The Passenger

Turquoise ice-cold water forming a lake between forests and mountains of the Banff National Park, that’s Peyto Lake – maybe the most beautiful lake I’ve ever seen. It is fed by the glaciers surrounding it and its color is special because of fine rock particles (‘glacial flour’) that are carried into the lake. It is named after trapper Bill Peyto who was active in this region in the 19th century.

The Icefields Parkway leading through the Canadian Rocky Mountains fulfills everything that the name promises. Between high mountains you can find six main glaciers like the Athabasca glacier all belonging to the Columbia Icefield. And while we had a heatwave with 41 degrees Celsius the temperature there dropped to 16 degrees. Due to global warming it has retracted continuously and lost about half of its mass. Along the way to the glacier tongue you can see how far it reached until which year.

Just 55 kilometers south of Jasper and directly next to the Icefields Parkway you can find the Athabasca Falls – a breathtaking natural spectacle that captivates visitors with its raw power and stunning beauty. It only has a height of 24 meters, but the waterfalls has cut deep into the rocks at the Canadian Rocky Mountains and can become truly powerful throughout the year.

In the heart of Jasper National Park, Maligne Lake is a crown jewel of the Canadian Rockies, attracting visitors with its stunning beauty and serene atmosphere. At the center of this natural wonder lies Spirit Island, a tiny landmass that has become one of the most photographed locations in Canada, if not the world. Spirit Island’s fame among photographers can be traced back to a single, pivotal moment in the 1940s. Kodak, the renowned film company, sent photographer Peter Gales on a mission to capture images that would promote their color film.