Friday Favorites: Geological Survey Markers

One of my favorite things to look for when traveling are geological survey markers. Survey markers are objects placed to mark key survey points on the surface of the Earth.

I get a thrill seeing one on a remote mountain top, imagining the survey crew who hiked in there and placed it.

Here are some pictures I’ve collected along the way:

Pine Mountain, Georgia (note the triangle indicating this mark is used for triangulation)

Banff, Alberta

El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico

Seattle, Washington

Charleston, South Carolina

Knoxville, TN

Cadillac Mountain, Maine

rk

Picture of the Day: Mistaya River and Mount Sarbach

These pictures are of Mount Sarbach rising above the Mistaya River from Mistaya Canyon! Banff National Park is breathtaking and the Canadian Rockies have the best mountains I’ve ever seen!

Thanks! – Josh

Picture of the Day: Icefields Parkway

If you ever need to drive for a couple of hours and be amazed at everything outside your cars windows (or outside your motorcycle helmet) then the Icefields Parkway is for you! Connecting Banff and Jasper National Parks it is almost 150 miles long (232km) and will show you glaciers, mountains, lakes of all shades of blue, waterfalls, and any other thing that defines the beautiful Canadian Rockies in Banff and Jasper! If you get lucky you get even see some Wildlife such as, black and brown bears, caribou, mountain goats, bobcats, marmots, or even a bighorn sheep! 
Thanks – Josh

Canada National Parks Free in 2017

If you are a regular reader of bighorntravelblog, then you know that we love National Parks.   Big news was announced recently that the Canada National Parks Discovery Pass is free in 2017.   The Discovery Pass normally costs about $104 USD so it is a great savings and a big opportunity to see the most beautiful places in Canada.   The reason for this offer is Canada 150.  Canada 150 is the celebration of  Canada’s 150th birthday.

Now, I wasn’t sure if this offer was only for Canadians or if they would let their friends to the south participate.   So I went on the Canada Parks website and 20 seconds later my Discovery Pass was ordered and free first class shipping to me in Georgia.   I think that I am going to have to add some trips to Canada in 2017 to my planned trip schedule now.

Now I must admit that I don’t know nearly as much about the Canada National Park system as I do the US National Parks.   I looked up and found out that there are 47 National Parks.   Some like Banff are easily accessible from a major airport but others are pretty remote and I assume very difficult to get to.    I am looking forward to learning more about the Canada National Parks in 2017.   Happy 150th Birthday Canada!

rk