Exploring Banff

The day began with the Newlywed's Brunch which I've described before. Afterward, Jason, Melissa, Tommy and I trekked northward to Lake Louise for a hike to a tea house that came highly recommended from Darren and Kristen.

After a few stops for pictures and provisions, we began our hike to the tea house.

The drive up the 1A through a tunnel of towering trees.

At a scenic stop, I tried to run back and get another perfect train pic. This is the Rocky Mountaineer excursion train headed up the Bow River valley.

After parking at Chateau Lake Louise, we began our hike around the lake. This bird, perched on this tourist, drew a blizzard of cell phone and regular cameras.

I did not know that Lake Louise was such a climbing destination. In the center of the photo you can just make out the red shirted climber.

See, there she is.

This couple and their dog were watching their kids play in the creek's alluvial plain (hah, obscure word use, check!) across from the trail. What drew my attention was that I thought the dog was a person. I mean, I think all dogs are people, too, but this one looked like a big guy wearing a black jacket.

Jason doing his best to obey Canadian trail signs.

The first avalanche left overs crossing. The figure at the top was a tourist from some Scandinavian country we think. Not far from where she is standing, she fell through the ice. It wasn't bad, her one leg punched through the surface to the rocky bed four feet below. Her conversation afterwards though, needed no translation. It was pretty clear that she didn't think to much of her boyfriend/hiking companion and she was going back with or without them! 

Jason is a wee bit skeptical about this ice crossing stuff with his pregnant wife.

GeoEye Analytics, for all your mapping analysis needs. Now in Canada!

The benches in front of the Plain of Six Glaciers. The eponymous six glaciers are off to the left of this picture's viewpoint.

Okay plant people, what is this?

The Plains of Six Glaciers Tea House. We felt like we were in the Alps, which is probably due to the fact that this area was first explored by Swiss guides imported by the railroads.

Two story stone and wood house, really cool.

Our lunch was spicy vegetable soup, Jersey cheese on multigrain sandwich, tea of course and chocolate cake. It's a rough life.

That's a dumbwaiter in the corner they use to bring up the food from the kitchen downstairs.

All of the tea in the drawers.

Lemonade also.

This view out your "office" window would be terrible wouldn't it?

The staff live on site and hike back and forth from Lake Louise. The staples, flour and sugar, are helicoptered in once a season. The remainder of the supplies are brought up by the employees on foot or by horse pack train.

Highly recommend that you check this place out if you're up that way. It's worth the hike.

After our break at the tea house, we debated about going up to the lookout. One of the girls at the tea house recommend that we try it and we are all glad we did. But....I've got to get out the door here in Livingston, so you'll have to wait for the next installment. You'll be glad you did. 

The Big Day

In an attempt to breathe life in to my consciousness from the effects of the night before, I went on a mountain bike ride with Tommy and Josiah. I graciously let them go ahead while I steeled myself for the ride. We chose Lake Minnewanka which turned out to be quite coincidental as you'll see below.

It was a nice trail for walkers or bikers. Luckily I turned around before it got really steep.

I'm not sure why this won't rotate, but you get the idea. Alex and I enroute for pictures.

More wildlife. Rocky Mountain Sheep hogging the road to Lake Minnewanka.

The Bride and Groom. I challenge anyone to find a better location for pictures.

This location was absolutely perfect. These pictures are just a hint of how nice it was there. The wedding photographer has done an amazing job with the pictures. If you know the Chens, ask to see them, they're phenomenal.

The SHBs. In addition to being very lovely, these ladies are the nicest you'll ever meet. Their SOs are really lucky guys!

Gentlemen.

I was honored to escort Suzanne to the ceremony.

At Tunnel Mountain Meadow, waiting for Kristen to walk down the aisle.

The ceremony had everything: laughter, tears, rain, a little snow and finally sunshine. Here the Groomsmen protect the couple.

The sun is out and the ceremony is sealed with a kiss!

I may have mentioned this earlier, but there was rumor of cougars on the loose (the four legged variety). On the way back from pictures at Lake Minnewanka we saw three Parks Canada ranger trucks and one guy even had a long gun slung over his shoulder. Apparently they were on the hunt for the cougars and they were parked within a couple hundred yards of the Tunnel Mountain Meadow. Accordingly, the Groomsmen had a cougar action plan in case they showed up uninvited.

My point and shoot camera's battery died at the end of the ceremony, so it may be a little while until I have pics from the rest of the ceremony and the reception. The reception was held in the Wapiti Lodge between the Main Lodge and my room, which was quite convenient. Lots of great memories from the reception, too many to list here.

I was honored to be asked to attend Darren and Kristen's wedding and even more honored to be a Groomsman. I've expressed my thanks to them, but all of you should know how special these two are to me.

Next up: The tea house hike and lots of wildlife.

Incoming!

Here's a bunch of pics to go with the previous posts. We start with Friday, the day before the wedding in Banff.

This buggy was across from our Lodge.

Breakfast at Phil's Diner. That's a smoked salmon omelet stuffed with cream cheese, I forget what other kind of cheese and caramelized onions.

I drove by the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. If I ever win the lottery, oh sorry, when I win the lottery forward my mail here please.

I went for a walk along the Bow River near the Bow Falls. This is the Banff Springs hotel from the river.

The first of many wildlife photos I've taken.

The Bow Falls. Kind of a miniature version of Great Falls (VA) and Mather Gorge.

The Bow River flowing eastward.

The Banff Fire Department. Later I saw their Ladder truck going to a call.

Rumley arrives.

Back at the Banff Springs hotel for the Groomsman's lunch.

The Banff Springs is a former railway hotel. Kudos on the idea of building a super huge luxury hotel castle in the middle of nowhere Canadian Rockies.

The Groomsmen (minus Frank) and the Groom. The SHB (smoking hot bridesmaids) were upstairs having tea (pinkies out ladies!) and laughed at us taking pictures.

Being shaggy and bearded before the transformation.

So, the rest of that day went very well. After the Groomsmen's Lunch, I cleaned myself up with a haircut and a shave, before getting ready for the welcome party. That party, at the Bear Street Tavern, was a lot of fun. Darren and Kristen had gathered pictures from both of their collections and they played on a loop on the TVs in the Tavern. Afterward, the party continued. The after party was quite fun, so much fun that this picture is all I have from that night. Use your imagination.

So that was Friday, stay tuned for wedding day and ceremony pics.