Jasper

Jasper is a historical area that has been occupied by various people since the glaciers scoured out the valley. The original indigenous settlers had homes along the river.. next came the fur traders and then the Europeans. When the railway was built many people of different cultures arrived. This also opened up the area for more settlers and movement of resources to major cities .When the national park was set up many of the original indigenous residents were asked to move from the river areas.
Everywhere you look, majestic mountains rise up.    

  It is a tourist town being the gateway to Jasper National Park.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing ( no , I know not you,) rafting, camping, and hiking. Once we did the tourist thing and walked past the shops , we did the latter. Yes it is sooooooo hot ,30+ degrees, so we decided on the discovery trail.     
It skirts around the mountain surrounding the township. Yes I know it is steep but just think of the fresh air , and remember all those yummy desserts on the train.      
Now wasn’t that worth the 7.4km hike. There are warnings for bears and we did see a camera set up to check for signs.    We just saw moose and bear scat, but I am not complaining.    The walk ends back at the town although there’s the option of going further up the hill. Yes I can see the Tim Hortons and yes we will check out the donuts.

Jasper historical railway station is next on the trail. It is made from the rounded glacier rocks that are used extensively throughout the town. 

    Next is a totem for the town. It tells the story of two brothers who leave home to explore.

Homes in the area are mainly wood but stone is used frequently in foundations, basement ,gardens or architectural features. Most have fences to keep out unwanted furry visitors, namely bears.

So an interesting town when you look beyond the shops. Off to Banff tomorrow so be ready for another day of exploring.