September 21, 2019, Icefields Parkway and Lake Louise
Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway
We woke to a gorgeous day! The sun was shining! and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! While I had pangs wishing the weather on this day had been our weather when we hiked up to Odaray Grandview, I was excited that we would have spectacular weather when exploring the Icefields Parkway. It was Paula’s last day and while we all wanted to hike, doing the touristy thing would maximize Paula’s Canadian Rockies experience. After a quick buffet breakfast, we were off.
Our first stop was Herbert Lake. Interestingly, for years, Fred and I rarely ventured on the Icefields Parkway and then when we did, it was for a hike. We never even stopped at Herbert Lake until 2019. What a shame because it is a beautiful lake with amazing mountain reflections in the water in the morning.
Our second stop was Crowfoot glacier turnout. I enjoyed looking at the surrounding mountain peaks and the ice from a new viewpoint – Paula’s.
Our third stop was Bow Lake. After parking the car, we headed down and walked all along the shores, taking pictures as we went. It was quite special showing Paula St. Nicholas Peak (of course named after my son 😆), and some of the surrounding peaks which I have stood upon. We were earlier enough in the day to see beautiful mountain reflections in the water.
Our fourth stop was Peyto Lake. I believe this was Paula’s favourite. And Fred enjoyed seeing the area we explored a few weeks prior when we trekked up to Caldron Lake-Ridge.
Our fifth stop was at Waterfowl Lakes. Mount Chephren had a perfect reflection in the water.
Our sixth stop was Lake Louise. Certain we wouldn’t get a parking spot at this time of day, Fred dropped us off to go explore where we used to live thinking he would wait down in the village until we sent a text indicating we were done. But a wonderful surprise to our day happened – Fred got a parking spot because just as he was circling around to leave, someone else pulled out and left. We spent a bit of time walking the shoreline and then headed inside to explore all the changes that have happened to the Chateau over the past few decades.
All too quickly it was time to head back to Calgary because Paula was taking the red eye home to Toronto. We did manage a few more stops on the way home – Castle Mountain with the Bow River running in front of this massive mastiff, Vermillion Lakes and a popular view of the iconic Mount Rundle, and Two Jack Lake.
