They say the best laid plans...

I'd been eagerly anticipating my Rocky Mountaineer train journey for months. The allure of winding through the Canadian Rockies, taking in breathtaking vistas, was irresistible, and one of my bucket list items. Little did I know my adventure would take a dramatic turn, far from the planned itinerary. A full story and video will be forthcoming about the overall adventure, I have over one thousand pictures and a lot more of the story to share and will soon.

My journey began like any other, filled with awe and excitement. The first few days included many sightseeing stops on a luxury motor coach. It was everything I'd hoped for, a leisurely pace through landscapes that seemed painted by an artist. Our group arrived at the Chateau Jasper, after a lovely boat trip on Maligne Lake and a visit to the Fairmount Jasper Lodge, anxious to board the train the next morning at 7 am. But fate had other plans.

That seemingly ordinary evening took an unexpected turn when my phone buzzed with an evacuation alert. The smell of smoke hung in the air, and as I peered out my curtains, I noticed people packing their cars up, but at that point, I still went about my normal preparations to go to bed but took out some clothes in case. Living for years in California with previous threats of fire, suddenly this serene mountain paradise was also under threat from nearby growing wildfire, so perhaps I was cynical about the warning. Our group texts began, but at that time it was only an alert, and we were told not to worry. About 40 minutes later, the warning went off again, but the urgency in the message was intense. We were instructed to evacuate immediately. I dressed and gathered my belongings, adrenaline pumping and mind racing. Opening the door to the hallway filled with other anxious travelers trying to figure out what to do next, I got on the elevator and pressed the button. When the doors opened the lobby was filled with people and suitcases, everyone getting masks due to the thick smoke that filled the room.

The wait for the bus felt like an eternity. The once tranquil Jasper was now a scene of organized chaos. People from other hotels were getting on buses or walking with their suitcases in the dark. When our bus finally arrived, we joined the exodus of residents and tourists, all united by a shared sense of uncertainty. The 5-mile journey to get to the road that would lead us to safety turned into a 4-hour ordeal. Traffic was gridlocked. People got in and out of vehicles to go into stores and buy coffee or fill up gas cans. A few hours into the wait, the sky lit up with lightning and it rained briefly. At one point we got redirected, and were the only bus on a dark road, and in my state of exhaustion and stress, I felt like I was in a horror movie waiting for the Zombies to appear in our headlights.

After hours of travel, we found refuge in the most unexpected of places – a church in Valemount. The New Life Centre opened its doors to weary travelers, offering comfort and solace. It was a surreal experience, finding community amid such upheaval. The people there provided food, and even helped to arrange transportation for those who had no way to leave the area, such as hikers and seasonal workers.

At the evacuation center, I met a woman aged 87 from Los Angeles traveling with her husband. They had been on a tour that was to end that morning and were supposed to board a regular train to Toronto from Jasper. She had left some luggage behind, but at that point, wanted to just go home. I suggested some ideas and helped her reach her travel advisor. She ended up paying for seats on a shuttle with some others there to get to Kamloops with the goal of ultimately getting to Vancouver to fly home instead of completing their planned vacation. Side note: I’ve since learned that many travelers were forced to leave behind luggage, and even valuables like Passports. There is a location being set up for them to retrieve their belongings.

Finally in the early afternoon as our group sat outside on chairs, cement, and the ground with our luggage all around us, a bus came to take us to Kamloops about 4 hours away, our spirits somewhat dampened but resilience intact. What was meant to be a three-day train adventure was reduced to a single day, and the route was far from the one we'd planned.

While this unexpected detour was undoubtedly challenging, it also revealed the strength of the human spirit. The camaraderie among strangers, the support of local communities, and the awe-inspiring power of nature left an indelible mark.

As of this moment, the wildfire rages on, Jasper is still closed, and many residents are living in evacuation centers in nearby towns. It is such a tragedy for that community and my heart breaks for those who lost their homes and livelihoods. The destructive power of fire is immense and there are hundreds of fires burning across the Western US and Canada.

This adventure, while not the one I'd envisioned, has given me a unique perspective. It’s a reminder that life is full of surprises, and sometimes the most extraordinary experiences are the ones we least expect. Be prepared for the unexpected, and as our bus driver, Patrick, amusingly said, “there can always be adventures in travel”.

As for the Rocky Mountaineer journey, it remains unfinished business. I'll be back to complete the adventure, to witness the breathtaking beauty that was so abruptly interrupted. Until then, this unexpected detour has become a story of resilience, human kindness, and the unpredictable nature of travel.