The honeymoon is over, but the photo organization is still just beginning. There’s no lurid details, no steamy photos (well, it was pretty humid on Day 2, but it was too chilly to be “steamy”), just some digital memories of our first two days in the Canadian Rockies.
And here’s some non-lurid details…
Our first day was spent driving from Canmore to Banff and then up the Bow River Parkway to Lake Louise. Once there, we took a chairlift ride at the ski area and were treated to some amazing views. Then we went to the actual Lake Louise and were blown away by the blue water. The bright blue is from glacial runoff that is full of “rock flour” (finely ground rock dust). The rock flour remains suspended in the water and absorbs all light except blue. And, in the right light, Lake Louise can make any tropical ocean seem flat in color.
After a stroll around Lake Louise, we drove over to Moraine Lake. At first, we thought some catastrophic event occurred recently. The water was very low – docks were left high and dry 50 feet from the water’s edge and a jumble of logs rested at the drainage end of the lake. So we asked some workers who were getting the canoe rentals ready what happened. They laughed at us a little and said the lake wasn’t full yet but runoff and rain would most likely have it full by the weekend. Turns out that the lake fills every spring and then slowly drains in the summer and fall. Looming storms kept our walk short, but made some great views.
By the morning of day 2, those looming storms turned to thick, lingering clouds and scattered showers. In other words, pretty decent hiking weather. We checked on trail conditions with some park staff and watched our options thin out quickly either from bear warnings or avalanche danger due to the deeper than normal snow pack or the very uninviting combination of both.
So we did a relatively short hike up to the old Castle Mountain Lookout (elevation: approx. 6200 feet). The fire tower was removed in the early 1970s but the trail was still in great shape – and was no longer particularly prone to bear or avalanche activity (although the signs of both remained along it).
We hiked to a small waterfall just above the old lookout and just below treeline, had our snacks, rested a bit and then headed back down. Back at the lookout, a tough young grouse let us know he was the trail boss. Judging by the way he puffed, strutted and clucked at us, we actually thought he might rush (a funny rather than scary thought). But, once he found a tree to duck around, he decided to let us pass.
Oh, I also learned that in Canada, Canadian Geese aren’t just called geese. Crazy, huh!?!?