A Tale of a Giant Gorilla, a Snowed-in Town, a Mountain Pass, a Vanished Community, a Giant Truck, a Waterfall, and a Dam (it was a full day)

Jody and I went on another long road trip today. We didn’t make it out of the solar system this time, but we did leave the province!

She was happy to drive again so I just sat and ogled the scenery.  Since I’m a movie buff she thought our first stop, Cardston, would be of interest, which it was. This town is the birth place of Fay Wray, most famous for the iconic scene of her trapped in King Kong’s fist while he’s climbing the Empire State building! The town isn’t much, but there is a little fountain and sign in her homage.

We then pushed on to Waterton Lakes national park, which is pretty much shut down for the winter. There’s not much to do or see except for TONS of snow, but there’s also no access fee. We drove around the few streets of this winter ghost town that were plowed and also drove up to see the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Next, she took me through the Crowsnest Pass! This is one of those iconic Canadian sites that you just need to go through at least once. We stopped at the site of the Frank slide, which happened in 1903, and buried the community. The area is still unstable.

We continued into BC so she could show me the world’s largest truck in Sparwood. It’s big!

Heading home, we detoured to visit the Lundbreck Falls and the Oldman River dam.

We got back to Lethbridge pretty late and were grateful that Gary had barbecued dinner for us. That mountain air sure whetted our appetites!

welcome to Cardston, birthplace of Fay Wray

welcome to Cardston, birthplace of Fay Wray

Cardston's little homage to its most famous resident

Cardston’s little homage to its most famous resident

of all the movies she did, she'll always be remembered for the one with the problem boyfriend

of all the movies she did, she’ll always be remembered for the one with the problem boyfriend

Fay Wray fountain

Fay Wray fountain

Fay Wray

Fay Wray

Mormon temple

Mormon temple

I only knew about this museum because it was prominently featured in an episode of the Simpsons!

I only knew about this museum because it was prominently featured in an episode of the Simpsons!

driving west

driving west

driving west

driving west

driving west

driving west

driving west

driving west

entering Waterton Lakes national park

entering Waterton Lakes national park

Waterton Lakes national park

Waterton Lakes national park

the snow was high and right up against all the boarded up buildings

the snow was high and right up against all the boarded up buildings

the snow was high and right up against all the boarded up buildings

the snow was high and right up against all the boarded up buildings

Prince of Wales Hotel

Prince of Wales Hotel

Waterton Lakes national park

Waterton Lakes national park

Prince of Wales Hotel

Prince of Wales Hotel

Waterton Lakes national park

Waterton Lakes national park

lots o' deer on a hill

lots o’ deer on a hill

Waterton Lakes national park

Waterton Lakes national park

Waterton Lakes national park

Waterton Lakes national park

entering the Pincher Creek area

entering the Pincher Creek area

arrive in Pincher Creek (I just noticed the pinchers on either side of the sign!)

arrive in Pincher Creek (I just noticed the pinchers on either side of the sign!)

sign about the Burmis Tree

sign about the Burmis Tree

the Burmis tree, 'a sign of endurance for the people of the [Crowsnest] pass', died in the late 1970's but resurrected

the Burmis tree, ‘a sign of endurance for the people of the [Crowsnest] pass’, died in the late 1970’s but resurrected

entering the municipality of Crowsnest Pass

entering the municipality of Crowsnest Pass

a crow in a nest...

a crow in a nest…

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

the site of the Frank slide, the deadliest in Canadian history

entering BC!

entering BC!

the biggest truck in the world! (Sparwood, BC)

the biggest truck in the world! (Sparwood, BC)

people in front of the biggest truck, for scale

people in front of the biggest truck, for scale

sheep on the highway

sheep on the highway

another sign about the Crowsnest Pass

another sign about the Crowsnest Pass

I finally got a picture of the welcome to Alberta sign!

I finally got a picture of the welcome to Alberta sign!

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

I can't believe I can be on a structure like that now!

I can’t believe I can be on a structure like that now!

Lundbreck falls

Lundbreck falls

bridge near Lundbreck falls

bridge near Lundbreck falls

Oldman River dam site

Oldman River dam site