8/7-8/13 Going Home On Steel Wheels

Glacier National Park and Banff, Canada

July 23 - August 8, 2013

The Great Train Escape

WOW. We visited a World Of Wonder.

Every day was filled with beauty and fun. Glacier, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper, and Waterton National Parks are spectacular places. The places we visited were spiritual and serene even when we were tired and hungry.

We boarded the Empire Builder for the ride home on wheels of steel. Good ride. Good food. Good fun.

Thanks for joining us.

8/5/13 Tea And Biscuits

Glacier National Park and Banff, Canada

July 23 - August 8, 2013

The Great Train Escape

Our last day Canada.  Every day has provided something special and today's activities were outstanding. We hiked 2.2 miles with an elevation of 1265 feet to the Agnes Lake Tea House.  It was a tiring hike, but well worth it. The lake was beautiful, the rustic 1920s style Tea House without electricity was fantastic and the biscuits, jam and maple tea yummy. We had to remind ourselves that we were not dreaming, but in a real place enjoying the weather, the setting, the food and the people.

Coming down 2.2 miles wasn't as difficult as going up, but challenging in its own way.  The treat at the end of the trail is the Lake Louise Fairmont Hotel.

It was fun to walk directly from the trail into the Fairmont and confirm our reservations for one night. Never stayed in a hotel that grand, might not again, and we enjoyed it to the max. Dinner overlooking Lake Louise was a five star and five fork experience. Yipee. What a way to wind down from the previous days of hiking and searching for wildlife (bears, moose etc. not two leggeds in bars).

Next Blog: Going Home On Steel Wheels.

8/4/13 Getting High

Glacier National Park and Banff, Canada

July 23 - August 8, 2013

The Great Train Escape

Gondolas to the top of the mountain. You knew that's what we meant. Early this morning we rode the Lake Louise Gondola to see the view of Lake Louise area, the famed Fairmont Hotel and bears. We were rewarded in every respect. On the way up, there were 3 bears were in the bushes below us and the view from the top was spectacular. In the past few days Jolene, a grizzly,  had been showing up at the top of the gondola. Her appearance dictated the sequestering of people in the facilities for as long as she dined in the area - perhaps 1-2 hours. We didn't wait for her to come for breakfast, but we think we saw her from the gondola as we went down the mountain. Driving back to Lake Louise, we saw another grizzly on the side of the road. This one had a ranger stationed on the road above and below her. The rangers stopped the cars and let her cross in peace. We don't know how she arranged that, but she had everyone standing at attention. Amazing creatures.

After a 2 mile afternoon hike at Lake Morraine, we had a lovely dinner at the Lake Louise Train depot. I know, it sounds like chips and a sandwich made 12 hours previous to the meal. However, the restaurant in the restored historic depot is for real. If you are in the area, make a reservation and enjoy.

Next blog: Tea And Blisters Biscuits.

8/3/13 The Truffle Pig

Glacier National Park and Banff, Canada

July 23 - August 8, 2013

The Great Train Escape

Today was magnificent. We went to Yoho Park in British Columbia to see Takakkaw Falls, the highest waterfalls in western Canada, the famous Emerald Lake and have a special dessert in Field, BC.

Emerald Lake is as beautiful as everyone claims.  Like Peyto Lake, the color of the water in Emerald Lake is spellbinding. At Emerald Lake we were treated to several special enchanting moments. No, not a truffle pig. We were in a canoe at the quite end of the lake and came upon 2 loons. They were busy fishing and called many times as we watched them. To be in that gorgeous setting and hear the call of the loons was good for the soul.

While most of the lakes are turquoise, some of the streams in this area are grey because of the sediment that the glacier water brings from the rocks. We happened upon an area where one side of the river was blue and the other side was gray. Not a very good picture, but it was exciting to see it.

It was mid afternoon when we arrived in Field. Now comes the part about the Truffle Pig. No, we didn't have it for a snack, but we ate delicious homemade peach/apricot pie at the Truffle Pig restaurant.
A neighbor had been there and told us about the pie before we left Indy. It was scrumptious.

Worth the trip.


Next blog: Getting high.

8/2/13 The Fuzzy Bear Has An Itch

Glacier National Park and Banff, Canada

July 23 - August 8, 2013

The Great Train Escape

Rain was predicted for the Lake Louise area so we drove to Jasper in Jasper National Park, the largest park in the Canadian Rockies.

Along the way we took a short hike to Peyton Lake. Peyto is like many other lakes in the area, a brilliant blue/green color.  It is considered by some as one of the 25 most colorful lakes in the world.

We stood on an overlook and viewed Peyto from several hundred feet above the lake. At every other lake there were people on the shore, boating or swimming. There was no one below us. The lake lay calm and tranquil.  Even from a crowded viewing area, the peacefulness of the lake could be felt. It was a special place.

The 3 hour drive on the Icefields Parkway to Jasper was gorgeous. Spectacular. A lot of wows. We stopped to view the Columbia Ice Field and it is impressive, but a lot smaller than it has been in the past.

We were in the town of Jasper for such a short period of time, we don't have much to report. As in all of this area, the flowers were beautiful.  It was interesting to see that every house we saw in the town had a fence around it. Do you think the fences were to keep the people in or the bears out?

We drove a few miles outside of Jasper to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and enjoyed lunch on the patio overlooking the grounds. The cabins situated around the lodge made us think of the setting of the movie Dirty Dancing (cabins were a tad more luxurious at the Jasper Fairmont).

On the drive back to Lake Louise we saw 3 deer and finally got a close look at a bear. The deer were eating along a busy road and we were afraid to stop for fear they would get spooked and run onto the highway. The bear, however, was eating in the woods along an isolated area of a road. When we stopped, he came up the slight incline one car in front of us. As he came along the road toward us, he never looked at us or gave any indication he cared we were watching him. It  appeared he was at a buffet - going from bush to bush pulling them toward him and stripping them of berries. After he passed our car he turned to go back into the woods, but stopped to scratch his back first. Good show, fuzzy bear. Thanks

Remember this poem?

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear.
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.
So Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy
Was he?


Next blog: The Truffle Pig

8/1/13 What Were We Thinking?

Glacier National Park and Banff, Canada

July 23 - August 8, 2013

The Great Train Escape

On our way to the hotel in Lake Louise, we took a side trip to Kootenay National Park. We specifically wanted to see Marble Canyon and the Ochre Paint Pots. The hike to Marble Canyon was a great 1.5 mile hike. The Canandian park service has built several bridges over the narrow and deep canyon.  At the end of the trail was a series of powerful waterfalls and stunning shapes and colors.

Now comes the "what were we thinking part." The short trail to the Ochre Paint Pots was closed because of the recent floods. As we stood at the head of the longer trail to the Pots, two rangers came off the trail. They were equipped with chain saws and axes. Grinning from ear to ear, they announced they had the long trail open and it was safe to use. They seemed proud of their hard work.

We took off down the trail. It was open and beautiful. It was also longer than we thought and more diverse in terrain than any we had hiked. Not many people use this trail and it was narrow. At times the thick bushes on each side of the trail were almost 5 feet tall and sometimes we were gingerly making our way through rocks and logs along the river bank.

The forested trail opened (finally) onto a large meadow of flowers and red, marshy areas. The Paint Pots are considered sacred by the First Nation People. It was a special place. Very different from anything we had seen. Worth the hike.

The total hiking for the day was about 6 miles, so when it was suggested we go to the hostel in Lake Louise for dinner, Linda thought the suggestion was for a hospital and was first to put her name on the list.

 Actually, the International Hostel in Lake Louise was just what the doctor ordered. Good food, relaxed atmosphere, fun staff and great people watching. It was a pleasure to see the diversity of people checking in. Senior citizens, young people. Some getting out of their motor homes and some walking in off the trail. Some clean and some dusty. All like us, tired and smiling.

Next blog: The Fuzzy Bear Has An Itch.

7/31/13 Oh Canada, Eh?

Glacier National Park and Banff, Canada

July 23 - August 8, 2013

We spent today in the town of Canmore. It is a small community known for it's artist community, Ammorlite factory, hiking trails, cafes and Oh Canada, Eh?, a dinner theater.

Our first stop was at the Ammorlite factory and we went there hoping to find a small piece to buy. Eh? HA, Eh! They are extremely expensive (even small chips) and beautiful. It is taken from the outer shells of fossilized ammonites. It's story is fascinating. The catalog can be found at the following link if you want to order something.

ammonitefactory.com/ammolite-history/ammolite-mining/

After enjoying lunch at an outdoor cafe on main street, we hiked on one of their many trails that take advantage of the river that flows through the town. It was a fun walk as we talked to several walkers that were residents of Canmore. We got a different perspective than when we jostled with other tourists for a spot to take a picture. 

The dinner theater, Oh Canada, Eh?, used food, story and song to educate about Canada in a fun way.  It was an evening of sing alongs and laughs.

Next blog: What Were We Thinking?