Well today turned out to be epic.
To start, the Newlyweds Brunch was well done and fueled us up for the day's activities, which turned out to be a good thing. After brunch, Jason, Melissa, Tommy and I all went to Lake Louise to hike to the Plain of Six Glacier's Tea House. I read the descriptions that Darren had sent out, but the specifics got lost in a fog of so many great things to do out here.
We picked up a few provisions in town and set off on the lakeside hiking path. The Fairmont Lake Louise is much like the Fairmont Banff Springs but set on a lake. Another grand old railway hotel in a beautiful setting. They even have authentic birch bark canoe trips on the emerald green lake. The color comes from rock flour, ground out of the mountains by the glaciers and carried in to the lake as silt. The rock flour refracts all of the light except for blue and green, therefore causing the aquamarine color of the lake.
The first part of the path was pretty crowded with the usual tourists, but as we ascended, passing rock climbers on the surrounding cliffs, the crowds thinned out. The path climbed up in to the tree line and soon we encountered sections of the trail that had been blown out by avalanches. There was still some snow on the ground in spots so careful negotiation was required. One lady even broke through the snow/ice. It was only like four feet to the scree below the ice, but she gave up and went back. We soldiered on and made our way to the tea house. While there we heard and then saw a large avalanche from Mount Victoria. After a lunch of delicious soup, sandwich, of course tea, and chocolate cake, we decided to carry on to the "lookout" which was supposed to overlook the six glaciers. I forgot to count them, but there sure were a lot. Along the way up and back we encountered, and have pictures of, marmots, wolverines, pika and a porcupine among other wildlife. It was easily the most epic hike I have been on in a long time. While up at the top of the trail we could see in to The Death Trap, named for the route location under two avalanche chutes, and to the top of Abbot Pass between Mount LeFroy and Mount Victoria where the Abbot Pass Shelter cares for climbers enroute to either summit. We even did some yodeling while we were there and managed to produce a four second echo!
It was an incredible hike and I can only hope the pictures came out well. I hope to post them up soon. We barely managed to make it back to the Lodge without falling asleep and caught the last of the dinner service at Cilantro's, the restaurant next door. After pizza and beer (I was too tire to take pics of it, but you know it was good) we had wedding cake for dessert. After a quick dip in the hot tub, we bade the newlyweds good night and returned to our rooms to begin packing.
I am sad to have to leave this special and amazing place. I feel I have only scratched the surface of adventure opportunities here. Unfortunately I can't yet travel indefinitely, so I must reluctantly return home, but assuredly I will return. I feel honored to have been asked to be a part of Kristen and Darren's special day and know that our memories of this weekend will last forever. Just wait to you see some of the wedding pics!
My tentative plan is to return to the States tomorrow or Tuesday. Either way, the first leg will be from Banff to Great Falls, Montana. I've got to see this other town named Great Falls. If anyone knows of any decent and cheap hostel or campground in the area, please hit me up on the cell. After Great Falls, I hope to spend a day or two in Livingston and see part of Yellowstone. From there, it is eastward until I reach the real GF. I still haven't nailed down the specific route, but I hear the Badlands and Black Hills are cool to check out. I plan on staying in campgrounds along the way so, again, any recommendations are welcome.
I'll try to get caught up on the pics soon and specify the route home. Oh, the title? I guess you had to be there, but it was said today while at the tea house.
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