After their night in the teepee, we met Hel, Pete, Pascale and Lucie in Banff. The drive from Kamloops was a bit longer than we expected at almost 6 hours, but the scenery en route was spectacular the entire way. The highway follows the train tracks and passes through three national parks, Revelstoke, Glacier and Yoho. With the sun not setting until nearly 10pm we were able to enjoy the scenery for most of the drive.
On Saturday we set off for the gondola up Sulphur Mountain. The ride itself was exciting, quite fast and very steep. From the top of the gondola we walked to a viewpoint that afforded fantastic 360 degree views. The beauty of the region is well discussed but what we saw was beyond anything I have ever seen or imagined! The scale of the mountains and the cragginess of their peaks was spectacular. We spent quite a while up there.
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| Phoebe was determined to walk! |
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| Hel on Banff Ave |
After lunch Hel and I hit Banff Ave. There are so many souvenir shops! The street is very nice and the backdrop amazing! On returning to the hotel we all went for a soak in the hotel's heated outdoor pool and hot tub with another fantastic view of the Rockies.
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| Phoebe, Lucie, Pascale and Liam |
Sunday was Fathers' Day so after a bit of driving we settled on a buffet breakfast/lunch to celebrate. It was good! We bade farewell to Hel and co (who headed to Jasper) and went to procure Frank's Fathers' Day present - a pair of hiking sandals.
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| The beginning of a bear jam! |
The weather had cleared a bit so we thought we should stop in at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on our way home. As we drove down the highway there were a number of cars stopped. We joined the crowd and there were two bears eating near the road. I have been reading up on my bear awareness and know that the place to stay was in the car. Frank, however, ordered me out to take photos. Granted, there was a fence between me and the bears. When I came back to the car the was a sizable crowd and people were stopping on the other side of the 4 lane highway and running across with cameras! This was the beginning of a potential bear jam! Apparently in Summer the roads come to a standstill while tourists stop to look at bears!
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| BEARS! |
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| At Lake Louise |
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| Phoebe exploring at Moraine Lake |
Lake Louise was stunning. As we stood appreciating its beauty and the blueness of the water Frank noticed an avalanche on the mountain at the far end. Moments later we heard it - a big BOOOOOM.
The peaks at Moraine Lake were mostly visible and we enjoyed walking along the shoreline. It was spectacular.
We were enjoying ourselves so much we had a late getaway and were not home until midnight. What a sensational place. We are looking forward to spending more time there over the Summer.
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| Some gorgeous woman I saw in Banff |
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