I’ve lost count how many times I’ve flown over the Canadian Rockies. And I almost stopped believing they existed.
Because for the past 20 years, whenever I flew over them, this is typically what I’d see.
Every. Freaking. Time.
But FINALLY, on my recent ski trip last month, the skies were clear and I got to see these elusive peaks.
Flying west from Calgary, the change from rolling prairie/foothills to jagged peaks is quite abrupt.
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We flew right over the town of Canmore, which is the gateway to Banff.
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And of course the clouds started again, but I still caught a few good glimpses of some peaks.
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Flying back, I lucked out again, and got to see the mountains from the plane for the 2nd time in almost two decades.
This shot is from Interior BC. The white zebra-stripes are all previous avalanches.
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Which gives you an idea of why you hear about many fatalities when people go into the back-country.
Our flight path took us right over southern BC back towards Calgary, through some ice fields.
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I believe this is Rogers Pass.
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When compared to a screen shot from Google Map, it seems to agree.
Rogers Pass looks so tame from the air. But at ground level, it’s not so easy.
Last year I drove through it in late March, and talk about a white-knuckle drive.
Single lane, slush and snow, black ice and rocks literally falling on the road right in front of me.
Not to mention a truck accident that had closed the highway for hours.
Though it gave Junior Bear a chance to stretch his legs.
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