Day 22 Scoping Out the Area

Started the morning at the Lake Louise Visitor’s Center with a very helpful, knowledgeable ranger. While we had internet there, we planned our week in the Canadian National Parks. Booked a gondola ride, a tour of a glacier,  and shuttle rides to Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. Parking is a madhouse in LL and LM so taking a shuttle is easier and less expensive. Will also drive and explore the Icefield Parkway, recognized as one of the most scenic drives in the world. Tomorrow we start with hiking in Yoho National Park. It was suggested to take bear spray, so we are renting a device in the morning from the local sporting goods store. If you don’t see a post tomorrow….

Afterwards we snooped around the Village of LL and then the “soft-side camping sites” next to our campground that is surrounded by an electrical fence. A rushing river separates the two camping areas.  Later we drove up the Bow Valley Parkway. Breathtaking views are all around. We stopped at Morant’s Curve to observe the Bow River running along the railroad tracks of the Canadian Pacific Railway. From our vantage point, we saw the peaks of Mt. Temple (11,626’), Mt. Leroy (11,230’), Haddo Peak (10,073’), among others. A little farther down the road, we hiked Baker’s Creek. We were almost alone soaking in the solitude of this mountain creek that starts in the Skoki Valley and threads it’s way down below. It’s a refuge for bears, wolverines, lynx and other forest inhabitants since it is not a popular spot. Weather is cold at night but warms nicely during the day. Hoping to see stars tonight.