Tuesday – July 3rd, 2007 – Lake Louise

Today’s blog will be short (mercifully?) since words alone fail to convey the experience. Maybe a photo or two will suffice?

We headed north from Banff to celebrate Margaret’s birthday. Yes, it was a day late, but circumstances prevented alternatives. From one extreme to another might describe our day. First, we dined al fresco beside Baker Creek with cold cuts (including salt-cured pork from Forsyth, GA!), and cherries for dessert. Very pleasant.

Then we check into The Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise. Posh doesn’t describe the hotel. Although we didn’t have reservations, the local tourist bureau assured us that mid-week, we wouldn’t have a problem getting a room AND “walk-in’s” (those without reservations) got a “good” deal on the room rate.
Anyway, we arrived and were given a lake side view room on the eight (top) floor! Photo enclosed!

Margaret stayed awake most of the night oohing and ahhing over the changing scene of the lake. As you know, it never gets really dark in mid-summer, so there was always a view! M. After eleven, the stars began to come out, but still there was enough light to marvel at the scene. No one was about and it was peacefully quiet, in contrast to the merry laughter and voices of the daytime crowd.

We also hiked the trail to the other end of the lake – about 2.5 miles round trip. It misted on us, but never really rained. We think it snowed at the higher elevations, but couldn’t be sure looking at the mountains this a.m. The shoreline was wonderful, with lots of views of the chateau, crags, fissures, and even a few hardy mountain climbers setting out to scale the cliffs. The above photo is from part way around the lake, but shows the chateau best. We would have hiked to the glacier but the weather wasn’t promising and it was getting late in the day.

We decided today that the color of the lake, from the glacial melt, is just indescribable, and that it sets the standard to which other things may be judged, never comparable, but adequately.

Our dinner table was by the window, the scene ever-changing across the water. Dinner was superb and the service was outstanding. Margaret had Pacific grouper and I had rack of lamb. The restaurant provided strawberry icewine in tribute to Margaret’s b’day (ok, it was the previous day, but what did they care). We’re going to try and buy some in Okanagon next week.

All in all, a most memorable experience.