Lake Louise

The bus journey from Revelstoke to Lake Louise follows Highway 1 into the Rockies through a pass where the mountains are so steep and high that I can't see the tops from the bus window. The road runs alongside the trans- Canada railway line, which disappears into tunnels from time to time. I find out later that in order for the trains to manage the gradient they spiral around inside the mountains and sometimes the front of one train can be seen emerging from a tunnel, while the end has not yet entered.

Train Spiralling up Hill

As we leave British Columbia and arrive in Alberta, we also travel into another time zone and move our watches 1 hour forward. I am moving closer to home, geographically and in time. Lake Louise is in Banff National Park. There is a small village and here is the hostel where I meet up with Brigette and we spend the afternoon catching up with what each of us has been doing since we last saw each other 10 days or so ago. We are both pleased to have each other's company and we plan some hikes we will do in the local area - hurrah! In the evening after dinner we sit around a camp fire in the grounds of the hostel and toast marshmallows. The Canadian way is to make a kind of sandwich of them with biscuit and chocolate - difficult to eat delicately, but sticky and yummy.

Camp Fire

Marshmallow Sandwich

I am very happy. We are hiking today around Lake Louise; the sun is shining and the mountain tops are clear of cloud. We stop at the outdoor shop in the village to buy ‘bear spray’, even though for this walk we are very unlikely to encounter a bear. The trail is well-walked will be busy with people and the bears are generally lower down in the valley where it is warmer and there is more food. Still, it gives us confidence, together with the bell that Brigette has attached to her rucksack.

The full car park is close to the lake side. The setting is extraordinary, with a milky blue lake surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks. People are out on the water in Canadian canoes and crowds of people gather on the promenade to take pictures. Behind all this and looking out across the scene is a monstrously enormous hotel.

Tourists at Lake Louise

Lake Louise Hotel

We join the crowds taking the path along the side of the lake, but then soon peel off to take one which climbs steadily up the side of the hill. The crowds are instantly left behind and we are in the company of a relatively smaller number of walkers. There are views back down to the lake and the hotel, across to the mountains and into the valley until we reach a small tarn called Mirror Lake. From above the surrounding trees and clouds above are clearly reflected in the circular face of the lake.

View of Lake Louise

Mirror Tarn

We climb to a peak called Little Beehive and rest there taking in the valley view, watched by a chipmunk hopeful for some crumbs.

Valley View

Chipmunk

We continue to our next stop, which is the Tea House at Lake Agnes. A crowd of walkers is gathered here enjoying the view and taking refreshment at the Tea House.

Tea House at lake Agnes

Lake Agnes

The path then takes us back down towards the far side of the lake and along the side of the valley filled with the rubble and gravel debris from a glacier. As we climb higher the path crosses the snow line.

Mountains and the Rubble from a Glacier

Brigitte on the Snow

Our destination is a second Tea House in the style of a Swiss chalet and we sit on the balcony and are probably kidding ourselves to think that we have earned a big chunk of chocolate cake. In front of the Tea House the view is of the top of the glacier and the surrounding mountains.

Tea House

Tea and Chocolate Cake

Me and Brigitte

Lake Louise and Hotel

A good day - I am happy to have walked in the national park; filled my lungs with mountain air; my tummy with chocolate cake and my heart with my new friend.