Celebrating my birthday in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, July 23, 2013

Well, this is definitely a compendium of birthday firsts to be remembered.  Our first impression at the Chateau Lake Louise was a small bottle of champagne served in our room with birthday greetings from the hotel manager.

Stan, the avid hiker, wanted to enjoy a good hike on what was a beautiful and sunny day in Lake Louise.  Little did I realize the limits he would push me on this birthday jaunt.  We climbed up a 7,500 peak, scrambled over rocks and streams, hovered over large cliffs and narrow trails and all under the gise that "this will be an easy hike and should only take about 3 hours."

5 1/2 hours later, we returned to the Chateau exhausted, sweaty and sore.  I must say that the 45 minute break at the teahouse at Agnes Lake, at the base of the Beehive Mountain, which we later climbed (see view of the Beehive below), was a delightful respite on this once in our lifetime hike above and around Lake Louise.  Again, Stan has many conversations with strangers seeking their knowledge, offering to take their pictures, helping them read their maps and offering his words of wisdom whenever anyone looks friendly enough to listen.

Overlooking Lake Louise from the top of the Beehive with Lake Louise and the Chateau in the background.

In front of Mirror Lake with Beehive Mountain in the background (taking me up the trail to its top that Stan said we wouldn't have to climb). He cautiously led me up anyway (with much complaining from me).  However, I am proud of myself that I did it - it was worth the view.

Sipping freshly brewed tea at a Agnes Lake teahouse rest stop on our hike.

In front of Lake Agnes at the tea house break.

View of Chateau Lake Louise from the Beehive.

You can see why they call this Mirror Lake.

Stan stopped to give me his best rendition of "Happy Birthday" while on the trail.

Very exhausted, and very happy at this point back at the lake to see the Chateau within easy reach...

Stan finished the hike with a quick, cold dip in glacier fed Lake Louise with Mt. Victoria and its glacier in the background.  Burrr ....

After a swim in the hotel pool to relax, we had a most incredible dinner at the Fairmont Restaurant with an amazing view of the Victoria Glacier behind Lake Louise.

Finishing dinner.  All in all, a great day and wonderful birthday.  Thanks to family and friends for all your birthday greetings.

Jasper to Lake Louise, the Best View of the Canadian Rockies, July 22, 2013

We can't believe what we came upon in the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockie Mountains.  The drive from the City of Jasper to Lake Louise has to be one of the most spectacular in the world.  These very tall, sharp-edged mountains were created by dramatic earth movements over millions of years and  then carved out by icefields and glaciers.  The views just got better and better as we drove to our final resort destination in Canada, the Chateau at Lake Louise.

Leaving our lakeside cabin in Jasper.

Just 30 minutes outside of Jasper, we stopped at Athabasca Falls, another glacial-fed thunderous cascade over rocks and trees. 

Another view of Athabasca Falls.

Potholes carved in the rocks by Athabasca Falls.

Side View of Athabasca Falls.

By the way, what is a trip without seeing an occasional Elk grazing on the road nearby.

Bow Lake along the Icefield Parkway between Jasper and Lake Louise.

Glacial silt plumes flowing into Peyto Lake which create the milky white color in the lake's water.

Late afternoon light reflecting off Peyto lake.

Another fine glacial Canadian Peak - too many to know all their names.

Stan admiring full scale color rainbow.

Another view of impromptu rainbow. Pot of Gold just beyond - will collect on next trip.

Maligne Lake, glaciers, waterfalls and more....

Just when  think we thought we hit the jackpot on incredible landscapes and vistas, even more spectacular scenery appears.  We drove to Maligne Lake in the heart of Jasper National Park for a 1 1/2 hr. guided tour and boat ride to the most expansive, gorgeous green lake couched in an enclosed enclave of 10,000 ft peaks and glaciers.  Fortunately, the area is still pristine and natural.  The Canadians really know how to maintain their national parks and resources without destroying the environment.  In fact, they enhance it with energy efficient techniques.

View of Maligne Lake surrounded by Queen Elisabeth Mountains on the left, the Coronet glacier in the distance in the center and mountains on the right from the boat.

 Linda overlooking Spirit Island on stopover during boat cruise.

View of Medicine Lake near Jasper on our way to Maligne Lake.  

This lake recedes and refills annually as it drains downsteam through caves and underground crevices as the glacial runoff from snow dissipates each summer.

Stan is anxious to begin the cruise as he entertains himself balancing on a rock.  

 Another postcard view of the surrounding mountains and lake, again with the Coronet Glacier shown in the center background.

 Linda and Stan ask strangers to snap their picture.  Some do better jobs than others.  You have to know how to pick your strangers.  This person got a great shot with Spirit Island behind us.

We have been lucky with great weather and great Canadian hospitality and graciousness.  Many students work in these parks for the summer and are interesting and bend over backwards to be sure your needs are met and all questions are answered.  Of course, Stan always has lots of questions, so he keeps our guides, desk clerks, waiters, ticket sellers, vehicle drivers, passers-by and many strangers on their toes. 

Can you find Stan in this shot of a really spectacular waterfall in Maligne Canyon Park.

Maligne Canyon Falls.  This picture doesn't capture the force and vastness of the Falls

View from our cabin at Jasper Lodge with mountains and clouds reflected in the lake.

Onward to Lake Louise....

Next Adventure: Traveling from Banff to Jasper

It is truly an adventure in the Canadian Rockies.  Stan is in his element.  The mountains and glaciers are spectacular and for the mountaineer in him.  He can't get enough gazing incredulously at these sharp, high peaks and mammoth living icefields.  It was a 4 hour drive from Banff to the Columbia Icefield.  The only issue we have with Canada is that you can drive on mountain roads for miles with no signs telling you what highway you're on or what town you are going to until you get there. Hence, we inadvertently added 1 1/2 hrs onto our drive. 

The Ice Explorer Ride took us up to the Athabasca Glacier (1,200 ft thick), a 3.7 mile moving glacier fed from the Columbia Icefield that recedes at the rate of 2-3 meter annually.  According to our guide, it has lost over 1/2 of its volume in 125 years.  He said in 2 years, they will have to revamp where the explorer buses start to drive tourists over the glacier as it will move downhill significantly again.  I have to say, I was a little nervous driving up to and onto the glacier.  Streams were rapidly flowing all around on this sunny but overcast day, the experience was indeed breathtaking.

View of the Athabasca Glacier from Columbia Icefield Discovery Center across Highway 93.

Closer view of Athabasca Glacier; this is only the tail end of the Columbia Icefield which extends way beyond the ridge in the distance to Mt. Columbia, which you cannot see from this elevation.

 Linda next to Canadian Flag on the glacier in front of Mt. Andromeda.

 Here is a view of the "Ice Explorer" that took us out onto the glacier.  It is specially designed with six, 5 foot tires that are about 4 feet wide to literally "float" out onto the glacier.  The area that we are standing is graded and compacted everyday with large tractors that reduce the risk of crevasses opening up below us -  a nice thought given that the glacier is up to 1,000 feet deep in some places.

 View from the road of Mt .Athabasca with its glacier; there are three visible glaciers to the south and west of the Athabasca Glacier, and one very large and very steep one to the north, Dome Glacier.

Stan in front of Athabasca Glacier with crevasses abounding; one only travels on this glacier if you are well prepared with the proper ropes, ice axes, crampons and warm clothing.

   By the time we returned to the visitor's center, the wind was blowing strong and cold.

We then drove another 1 1/2 hrs. (70 miles north) to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. (Another drive with no signs until you are right on top of your turnoff.)  We are staying in a lovely cabin overlooking beautiful and tranquil Lake Beauvert.  I had another delicious birthday greeting of strawberries, chocolate and cookies awaiting us in our room from our travel agent back in Los Angeles, Ilene Koenig.  This has been a great week of birthday treats in the incredible Canadian Rockies that I won't soon forget.  In fact, if your birthday celebration can last a week, I really recommend it.

Stan enjoying a glass of wine spritzer in the restaurant that evening at the Jasper Park Lodge bordering the sparkling green Lake Beauvert at 10:15 pm, Saturday July 20, 2013

 Linda overlooking hotel grounds with full moon hiding in the clouds making for a lovely evening.

Banff, Alberta

I thought I had seen amazing mountains before, but I couldn't believe my eyes when we arrived in the Canadian Rockies.  The views are really incredible and the amazing hotel we are at is the top of the line.  The Banff Springs Hotel is a castle-like building set in a beautiful green forest with the highest snowed covered mountain peaks that practically touch the sky.  Pictures below.

On Thursday, when we arrived at this elegant hotel, we got to our room and I was greeted with chocolate strawberries, cheesecake and cookies as a birthday greeting from our travel agent and the staff here.  Notice the missing section on the plate that we devoured before we could wait to take a picture. 

We took a long walk along a path from the hotel to the main town of Banff and saw the most beautiful Bow River cascades, far surpassing anything I have even seen in California.  But I don't get around like Stan does in his hiking in the Sierras.  I uttered my typical GAAAAAD! at many junctures along the way.

Friday (today) we took the Gondola Ride up about 2,400 feet to an old Weather Station to get the incredible views of the Lake, Valley, surrounding mountains and our hotel.  Breathtaking.  The Gondola ride topped any other that I have been on.  We include a short video of our ride up Mt. Sanson.

 View from the grounds of the Banff Springs Hotel at 10 pm in the evening. It was light for another 1/2 hour.

 Video of Gondola Ride up Mt. Sanson overlooking the Bow Valley in Banff.

 On Mt.Sanson overlooking the Bow Valley with Lake Minnewanka in the upper right background.

View of Banff Springs Hotel from afar.

 On the veranda of the Banff Springs Hotel with Mt. Rundle in the background.

 
Finally, I forgot to include the picture of Calgary downtown that we took as we were driving out of town. 

Heritage Park, Calgary, Canada, Day 1

Calgary is an interesting city.  Flying in was gorgeous.  I love the Canadian hospitality and their accent.  It sounds so Midwestern, I feel like I'm visiting Lauren in Wisconsin. 

By the time we landed and got our car and drove to Heritage Park, we had only 2 hours to view this expansive live western outdoor museum  on 127 acres is set in 1860. There are live performances, and "actors" in costume walking about as if they were living there at that time.  It is very much like Williamsburg, VA that we visited with Lauren about 5 years ago.

Since we only had 2 hours to see the interactive shops, blacksmith, printers, homes, schools, bakery and other live action over 127 acres, we hit the ground running.  Stan has still got to figure out how that is possible and still read every plaque and description and talk to everyone in the park in the time frame we had.   Amazingly, we managed to do just that.

Below is a picture of the first prairie synagogue Jewish built in 1916 by farmers who settled in Calgary trying to escape Eastern Europe.  The yellow house was abandoned in 1927, moved and brought back here in 2008.  The Star of David is carved in the wood.