Lake Louise
Erskine College Alumni, Friends Return From Trip To Canadian Rockies
A group of Erskine College alumni and friends, accompanied by Alumni Director Ralph Patterson, recently spent a week in the Canadian Rockies.
Welch and Sara Jane Bostick of Greenville, Richard ‘69 and Janet Fellers ‘68 Taylor, also of Greenville, Gilbert and Alpha Shuler ’48 Smith of Due West, Joyce Owens ’59 Ramsey of Anderson, Patricia Owens ’62 Preston of Augusta, Ga., Mary Lou Whitesides ’50 Pearson of Gastonia, N.C., and Jean White ’50 Stewart, also of Gastonia, N.C., joined Patterson on the trip sponsored by the alumni office.
The Erskine delegation joined others from Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, New York and Florida. Patterson said 45 people traveled together, along with a tour manager and a bus driver.
Pearson said, “We had a super tour director, a driver who kept us laughing and wonderful fellowship.”
Welch Bostick said the trip was “spectacular.”
“The mountains and lakes were breathtaking,” he said. “I could not take a nap on the bus or read a book for fear of missing another view of the majestic Rockies or the wildlife.”
Ramsey said the trip was everything she had hoped it would be and more.
“I was most impressed with the beauty of the flowers — the abundance, enormous size and vivid colors,” she said. “Being almost uncomfortably warm and looking up and seeing snow (ice) on the mountains was mind-boggling.”
Ramsey said she was also struck by the overall beauty of Canada, from its big cities to its small, quaint towns, peaceful lakes and snow-covered mountains.
There was another aspect of the trip that impressed her.
“Even with all the beautiful scenery, the most inspiring part of the journey was getting to know the people, especially the Erskine group,” Ramsey said.
Preston said, “It was a great trip! I particularly enjoyed being with a small group from Erskine among the larger group on the tour to the Canadian Rockies. All along the route the scenery is exquisite. Just when you think you’ve seen the most beautiful sight you’re ever going to see, an even more dazzling one looms into view.”
The “magnificent mountains, beautiful glacial lakes, powerful waterfalls and unbelievable flowers” impressed Pearson.
The group left Charlotte on July 17, flew to Toronto and then on to Edmonton.
The group left Edmonton for Jasper, Alberta on July 18, stopping along the way at Fort Edmonton Park and the West Edmonton Mall, the world’s largest mall with more than 800 stores.
While in Jasper, the group took a raft trip and a boat tour of Maligne Lake, which Patterson said was “awesome.”
The fourth day of the trip featured a ride up the Icefields Parkway.
“The drive included an endless succession of scenic wonders with beautiful waterfalls, rushing rivers, glacial peaks, imposing cliffs and snow-capped mountain ranges,” Patterson said.
He said the Athabasca Falls were “impressive” and the group experienced a ride across the Columbia Icefields, which are more than 1,000 feet deep.
The group also stopped at Peyto Lake.
Next was check in at a five-star resort on Lake Louise, where group members took in the numerous natural sights around them, including the lake, the emerald forest and majestic mountains.
Pearson said Lake Louise was her favorite place on the tour as group members had lakefront rooms.
“Everywhere you looked was a picture waiting to be snapped,” she said.
On July 21, the group departed Lake Louise for Banff, with a stop for spectacular views at Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks.
The following day brought sightseeing stops at Bow Falls and Hoodoos (“Land of the Sleeping Giants”), and the group took a gondola ride up to the top of the Sulphur Mountain that overlooks Banff.
“Wild Game Pizza” – the ingredients of which are elk, buffalo and moose — was on the lunch menu that day for some of the travelers.
The group went to a dinner theater that evening and saw a comedy presentation entitled, “Oh Canada, Eh?”
Last Friday, the group left the Rockies and headed for Calgary. Among the stops was the Canadian Olympic Village (host of the 1988 Winter Games).
The group gathered for a farewell dinner that night and returned home Saturday.
“We had an incredible trip,” Patterson said. “Collette Tours put together a great itinerary that combined the magnificent views of the Canadian Rockies, fun optional activities and great hotels. We had first class accommodations and had great food for the entire trip. The trip kept us busy, but allowed for free time to explore, go shopping or just rest and relax.”
The alumni director said a fall foliage trip to the Northeast is planned for fall 2005 — a weeklong trip based out of Boston and Glen Falls that will include fall scenery and a traditional lobster dinner. That trip will take place Oct. 12-19, 2005.
Patterson said to call the alumni office for information about that trip or the golf outing to Pebble Beach, Calif., set for Sept. 29-Oct. 2.
He said the trip to the Canadian Rockies helped re-establish an old tradition of Erskine friends traveling together.
“We will continue to schedule trips each year and hope that more of our alumni and friends will take advantage of these great opportunities,” Patterson said. “We had an awesome week and it was a privilege to travel with a group that loves Erskine College and Seminary so much.”
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