Bryan Cranston, widely known for his role as Walter White in the TV series Breaking Bad, hung up his hazmat suit and traded in his “Blue Sky” crystal meth for the crystal blue waters of Moraine Lake.
Cranston, who also played Hal in Malcolm in the Middle, shared some pictures from his recent trip to Alberta, which included stops in Lake Louise, Banff, and Jasper.
Cranston gave us a peek into his trip with his wife, Robin Dearden. They explored some of our province’s most iconic spots while celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary.
Cranston and Dearden’s journey started in Vancouver, where they stayed before crossing the British Columbia-Alberta border to Jasper.
The couple were lucky enough to see Jasper before it was devastated by a wildfire that started on July 22.
After soaking in the beauty of Jasper, Cranston and his wife hit the road, heading south down Highway 93 along the Icefields Parkway toward Lake Louise. Revisiting the Columbia Icefields after 55 years was an eye-opening experience for Cranston.
“Coming upon the Columbia Icefield was a surprise to me…this glacier that I walked on over 55 years ago on a similar summer day was now a fraction of the size it used to be…climate change in full effect,” wrote Cranston in an Instagram post.
Walter White has an eye for crystal-like things. Still, it doesn’t take a high school chemistry teacher to see that climate change is destroying our province’s incredible glaciers.
David Hik, a Terrestrial Ecology Professor at Simon Fraser University, claims that 80 percent of the mountain glaciers in Alberta and British Columbia will disappear in the next 50 years.
Glaciers are essential for many reasons, such as tourism. They draw people from across the world, including celebrities like Cranston.
However, glaciers are more than just pretty to look at. Only three percent of the world’s water is freshwater.
About three-quarters of this freshwater is stored in glaciers, making glaciers the second largest reservoir of freshwater on the planet.
We rely on glaciers and their freshwater for drinking, fishing, farming, and power generation.
A 2020 study found that losing glacial water will cause water shortages for Rocky Mountain House, Lake Louise, Hinton, and the Bighorn Dam, affecting more than one million people.
Cranston’s photos of the Columbia Icefield are gorgeous. Still, they are also a stark reminder of the effects of climate change on our resources and one-of-a-kind landscape.
The Journey Continues
After soaking in the fleeting beauty of the Columbia Icefields and other sights along the Icefields Parkway, Cranston and Dearden continued toward Lake Louise.
“When we arrived at the astonishing Lake Louise, it took our breath away. This Lake is how I remembered it when I was last here in 1971,” said Cranston in an Instagram post.
Cranston praised the Chateau Lake Louise and called it a “must stay,” highlighting the awesome canoe ride they took around the lake.
They also went for a hike at Moraine Lake, and the scenery left them stunned by the area’s pure beauty.
In his post, Cranston pointed out that Lake Louise’s angle makes it look “Gorgeous Green,” while Moraine Lake shows off a “Brilliant Blue.”
But the adventure didn’t stop there.
Cranston shared more photos from Banff, where they stayed at the historic Banff Springs Hotel to mark their 35th wedding anniversary.
“It not only looks like a castle, Kings and Queens have actually stayed here. The shots of the flowers in the foreground show the stunning natural beauty of Banff – and we couldn’t get over the view from our window!” expressed Cranston.
Cranston joked that, from a distance, the iconic hotel could be mistaken for a location in a Harry Potter movie.
Before ending their journey, Cranston and his wife also visited some must-see spots like Bow Falls and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site.
“And finally, some wild roses along a tranquil river…which is a good place to end the journey. Covering 800 miles, this vacation was as restful as it was breathtakingly beautiful. I hope you’ve enjoyed coming along with us,” he wrote to his followers on Instagram.
This whole Alberta journey was part of a bigger Western Canada tour that included a stop in Vancouver before taking a scenic train ride to Jasper.
Cranston is back to work in Your Honor, playing Michael Desiato, a New Orleans judge willing to do anything to protect his son.
