Rocky Mountains, here we come!

We departed Golden and headed to Lake Louise via the Spiral Tunnels and Moraine Lake.

Spiral Tunnels

The Spiral Tunnels were dug out at Kicking Horse Pass in the 1870s to allow the trains to spiral through the mountain rather than go straight down (or up) to deal with the steep gradient. We were excited to actually see a train pass through them while we were there.

Liam, Amelia and Phoebe
in a miniature Spiral Tunnel

The weather was not promising but turned better and we enjoyed great views. It was surprising to us to find the scenery different from just a few weeks earlier. At Moraine Lake, in particular, we noticed that the beach we had enjoyed walking on was now totally submerged!!

Moraine Lake

Lake Louise

We then drove down the Bow Valley Parkway to Banff via Johnson Canyon. We were very excited to see a bear and cub by the road, and enjoyed the beautiful lower falls of the Canyon before heading to Banff.

Black bear and cub

Johnson Canyon

Al, Liam, Cheryl, Amelia and Peter
at the Johnson Canyon Lower Falls

The next day we rode the Sulphur Mountain gondola for great views and then explored the town more, taking in the Banff Springs Hotel, shopping and the Banff Hot Springs, where one can hire heritage bathing suits! (Frank and I decided our regular ones were unattractive enough!)

At the top of Sulphur Mountain

Banff Ave

At the Banff Springs Hotel

That night we happened across a performance by Parks Canada rangers in the square on Banff Avenue. Not only entertaining, we learnt a lot about animals and the B-bear and G-bear and their differences! Ask Liam to sing you the song when you see him next!

Deer