Jasper - Rodeo and Cowboys

We arrived in Jasper in the evening after travelling the Icefields Parkway and found a campsite, although there were over 700 sites we had to queue for over an hour to get in.
The next day we took the Jasper Tramway (a Cable Car) up to the highest lookout point in The Rockies that you can get to without hiking. We had an amazing day and could see for miles. We walked further up to the summit and could see Mt Robson and back to the Columbia Glacier.
We then went to town and found out the Rodeo (which tours Canada) had arrived in town so we bought tickets to that nights opening show. We started out viewing it a as a bit of a cliche, with little boys in 10 gallon hats, boots and jeans with big belt buckles - everyone walking with a swagger. This soon turned to appreciation of how physically demanding some of the events where. I'm sure the bareback horse riders must suffer some sort of whiplash! The events ran through in this order, Bare Back Broncos, Saddled Broncos (completely different movement), Steer Roping, Pack Horse Race, Ladies Barrell Race, Calf Roping Tie-down event, Steer Wrestling and lastly and most spectacularly - Bull Riding. These riders looked big and mean then they brought on the bulls. The were massive and with only 3 riders on the night out of 7 competing it was all over too quickly for me. The other 4 riders were nursing injuries ranging from a broken leg suffered the night before in 'practice' to broken ribs, torn knee cartilidges etc etc all sounding more likely to have been suffered in a car wreak. In less than 8 seconds in 2 occasion and in just over 8 seconds for one it was all over. Love the Rodeo...
The rest of our time in Jasper was spent spotting wildlife, going to Edith Lake and driving along Maligne Parkway out to see the Lake and generally relaxing.