Lake Louise

12^thSeptember 2019

Despite the advice that we were given to rush up to Lake Louise by 7 am, if we wanted get a carpark, we opted for the get some sleep and breakfast option. Leaving the motel at a leisurely 8.45 am, we noted there was a steady stream of traffic in the direction of Lake Louise, and that the traffic wardens and witches hats were out, but we will take our chances. The worst option is we will have to join shuttle bus queues.

Arriving at the parking area, we can see electronic signs saying car park full, and people directing traffic towards overflow carparks, but somehow we scored a carpark at the Lake, with only a short walk down to the Lakeside.

The weather is still overcast, but it is not raining and is a bit cool. We dress ourselves for the conditions and head off to see the famous Lake Louise. 

It is not hard to see why it is one of the top destinations in the Rockies. No matter what the weather, the scenery is fantastic. The Fairmont Hotel (not where we stayed) sits right on the Lake’s edge offering a commanding view of the Lake and glaciers that feed it.

Lake Louise first impression

Once you are there and have a bit of a look around, the only real activities a hiking. We had picked out one trail that we would like to do,  ‘The Plain of the Six Glaciers hike” , which takes you along the lakeside and then up to the source of the water that fills the lake, the glaciers and the moraine plains below them. 

The hike is 12.2 km (6.1 km up and 6.1 km back). It is described as moderately challenging. Any way the 6.1 km up includes about 5 km of climbing to a height of 2100m, with a teahouse at the end where you can have a cup of tea and food, if you wish, whilst taking in the staggering views. The hike takes you up around 360m from the base level of the lake.

Thanks goodness for digital cameras, because if you had and old fashioned film camera, it would have been and expensive day. It is a photographers paradise, with plenty to see, and with the ever changing conditions the same photo will be very different in 10 minutes time.

Here are some photos of our experience.

The trail that follows the lake

Looking back towards the Fairmont Hotel

Lake reflections as we continue on

An appreciation of how sheer the cliff walls are

 

At the end of the Lake looking back towards Fairmont Hotel

A long way up the trail looking back over the lake with Fairmont in the backgound

Getting closer to the glaciers

The Tea House

Despite the stiff climb to the Teahouse, it was a great thing to do. Going up was challenging and coming down much easier.

On the way back down, we saw people on horseback coming up. Smart People !

A view of part of the trail on the way back down

A rare view of some local wild life

View from The Fairmont over lunch

It took us about 3.5 hours, and by the time we were back at the lake, it was lunch time. We had lunch at the Fairmont taking in the view and resting our weary bodies.

Now relaxed , it was back in the car to drive to Calgary for the next 2 nights. The drive took us around 2.5 hours and we settled into our hotel, managing to score a carpark out the front.

Tonight we dined at a very trendy restaurant across the road from our hotel called Charbar, it had an Argentinian theme ( both Argentina and Calgary are big on meat). It was a nice change from the other eating options we have had on the road so far.