Backwoodsman, you were in some beautiful country. I lived about 80 km NNE of Jasper for 10 years. Worked a few MVCs with their EMS and Fire Department. The problem with Banff and Jasper is that while being scenic they are also quite expensive. The Banff-Jasper Highway has a few of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen. I expect you'll recall that gaping big turn in the highway where if ya look up you can see Dall sheep--solid white--on cliffs where there is next to nothing to hold on to.

The Penticton/Kelowna area is something else. Great fruit orchards there. You were in some wild bits of the country a little north of there on The Yellowhead (Hwy 16). We also have a few wild areas here in the east. Anyway, if for some reason you decide to return, there's lots more to see. I've been many places in this country (except Yukon, Prince Edward Island and Labrador) and truthfully there isn't an area I can't say good things about. The people are friendly, but I expect you'd get along well regardless of where you are.