Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/516237
18 bca a .com sUMMER 2015 courtesy VIa Rail canada DAY 1: Jasper to Prince George To start the journey from Jasper, like many visitors you can connect from the Canadian that slides into the pretty national park town throughout the week. From your perch inside the Rocket, you will almost imperceptibly inch away from the gabled station at 12:45 p.m., waving goodbye to the mountain-framed community as elk glance curiously towards the tracks. They're not the only wildlife routinely accompanying the train. Have your camera ready and stick to the windows en route for glimpses of berry-snuffling bears, white-tailed deer, and bald eagles whirling overhead as if the roof were studded with flailing salmon. But even without these critters, the route's monumental crags (including Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies) make day one of this grand wilderness journey a mesmerizing real-life diorama. All you have to do is sit back and watch – and maybe stretch your legs by exploring the train. The Rocket's steel-sided 1950s cars are like time-travelling in a well-maintained museum exhibit – especially if you're in Touring class. While the route offers year-round Economy service, from mid-June to September you can opt for Touring class to enjoy onboard meals and Panorama carriages with wrap-over windows. But the main attraction is access to the retro-cool, bullet-shaped Park car at the back of the train. This vintage, chrome-lined carriage includes a lounge, food and drinks bar and – best of all – a cockpit-like upstairs where you can while away hours watching the backcountry unfurl. It's ideal for sinking into the train's natural rhythms and detoxing from busy back-home lives. But it's not all about the train. The Rocket makes short stops to pick up passengers and, at some, you can hop off to suck up the fresh mountain air. On day one, there's usually an extended stop at McBride, a town of several hundred locals with a bustling station café that provides a handy coffee pit stop. The next few hours are a languid, laid-back balm as the train eventually eases into early-evening Prince George. The train overnights here in Northern The Panorama car provides sweeping views through its expansive windows.