Moraine Lake
Today we drove from Canmore to Banff National Park and through the quaint Village of Lake Louise to Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The best view of the Lake is from the Rockpile, where you can see its amazing distinct shade of blue-green due to the refraction of light off the rock flour deposited in the lake all the time. We wanted to get away from the crowds so we rented a canoe and paddled our way around the Lake. The image of Moraine Lake is world famous and appears in many places including the reverse side of the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill. We stayed out on the Lake for awhile just enjoying the scenic beauty and peacefulness of being on the calm water. Click on thumbnail to view images
Lake Louise
Then we drove to another glacial-fed lake surrounded by soaring mountain peaks, the majestic Victoria Glacier and the glistening emerald lake, Lake Louise, and the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise nestled on its shores. We had a cold beer and a bite to eat on the patio overlooking the Lake. The Hotel was first conceived by the railway at the end of the 19th century as a vacation destination and was opened only during the summer. In 1982 it was winterized and became a popular ski resort. The picturesque setting of this Hotel is definitely worth a visit, not only because of the natural beauty of the lake but also to just stroll through the beautiful interior of the hotel. Click on thumbnail to view images
