Lake Louise and more

Early start today because we had ordered sun for the day.  As predicted Canada didn’t let us down, went down and said good morning to Lake Louise, then breakfast.  Straight after breakfast Pam suggested we walk to Lake Agnes Tea House.  She had been speaking to Jim and Maria Booth, they said it was easy.  It will be fun she said.  We called for assistance after about 500 metres.  It was an arduous climb, non-stop for 3.4 kilometres, every corner brought a slightly narrower, steeper, stonier  track until we finally made the waterfall, then the Tea House and peak.  Not a bad spot to rest for the trip down.  Made it down in about an hour and a half.  It was midday before we made it back with our friend Lake Louise.  Thanks Pam.

Fully recovered after about 5 minutes, we saw some people out in canoes.  How hard could that be said Pam?  Off we go to the canoe shed to hire a canoe for an hour.  Pam was made Captain of course and was put in the front.  As Captain she ordered me to take photos and she would paddle and steer.  How could I argue?  All went well; we made it to the end of the lake and back with time to spare.  We even had time to follow the sun around a bit.  Good effort Pam.

Time for a late lunch then a visit to Moraine Lake, as I said yesterday, sunlight could show it in a different light.  It was very nice, just a sneaky breeze about, so we climbed the hill again, admired the view, took a couple of photos and headed towards Takakkaaw Falls in the Yohoe River Valley.  A very nice drive through mountains topped with glaciers to the tallest falls in Canada.  The noise was a loud road and the water coming down cascaded into a mist, then settled into the creek a cloudy colour; caused by the ‘flour’ in the water caused by the grinding of minerals and rocks in the glacier above which feeds the falls.

Left there about 5 and came home via the Lake Louise Village, bought some stuff for tea and went and said goodnight and goodbye to Lake Louise.  We had plans to walk along the waters’ edge for about 2 kilometres but our legs couldn’t take us any further.    

Hope for sweet sleep tonight and more travels tomorrow.

 

Slow and steady wins the race, I'm going as fast as I can.

Over rocks and trees roots but always uphill.

Have a little break, that mountain can't be too far away.

Half an hour later, looks like we are no closer.

Trying to get above the clouds.

Maybe even above the snow line.

Finally, that waterfall which means we are almost there.

Got to have a sit down for a minute.

Enjoy the view of Lake Agnes.

Then down we go.

Like a London escalator.

To Mirror Lake.

Back to our beloved Lake Louise.

They're the mountains we just climbed.  What a reflection, no wind at all today.

Almost good enough to have a paddle in a canoe?  What do you say Vernon?

You're the boss, I'll just take the photos.

Looks a long way Pam, haul away!

WOW!!! Now it's a long way back, bit of shoulder in that oar please Captain.

Not getting any closer........

No time to look around!!

It is a picture though....OK...you can take a photo.

But don't slacken off just yet.

Back to Moraine Lake.

Climb that hill again.

Couldn't even see this Moraine Lake backdrop yesterday with the low cloud.

Happy now, on the way down.

Takakkaw Falls in the Yohoe River Valley.

Bigger than you can imagine.

I've included this photo to give you an idea of the scale of these falls.  There is a man climbing the stone scree on the left, a black dot about halfway down the photo and about the same distance in.  Scaled against the base of the falls.

The road from the falls. Just postcard after postcard.

Wildlife on the way home, haven't identified this one yet, promise we will soon.

Glacier on the way home to Lake Louise.

Back to our baby to say goodnight.

And goodbye.

We'll be back I'm sure.