISE COLOR, BY THE WAY, OF THE LAKE IS CAUSED BY GLACIAL SILT.

IT LIES SUSPENDED JUST BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE WATER AND ABSORBS ALL THE COLORS EXCEPT THE ONES THAT YOU SEE REFLECTED BACK TO US.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

WELL, ON TO OUR NEXT ALBERTA ADVENTURE.

WOW.

WE JUST HOPPED OUT ON THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY.

AND ALTHOUGH THE PEAKS ARE HIDDEN TODAY, THE WILDLIFE IS NOT.

THERE ARE TWO GRIZZLIES JUST ON THE EDGE OF THE FOOTHILLS UP THERE.

FABULOUS.

IT'S 138 MILES FROM LAKE LOUISE TO JASPER.

AND THIS ICEFIELDS PARKWAY HAS BEEN CALLED ONE OF THE BEST DRIVES IN THE WORLD, IF NOT THE BEST DRIVE IN THE WORLD.

EVEN IN THE 1800s, THE TRADERS, FUR TRADERS, CALLED IT THE WONDER TRAIL.

ONE OF THE MOST RICHEST NATURAL AREAS ON THE PLANET.

I MEAN, IT IS AWE-INSPIRING.

WHAT MORE CAN YOU SAY?

[water lapping] >> SO IT'S ABOUT 325 SQUARE KILOMETERS.

IT COVERS A BIG AREA.

VERY HIGH ALTITUDE... >> Rosendo: HI, ANDY.

>> HELLO.

>> Rosendo: HOW YOU DOING?

>> GOOD, YOU?

>> Rosendo: TELL ME, WHY DOES ANYBODY WANT TO COME OUT AND STAND ON A GLACIER, ALL THESE PEOPLE?

>> YEAH, WELL, IT'S A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THING TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND WALK ON, A BIG CHUNK OF ICE, YOU KNOW?

>> Rosendo: BIG CHUNK OF ICE.

WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

HOW BIG IS BIG?

>> THIS GLACIER'S ABOUT 2.4 SQUARE MILES.

AND THE ICE FIELD IS ABOUT 125 SQUARE MILES.

>> Rosendo: WHOA.

THE COLUMBIA ICE FIELD FEEDS THIS GLACIER... >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Rosendo: AS IF THE ICE FIELD WAS... >> A LAKE... >> Rosendo: A LAKE, AND THIS IS A RIVER.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Rosendo: AND HOW MUCH IS IT RECEDING EVERY YEAR?

IS IT STILL RECEDING?

>> YEAH, IT RECEDES AT A RATE OF ABOUT 50, 55 FEET EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S LOSING LENGTH.

IT'S ALSO MOVING DOWNWARDS IN HEIGHT.

>> Rosendo: NOW, WHEN DID THIS GLACIER STOP MOVING?

>> 1843 WAS THE YEAR IT STOPPED ADVANCING AND STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS.

>> Rosendo: WHEN YOU COME HERE, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THAT WHERE IT STOPPED WAS REALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD OVER WHERE THE PARKING LOT IS.

>> IT'S OVER A KILOMETER AND A HALF.

>> Rosendo: AND SO IT'S MELTED THAT MUCH.

IS THIS A SEASONAL TOUR?

>> YEAH, IT'S SEASONAL, APRIL TO OCTOBER.

>> Rosendo: APRIL TILL OCTOBER.

WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE OUT HERE TODAY.

THANKS A LOT FOR BRINGING US OUT.

>> NO PROBLEM.

>> Rosendo: LET'S GO HAVE A DRINK OF THIS MILLION-YEAR-OLD ICE.

THIS IS GOING RIGHT TO THE SOURCE.

WOW, REFRESHING, TO SAY THE LEAST.

WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THIS ICE HAS BEEN HERE?

IT'S EXCITING TO THINK THAT THAT LITTLE TRICKLE OF WATER THAT I SAMPLED FROM ON THE ATHABASKA GLACIER WILL SOON BE TUMBLING OVER THE ATHABASKA FALLS AND THEN INTO THE MACKENZIE RIVER, AND FINALLY, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS MILES NORTH, DUMP INTO THE ARCTIC SEA.

THE RIVER'S JOURNEY IS LONG, AND ITS ORIGIN IS ANCIENT.

IN JASPER, MY ROOM WITH A BREATHTAKING VIEW WAS AT THE FAIRMONT JASPER PARK LODGE.

FROM ITS HUMBLE TENT CITY BEGINNINGS IN 1915, THE LODGE HAS GROWN TO WELCOME GUESTS IN STYLE AND COMFORT.

YET IT NEVER FORGETS ITS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SURROUNDINGS.

JASPER'S NATURAL ADVENTURES ARE LITERALLY OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR, AND I DECIDE TO START AT THE TOP.

JUST AS THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY HELPED ESTABLISH BANFF NATIONAL PARK, THE GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY HELPED CREATE JASPER NATIONAL PARK IN 1907.

IT IS THE LARGEST OF CANADA'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN PARKS.

TO GET A GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THE SCOPE OF THE PARK, THE MAJESTY OF THE MOUNTAINS, THE TOWN OF JASPER, COME ON UP TO THE JASPER TRAMWAY.

THEY'LL BRING YOU UP TO ABOUT 7,300 FEET.

IT'S OPEN SEASONALLY, SO BE SURE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT IF IT'S OPEN WHEN YOU'RE HERE.

JASPER TOWNSHIP IS A SMALLER, QUIETER VERSION OF BANFF; SAME KINDS OF SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, PUBS, STORES THAT YOU MIGHT FIND IN ANY MOUNTAIN TOWN.

BUT YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED WHERE THE BEST CUP OF COFFEE IS.

MORNING, SAM.

>> HELLO.

>> Rosendo: PEOPLE TOLD ME THIS IS THE BEST COFFEE IN TOWN LAST TIME I WAS HERE, AND I AGREED.

AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK.

SAM, THIS IS AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.

PEOPLE COME HERE.

THEY CAN GO ON THE INTERNET, AND THEY CAN GET THEIR CLOTHES WASHED.

THAT'S THE MAIN IDEA.

PEOPLE COME HERE TO GET THEIR CLOTHES WASHED.

>> YEAH, AND WE SERVICE--MOSTLY, IT SERVICES OUR LAUNDRY CUSTOMERS.

>> Rosendo: NOW, ARE YOU FROM THIS AREA?

>> YES, I'M FROM JASPER.

>> Rosendo: WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING BORN AND RAISED IN JASPER?

>> IT'S A WONDERFUL SPOT TO LIVE.

IT'S NICE AND QUIET IN THE OFF-SEASON, AND OUR SUMMERS ARE BUSY AND HECTIC AND LOTS OF FUN.

>> Rosendo: DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF ELK IN YOUR YARD?

>> WAY TOO MANY, YEAH, YEAH.

THEY'VE TRASHED OUR PLANTS TOO OFTEN THIS YEAR.

>> Rosendo: OH, YEAH?

WELL, SAM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHIPPING UP A GREAT CUP OF COFFEE.

>> OH, YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> Rosendo: MALIGNE LAKE ROAD OFFERS A 28-MILE SCENIC DRIVE THROUGH THE ATHABASKA GLACIER VALLEY.

ALONG THE WAY, KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR A GLIMPSE OF GRIZZLY, MOOSE, ELK, OR DEER.

WE JUST RAN DOWN HERE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO THE RIVER'S EDGE IN SEARCH OF AN ELK.

WE JUST SAW A GLIMPSE OF IT AS WE WERE PASSING BY.

WE'VE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES ON THE TRIP, GONE IN SEARCH OF WILDLIFE.

AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WE'VE RARELY FOUND IT.

BUT WE'VE ALWAYS FOUND SOME BEAUTIFUL SPOT AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A MOMENT AND APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE PARK.

MEDICINE LAKE GETS ITS NAME FROM THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS BIG MEDICINE TAKING PLACE HERE, BIG MAGIC, BECAUSE ACTUALLY, IT DOES SEEM THAT MAGICALLY THE WATER DISAPPEARS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WHAT HAPPENS IS, THERE IS AN EXTENSIVE SINKHOLE SYSTEM, CUTS THROUGH THE LIMESTONES AND CREATES ONE OF THE LARGEST UNDERGROUND RIVER SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.

WE'LL SEE THE WATER POP UP AGAIN AT MALIGNE CANYON.

ONE OF THE NATURAL ATTRACTIONS HERE IN THE JASPER NATIONAL PARK, NOT FAR FROM JASPER TOWNSHIP, IS MALIGNE CANYONS.

150 FEET DEEP, 2 KILOMETERS LONG, AND THERE'S SIX DIFFERENT BRIDGES CROSSING OVER THE CANYON WHICH OFFER YOU DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

WE'RE BETWEEN THE FOURTH AND FIFTH BRIDGES, AND I SEE THE WATER FROM MEDICINE LAKE HAS COME TO JOIN US.

IT'S TRAVELED FOR TEN MILES UNDERGROUND IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, IT TAKES BETWEEN 20 TO 70 HOURS TO MAKE THE TRIP.

DON'T WORRY, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A MUCH SHORTER TIME.

FROM THE DEPTHS OF MALIGNE CANYON, I HEAD FOR THE 7,000-FOOT HEIGHTS OF MOUNT EDITH CAVELL.

45 MINUTES FROM JASPER, IT'S OFF THE BEATEN TOURIST TRACK AND GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH SOME FRIENDLY BIGHORN SHEEP.

THIS IS SO GREAT.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM ONE OF THE LOCALS WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, MOUNT EDITH CAVELL.

I MEAN, IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL WITH THE HANGING GLACIER.

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET UP AHEAD HERE AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

WELL, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

GLACIERS, GLACIERS EVERYWHERE.

THERE'S ANGEL GLACIER.

YOU CAN SEE THE WINGS AND THE BODY OF THE ANGEL.

THAT GLACIER ONCE FILLED THIS WHOLE VALLEY ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I JUST STARTED THE WALK.

AMAZING.

I'M HERE AT THE FOOT OF THE CAVELL GLACIER, AND THIS IS A CAVE, AN ICE CAVE, GOING DEEP INTO THE GLACIER HERE.

THIS HAS BEEN FORMED BY WATER RUNNING UNDER THE GLACIER, AND IT CONTINUES TO MELT.

RIGHT ABOVE ME HERE IS A BOULDER THAT'S PROBABLY A THOUSAND POUNDS, AND SOMEDAY SOON, IT'S GONNA COME CRASHING DOWN HERE.

I HOPE NOT TO BE HERE WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

CAVE LOOKS LIKE IT GOES ABOUT-- OH, ABOUT 1,000 FEET BACK INTO THE BLACK, AND THEN I CAN'T SEE ANYMORE, SO IT'S HARD TO TELL HOW LONG THIS CAVE REALLY IS.

IF YOU WANT ADVENTURE, IT'S ALL AROUND YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON MY ALBERTA, CANADA, ADVENTURE.

I'VE TRAVELED IN ALBERTA BEFORE, SO I RETURNED WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS.

YET RATHER THAN JUST RETRACE MY FOOTSTEPS, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HELP FROM SOME FRIENDLY ALBERTANS, I COVERED NEW GROUND.

THE SUN DIDN'T ALWAYS SHINE.

AND SOMETIMES MY BEST-LAID PLANS WENT AWRY.

BUT INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD, I INCORPORATED THEM IN MY JOURNEY AND HAD A TRIP THAT EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN: "TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS."

HAPPY TRAVELING.

>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.

DK CITY AND COUNTRY GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, HOTEL AND DINING CHOICES, GUIDED WALKS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.

DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.

TO ORDER A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S TRAVELSCOPE ADVENTURES, VISIT: OR CALL: VISIT US AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAVELSCOPE AND TO JOIN JOSEPH'S WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES ON HIS BLOG.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US: OR EMAIL US AT: >> Rosendo: JOIN ME NEXT TIME ON TRAVELSCOPE, WHEN I TRAVEL FROM SANTIAGO INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND DOWN TO THE SEA TO DISCOVER THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLEASURES OF CHILE.

Captioning by CaptionMax www.captionmax.com I'VE TRAVELED IN ALBERTA BEFORE, SO...

I RETURNED WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS.