Jasper, Alberta
Yesterday we drove about 220 miles from Edmonton to Jasper National Park. The road is mainly flat with the mountains slowly growing in front of you as you head west.
The weather report called for cold weather and rain today so we anticipated a down day. But we awoke to 35 degree temperatures and when we raised the shade and looked out the front window this is what we saw!
Are you serious ? ? ? This is September 8th ! ! !
We only get one TV station out here, a local analog feed of a station in Edmonton. We were surprised at how calmly the weatherman reported the snow, even in the city. He said this was the earliest they had seen snow since 2004. 2004 ? ? ?
Maybe we’ll just explore in the Jeep today. The prediction is for rising temperatures as the week progresses so relief is on the way!
Oh, the Places They Go! 
Makes me cold just looking at your photos! Maybe Sept in Jasper isn’t such a good idea.
Locals tell us this is one of the nicest months here in Alberta. I guess this is just a little bump in the road. Lots of tourist still.
YIKES!
Snow in early September?? That’s just not okay. Brrrrr…..hope it warms up really quickly for you.
Laurel, it is suppose to get warmer each day and be back to 70 by the weekend. The sun would make a big difference:)
Gorgeous header photo.
Egads you two. I hope that early snow isn’t any indicator of what is in store for the USA this winter. That is way to early for a snow for my liking!
Yep…Jeep would be my first choice!
I hope this isn’t an indication of the winter in the US, also, Marsha. Last year was enough.
They closed the road to Mt. Evans for the season and they’ve already had a couple of dustings with accumulation up there. Mountains and snow…. ya never know!
That is true, Ingrid. The elevation makes a big difference.
I had NO idea it snowed so early in Jasper. Is this normal? What a crazy cool place. Really looking forward to your next posts on it.
Nina
I don’t think this is normal, Nina. Edmonton is about the same elevation and they had snow also, the earliest since 2004. September is suppose to be one of the nicest months.
OMG!!!! I sure hope it melts fast and you get to do all the exploring you want to do before you have to head South!
We should have plenty of time to get in everything, Lisa. We did a driving tour today since it was cloudy and still 35 all day. The sun should return tomorrow so we will hit the trails. I told John we would just hike Hansyin style to keep warm:)
Pam and John, I am enjoying your posts and the beautiful scenery! Retirement is the best, I’m finally getting to do some traveling.
Thanks, Jean! So glad you are enjoying your retirement. It is wonderful:) Happy travels! There certainly is plenty to see:)
Oh no! I wondered when the snow would come there but thought oh October. Good thing you have a jeep. It certainly will be beautiful. Life does deal surprises.
Snow this time of year hasn’t happened in ten years, Sherry. How lucky (unlucky) can we get:) But sure makes the mountains even more beautiful.
Now I know why we totally skipped this area in Sept 2012! I guess it’s a warning to come on hurry with your hiking. Other than the cold, what a lovely sight to see in summer.
MonaLiza, we had to decide between crowds or cooler temps. I’ll take the cooler temps any day. There are a lot of people around even with the cold. I can’t imagine this place in the summer. Too bad you didn’t make it up here in 2012. It really is beautiful. It hasn’t snowed this early in ten years.
Isn’t that snow pretty? Custer is supposed to have snow on Thursday. I’m excited! You know us Floridians will be outside checking it out! Hope you guys don’t get stuck up there.
Yes, the snow was pretty:) The mountains look beautiful all covered in snow. They got more snow yesterday and over night (not us, thank goodness). But we are ready for some warmer temps. The sun is out today and it makes a huge difference.
Wonderful! Sorry…..SoCal girl here 🙂 Glad it’s a quick storm and you’ll soon be under sunny skies again. Enjoy the beauty – and having four-wheel drive!
Thanks goodness it was a short snow fall and it was very pretty, Jodee. Now we are ready for it to warm up:)
Although this weather does not work for hiking, it is an interesting scene to experience in September. Glad to hear it is going to warm up soon. 🙂
Actually, LuAnn, we did a few short hikes to see some waterfalls and the glacier field. There are some driving tours so we did those. Now the sun was out today so we hit the trail:) It is still very cold…long underwear weather!!
We hiked at 9500 feet today so we are picking up the pace. Glad to hear you were able to get out, even though it is cold. I follow a blog from a gal who lives in Calgary and she extends her apologies for giving the two of you such an unpleasant welcome to her city by dumping snow.
Wow, LuAnn! Our highest has only been 7500′! You are way ahead of us:) Great job hiking with all that altitude.
Thank goodness we aren’t in Calgary! The news said they got a foot of snow and showed all the trees that were down and the snowplows out plowing…yuck! We didn’t get any of that storm here. The mountains here got some which made them beautiful with the sunshine yesterday.
We hit our all time low last night at 23!!! We left the electric heaters on all night which we have never done before. We just don’t use heat at night but last night was an exception.
Your “storm” has moved into Glacier – but yes, it is to be short lived and warmer blue sky days are predicted to return by this weekend.
Gee, Rick, I hope you didn’t get the foot Calgary got yesterday!!!
Now you can say you’ve seen the Great White North! Are you continuing on to the BC coast? Temps for the next 2 weeks in the low to high 20C. We’re in Fort Langley (Vancouver area) until Oct. 6th with the exception of Sept.16th to 21st when we’ll be in Victoria. Would be great to finally meet you!
Safe travels.
Sorry, but we are heading back to the US after our visit to Banff. One day we will have to visit BC. It looks like a beautiful place from all the other posts I’ve read.
Enjoy the pretty scenery, it will be gone soon enough. Stay warm out there you guys!
Thanks, Holly! We are trying to stay warm. I dug out the long underwear yesterday!
I wondered about that title and then was quite surprised to see your snow photo. Vic is in denial about our own plans to winter in Bend. I guess traveling that far north this time of year has its challenges but it sure is beautiful country.
Of course, Pam, we had to be here for the first snow this early in ten years!! Last year at this time it was 78!! Oh, well, we are managing just fine and getting to see what we want to see. It will be interesting to see how you enjoy your winter in Bend:)
Wow, I bet it looked beautiful with snow, but glad the temperatures are going up. Hope you get to go on some beautiful long hikes – looking forward to reading about them.
Brenda
The mountains are beautiful with the snow, Brenda. We are hoping for warmer temps this weekend so we can do some hikes elevation.