Springtime in Canada is magical. There are newly born deer (we saw tiny twin fawns in a roadside field) moose and bears, temperatures are perfect, while flowers and insects are popping up everywhere.
Kinney Lake was an incidental inclusion on our three week RV trip around British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains. After five days following the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper, I wanted to stay there forever and was very sad as we left Jasper and headed west on Yellowhead Highway, Route 16, and I thought away from the magic.
Why did we have to leave? So what, if we were only half way through our three weeks, so what if we had yet to make our way over to Vancouver Island. My skewed logic would have us staying there, then making a mad dash back to Vancouver when our time was up. We left… Having failed at convincing Budget Hubby-Driver to turn around and take me back, we drove through pine clad mountains, past timber fishing lodges and rivers filled with salmon to arrive a couple of hours later at Mount Robson.
I have trouble letting go of the places I love. The Canadian Rockies were one of those places.
– Banff had surprised us with it’s European village charm and riverside walks
– Lake Louise nearly killed one half of our team (me) with a strenuous mountain walk through last year’s snow to a tea house
– Emerald Lake at Kicking Horse Pass wowed us with solitude and perfect reflections
– Jasper charmed us with roaming elk and a lone wolf right in our campground, with it’s aromatic welcoming bakeries and nearby hot springs.
Mt. Robson at 3,954 m (12,972 ft) was in no danger of having me climb it, but a walk to Kinney Lake (3 hours return), was just what the Doctor ordered. The grasses and flowers were bursting out of the ground in a vibrant clamour for our attention.
![Mt. Robson Park, British Columbia](https://www.budgettraveltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Mt.-Robson-1024x512.jpg)
![Dandelion with insect, Kinney Lake walk Mt. Robson Park](https://www.budgettraveltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kinney-Lake-Insect-800-wm.jpg)
![Pretty purple flowers, Kinney Lake walk](https://www.budgettraveltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kinney-Lake-Purple-800-wm.jpg)
![Flowers on Kinney Lake walk](https://www.budgettraveltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kinney-Lake-Spot-FLowers-800-wm.jpg)
![Kinney Lake White Flower](https://www.budgettraveltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kinney-Lake-White-Fl.-800-wm.jpg)
![Red Columbine Flower Collage](https://www.budgettraveltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Red-Columbine-Flower-Collage-1024x512.jpg)
![Kinney Lake rapids](https://www.budgettraveltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kinney-Lake-rapids-800-wm.jpg)
![Looking up from Lake Kinney](https://www.budgettraveltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Looking-up-from-Lake-Kinney.jpg)
How could I be sad with all those flowers to cheer me up. I didn’t let go of my angst straight away, but things were looking up.
I hope these flowers brighten your day as much as they did mine.
Budget Jan
I’m not surprised that you didn’t want to leave the Rockies….maybe there’s a housesit around the corner! Love your photos of the flowers at Mt Robson…stunning. Isn’t Spring a fabulous time of the year!
Agreed – it is easy to feel optimistic amongst all the beauty. Jan
So very gorgeous! I love the flowers and the amazing Rapids. The lake looks incredible – I can so see why you would want to stay there longer!
Thanks Lisa, It is a beautiful part of the world, especially in Spring. Jan
Beautiful shots Jan. I lived in Banff for two years back in the 1970’s. It really is a beautiful town.
Thanks Nancie, That was amazing living in Banff for two years – were you working there – what was it like living with the cold? Jan