WRITING PROMPT RESPONSE.

Jasper National Park: Mother Nature’s Wonderland

Meet the largest national park in Canada’s Rocky Mountains.

There’s something different about mountain air.

It’s fresher, cleaner, and crisper. It fills not just your lungs but your soul. You feel like you’re one with nature — your senses are sharper and you’re more attuned to the natural vibrancy of the natural world.

That is, when you aren’t gasping for air, cursing yourself for being so out of shape.

But you continue, pushing yourself despite the burn. Every time you look up, the summit somehow looks further away but you know it’s just a trick of perspective.

“It’s just one foot in front of the other. You can do it. It’ll be worth it when you reach the top. Gosh, it’s so embarrassing when old people pass me.”

When you finally do reach the top, it’s worth every moment.

It’s not just the view that’s breathtaking.

It’s the entire experience — the unforgettable feeling of being at the top of the world, the triumph for having made it to the summit, the contrasting sensations of the wind buffeting you while the sun warms you.

At over 11,000 square kilometers (4,200 square miles), Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. It was declared a national park in 1930 and in 1984, it was made a UNESCO’s Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.

It’s home to 422 named mountain ranges, many of which with summits greater than 3000 meters (10,000 feet). The park also includes the internationally famous Columbia Ice fields — the largest ice fields in North America’s Rocky Mountains covering 325 square kilometers(125 square miles).

If mountains and ice fields sound too chilly for you, there are also 1,762 lakes for you to choose from. Here’s a sampler of three of them — pristine, colorful, and beautiful.

Wildlife is abundant and it’s common to see bears, elk, moose, and goats along the highway. Nearly 53 species of mammals reside here and with the number of wildlife safety warnings posted throughout the park, you’re bound to develop a healthy respect for them.

With over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of hiking trails, there’s an abundance of options for all levels of expertise. You might think the views from the easy hikes might not be as good as the views from the difficult hikes, but I beg to differ. Views like this one can be experienced mere minutes from the highway.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Jasper National Park is Mother Nature’s wonderland!

I’m blessed to live a mere four-and-a-half hour drive from Jasper National Park.

Like so many who overlook the wonders in their own backyard, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that it took a global pandemic for me to finally visit and explore this beautiful national park.

But the moment I passed through the park gates, I instantly fell in love with it.

While it is less convenient and further away than the more popular Banff National Park, I think it’s well worth the extra drive time to avoid the bustling tourist crowds. Jasper still offers that clean, pristine feeling of nature and a quaint, small-town feel that hasn’t yet been tainted by social media influencers.

My favorite thing about visiting Jasper National Park is the feeling of being surrounded by snow-capped mountains. They stand tall, majestic, and fierce. Equal parts beauty and danger, you instinctively know they are not to be trifled with.

When I stand in the valleys, surrounded 360 degrees by these mountains, I’m reminded of how small I am. It’s oddly comforting, as I feel the stress of my city life drain away and my burdens return to the size of molehills.

Perhaps I should feel intimidated by these mountains — and indeed, a part of me is — but it feels more like an embrace. It’s as if I’m being comfortingly enveloped and told to let go of the things I’m worried about because it will all be okay.

Standing there amongst Mother Nature’s pride and glory, I can’t help but feel like there’s something more to this world that’s just beyond my understanding. Something that radiates from the core of my body and tickles my instincts, dancing just beyond my grasp.

#naturalwonders

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