Fall 2015 - Day 27: Mountaineer Lodge (Lake Louise, Alberta) - Lake Louise - Moraine Lake - The Icefields Parkway (Peyto Lake, waterfalls & wildlife) - Maligne Lodge (Jasper, Alberta)

Friday, Oct 2, 2015 - Starting from the Mountaineer Lodge in Lake Louise, Alberta (Banff National Park), local viewing Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, then northwest up The Icefields Parkway (Peyto Lake, waterfalls & wildlife), to the Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alberta (Jasper National Park):

168 actual miles; 4 hours driving

Quick breakfast at the hotel, then (before 11 am checkout) we got in the car:

A far cry from the 109º in Phoenix 20 days ago!

We drove to see Lake Louise:

A beautiful place, but the early morning sunlight make picture-taking difficult:


We back-tracked and went down to Moraine Lake and the "Valley of the Ten Peaks":

The morning light and the clear air make the views iconic:


A VERY IMPRESSIVE place - I think it is because of the mountains that ring around Moraine Lake:


It looks like they have some GREAT trails, and I really want to do some hiking around HERE!

Back at the hotel we checked out before 11, and headed northwest up The Icefields Parkway to Jasper. The pine tree forests just carpet the landscape, and go on forever:


First stop is Peyto Lake, which flows down the Mistaya Valley:

and is sourced from the Peyto Glacier, which is part of the Wapta Icefield.

The Glaciers/Icefields are all along the western ridge:



Unfortunately, all it made Wendy think of was last winter's ice dams!

We saw beautiful Bridal Veil Falls:


A little research indicates that it is mule deer that I was able to take a quick picture of:


Tangle Creek Falls was wonderful - HI EVERYONE!



And then Athabasca Falls were super impressive:


and the beauty of the narrow gorge/downstream:


Wendy got a GREAT shot of caribou:

(I think they're elk, but she thinks they're caribou - any thoughts from the public?)

I mailed Ellie's postcard from the Jasper Post Office:


Checked in at the Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alberta. Thank you GOD for the beauty of this world, and for the companionship we have!

Music today - Wendy's pink nano:

Paul Simon - The Rhythm of the Saints (1990)

because this area is "heavenly" - ha ha, get it - "Saints" ... "heavenly" - I crack me up!

We Are Augustines - Rise Ye Sunken Ships (2011)

um, it is just the next album on the nano.

Robbie Robertson - Robbie Robertson (1st solo album) (1987)

Robbie Robertson is certainly Canadian, and a founding member of The Band.