I had a very difficult time with this post. Worked on it for nearly 2 weeks. I had too many good photos – nearly 80 – or more. Which ones to pick? Post? I finally selected these. Hope you enjoy them.
Canadians love Socialism. We can’t wait to hand over all our personal responsibilities (Freedoms) to the Government and be taxed to the eyebrows. 3 of the 5 political parties that ran in our last Federal Election were outright Socialist in philosophy: The incompetent and forever stupid Liberals; the insane and laughable NDP; and the complete lunatic Lefties: the Green Party. Absolutely terrifying that this bunch overwhelms any sane Political ideals here. The damage of Socialism is long, pervasive and impossible to get rid of. Example: Bilingualism – as Law in Canada. Most signage, packaging, anything! has to be done in both English and French. This has cost us – and continues to do so – untold Millions (zillions?) of Dollars. This single titanic feat of political stupidity alone has cost Canadians an unfathomable fortune in wasted money. Yet almost NOBODY outside of Ontario and Quebec speak French – or need to do so. In my job as a Greeter at Home Depot I believe I’ve only encountered about 2 people in the last 6 years that needed assistance because they only spoke French. (We couldn’t find any interpreters). But this Law persists – to appease the unappeasable Province of Quebec. This was inflicted upon us by that great French Canadian Socialist Pierre Trudeau – who like his son Justin (who now rules Canada) has professed an admiration for Communism. Yeah.
In a country where democracy is corrupted by the reality that 2 Provinces – Ontario and Quebec (out of 10) – can swing any Federal Election vote, we find the need to speak French by any Politician who isn’t bilingual (like from Western Canada) immediately handcuffs him.
Thinking about coming here?
WHY am this bringing this up? Because the signs at Mount Edith Cavell reflects this mentality. Apart from the fact that all signage has to be bilingual – in English and French – there’s a question of whether these signs are need to exist at all?
But apparently, in 2012, there was an “icefall” from the Angel Glacier into the Tarn (glacier pond) which resulted in some flooding here. No one was hurt and it was pretty well a freak event, but now we have signs everywhere.
I used to leap tall mountains in a single bound. Now there’s a little too much snow on my peak. The truth is that the pain in my legs is sometimes unbearable
when I try to go hiking. Diabetes 2. So my hiking days may soon come to an end. But I ain’t quite done yet.
Beautiful up here!
A pure mountain stream!
But …
A flood? On a mountain?
Seems there’s a mountain pond up ahead – formed by a glacier. A tarn. And falling rocks and ice could create a flash flood
and drown you.
And I was worried about bears.
We fearlessly head up the trail.
I’ll be right along.
If I rest periodically I can make it.
It’s just a matter of time.
There does seem to be something blue up ahead … ?
Well … I’ll be tarned! There is indeed a large pond.
We head out for some hiking at Mount Edith Cavell. There she is.
Majestic!
A lot of people have the same idea.
Who was Edith Cavell?
“But this I would say, standing as I do in view of God and eternity, I realize that patriotism is not enough.
I must have no hatred or bitterness towards any one.”
– Edith Cavell
Edith Louisa Cavell (/ˈkævəl/; 4 December 1865 – 12 October 1915) was a British nurse. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from both sides without discrimination and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the First World War, for which she was arrested. She was accused of treason, found guilty by a court-martial and sentenced to death. Despite international pressure for mercy, she was shot by a German firing squad. Her execution received worldwide condemnation and extensive press coverage. The night before her execution, she said, “Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.” These words were later inscribed on a memorial to her near Trafalgar Square. Her strong Anglican beliefs propelled her to help all those who needed it, both German and Allied soldiers. She was quoted as saying, “I can’t stop while there are lives to be saved.” The Church of England commemorates her in its Calendar of Saints on 12 October.
Cavell, who was 49 at the time of her execution, was already notable as a pioneer of modern nursing in Belgium.
My Mother was also an British nurse – during World War II – and also a devout Anglican – who later became the President of the Red Cross in New Brunswick for several years. Interesting parallels.
Next: Jasper Journey – Mount Edith Cavell … Part 2
Saw one of these on the way back. Don’t know what they’re called, but it’s a hole in the glacier where water goes down.
A few people have gone missing up here over the years. They just found a body of a guy that had missing for 20 years.
But if you ever fell in one of these holes
I doubt they would ever find you.
Inuksuk
The word inuksuk means “that which acts in the capacity of a human.
A manmade stone landmark or cairn built for use by the Inuit, Iñupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America. These structures are found in northern Canada, Greenland, and Alaska (United States).
The inuksuk may historically have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for travel routes, fishing places, camps, hunting grounds, places of veneration,
drift fences used in hunting, or to mark a food cache.
So … when you get to the Icefield you’ll see this place:
Except it was rainy. Drizzly rain. The Centre is full of people from every place on the planet. It has a restaurant/cafeteria; a gift shop; a viewing deck; historical displays; toilets … lots of stuff. This is also where you buy tickets for the Icefield Tour. They cost over 100 bucks each.
Then you head out back … … and jump on one of these things. They’re called buses.
This is Shawn … or Shane?. Our driver.
You can see the drizzly rain.