Banff National Park, Canada

July 5-9  WOW.  I am at a loss for words other than WOW.  We stayed at Lake Louise Campground one of the NP campgrounds and were told when we checked in that Grizzly Bears were known to come through the campground.  The section we were in was for hard-sided RVs only.  There was a section surrounded by an electric fence for the tent campers.  Our campsite was at the end of the campground, and we were surrounded by trees and the Bow River.  Driving up Trans-Canada 1 the views were spectacular.  The NP is so concerned for the wildlife that overpasses and underpasses have been built on the highway just for the wildlife.  In one of the visitor centers, we saw the statistics on the number of various bears, elk, big horn sheep, etc. that have crossed the highways via these routes.  Success in keeping wildlife safe and less habituation.

We hiked around lakes, up to overlooks, and just viewed the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  The highway travels up a great valley and mountains rise up on both sides.  Many more glaciers are seen here than in Glacier National Park.  One of the highlights came on a rainy cold day.  We had planned to go up on a ski lift used in the summer for sight seeing and hopefully grizzly bear watching.  The ski slopes are in a travel way for the bears and several of the berries and vegetation they like to eat are on the slopes and in the surrounding forests, so the bears are attracted to this area.  Like I said, it was cold and rainy, but we decided to go anyway.  On the way up we went in a closed gondola and saw two grizzly bears.  Getting to the top, the clouds and fog lifted for a moment and we were able to see an incredible vista.  Shortly after this it became "pea soup".  I had said a prayer for God to let us see what He would have us to see.  Well He sure did, and on the way back down we elected to go in an open chair--in the rain.  We saw three grizzlies on the way down.  What a day.

Leaving Lake Louise, we traveled up route 93 (Icefield Parkway) through the same valley.  The views continued to impress, and we actually got to walk on a glacier at the Columbia Icefields.  I recommend this area to everyone who loves the beauty of the mountains.  Enjoy the many pictures I have posted......



Out of the clouds...

Wildlife overpass

Bow Glacier and Bow Falls



One of many glacier lakes--notice lake looks like a wolf.  We hiked up to this overlook--the altitude and up-hill hike about killed us.

Lake Louise and the chateau.  Another lake hike

Grizzly bear seen from ski lift



Grizzly in the fog

Lake Louise chateau as seen from atop ski lift across valley



Ski lift on the way down

Road we traveled

Chuck & Phyllis on the glacier

Our transportation on the glacier



Mama big horn sheep with kid at side of the road



His promises continue..outside our RV this evening