Onto the Canadian Rockies

Lake Minnewanka

Johnson Canyon Falls

Moraine Lake

Lake Louise

Banff Hot Springs

Leaving Sandy and Waynes

We leave the farming life in Alberta at Sandy and Waynes house with the 4 horses, 5 cats, 2 dog and 12 cows (grazing elsewhere) for the big trip into the Canadian Rockies, and surprise, surprise more rain. They need it, they are actually in drought although its not like any drought I have ever seen everything is still very green, but we are planning to camp and those plans go out the window again as we arrive into Banff with driving rain and a million people to contend with trying to get accomodation, anyway we find somewhere high and dry for 2 nights and when settled head to the Banff hot springs and a lovely soak in the 40 degree natural spring water, a very nice way to end the day.

Monday we are up bright and early the sun is out and we head to Lake Louise for a walk around the lake it is absolutely beautiful very turquoise water and stunning scenery, we leave the crowds here for Moraine Lake another amazing sight and more stunning views of snow covered
rock faces and turquoise lakes. We again walk around the lake and are struck by the beauty of the scenery. We then go on the sightseeing chairlift to the top of the Lake Louise ski area and have a wonderful view out over the Bow Valley and the Mountains we are told on the way up to watch out for a bear and when we get up the top we are not allowed out of the chairlift area because there is a grizzly bear on the road just 100m away so we of course comply and head down for lunch in the ski lodge. We hear later that there is a 2.5km perimeter electric fence around the ski lodge area to keep bears out, they also have electric fences around the campgrounds to protect people and bears, they are very prolific up here. Anyway, today we also see lots of squirrels, gophers, deer, moose and mountain goats, which we all were excited to see.

Driving back from Lake Louise through the Bow Valley we stop at Johnson Canyon for a walk up into the falls and see some amazing limestone rock walls and waterfalls, its a 5 km walk in and out and the kids are tired by the time we head out so we head down to the lake side at Lake Minnewanka and have a bit of a rest then head home to Banff and more rain. We have discovered that there are some Aussies that we have met on exchange in Toronto staying here at the same hotel as us so we have a few quiet ales with them and then head of to bed after a huge day of sight seeing. Of to Jasper tomorrow.