Jasper and Whistlers Campground

This was our lowest mileage day so far, and we made good use of the slower pace for more relaxed touring. Since we had reservations at the Whistlers Campground, we drove past it into Jasper to stock up on a few things before checking in.

Driving an RV, I had been concerned with making our way around places without getting into trouble. Google's street view was invaluable in scoping out places in advance. There was somewhere we were driving, maybe Jasper, and I realized it all looked very familiar. I had 'driven' it via computer previously. I knew in advance that Jasper had some areas of wide streets suitable for parking an RV. As an example, this is a Street View image of someone's RV, not ours, from an earlier time. We parked a few spaces behind the RV shown and visited Robinson's grocery, a great store.

Shopping done, we backtracked a bit to the Whistlers Campground, another huge Canadian National Park Campground. When we checked in, they asked/reminded us about keeping a clean campsite (all food, cooking gear, etc. kept inside a 'hard sided vehicle'), warned that there were aggressive calving Elk cows about. They come to the campgrounds to bear their young thinking that some predators (grizzlies) are less likely to hang around where there are many people. However, the cows don't want to hang with us; beware. The theory was discredited a while later in Denali; details to follow.

We dry camped again; that isn't a problem especially if a dump station and water source are available, as here. Morning drill: empty, fill, hit the road.

In areas with bears, campgrounds often have food storage lockers, cooking areas, etc., to keep critters and campers separate. Whistlers had these new looking shelters with old wood stoves and picnic tables available for cooking and dining. Wood was supplied. Both in the evening and morning, someone had fired up the stove, so they are used.

The view from the dining room.


Today's miles: 192, the least so far. Total: 2092.