Note: We’re catching up on time spent in Canada. This post was entered on 08/17.
We continued our days of short drives with a 43 mile move from Banff to Lake Louise.
The lake and the hotel are still as beautiful as Carol remembers … except, there are many more people around.
Carol found the pool she and Kay swam in as teenagers. The windows and walls are still there, but no pool. It was closed in the mid-80s because it began to leak chemicals into the lake.
We continued our days of short drives with a 43 mile move from Banff to Lake Louise.
The lake and the hotel are still as beautiful as Carol remembers … except, there are many more people around.
Carol found the pool she and Kay swam in as teenagers. The windows and walls are still there, but no pool. It was closed in the mid-80s because it began to leak chemicals into the lake.
Lake Louise ... Victoria Glacier in the background
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel
Carol’s swimming pool circa. 1957
Flowers bloomed all over the grounds
Pipe & Drum corps performed at the hotel
We went back to town for lunch and more information about the area. We got suggestions to ride the ski gondola and drive to Moraine Lake.
Gondola view of Lake Louise
The ski area attracted bears
According to Dick, Moraine Lake was perhaps the most beautful we've seen.
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake
We found internet access through the local post office at $5 for a 24-hour period. The connection was unusual and the range was short, but we got up and going after fussing around for a while. It sure beat the mobile broadband surcharge we discovered in Calgary.
Did you know?
Lake Louise was named after Louise Caroline Alberta, the 4th daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The color of Lake Louise is due to its depth (273 ft) and minute mineral deposits of glacial silt and rock flour carried down from the Victoria Glacier.
Lake Louise water temperature averages 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the year.
Map Tracks
Start: Banff, Alberta
West on Trans-Canada Highway 1 to Lake Louise, Alberta
End: 43 miles @ Lake Louise, Alberta
Did you get a chance to hike to the distant point of Lake Louise, where the glacier run-off goes into the lake? It's so funny because the water coming in to the lake is a milky brown, but a few feet beyond the entrance, it is all a gorgeous blue. I am guessing that the silt that causes the milky look settles out when it is finally in the lake, and what is left are the minerals in the water that give it the great color. Quite the site!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't hike to the head of the lake. Your guess that settling silt causes the water color change is correct. We saw a similar effect at the confluence of two glacial rivers.
ReplyDelete