Although not particularly large, Lake Louise is magnificent with slate blue water and majestic glacial mountain setting. Although it is a major tourist mecca visited by people from all over the world, it is free from the kind of development we witnessed in Banff, which is just 59 kilometers south. Here we are beginning to get the feel of the Canadian Rockies. We passed on the luxurious Fairmount Hotel and camped on the banks of the Bow River with its cold swift moving glacial waters and spectacular views of the glacial mountains. As the nights are getting colder Apollo is becoming insistent about sleeping in our bed.

View from the shore

View Toward the Fairmount Hotel

The first day we took a 7.5 mile hike around the Lake and up a mountain to The Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, where we had homemade blueberry pie and tea. The Tea House was built by Swiss Guides in 1929 and has been run by the same family since 1959. Supplies are brought in on horseback or foot by the young staff members.

 View of Lake on the hike to the Tea House

Six Glaciers Tea House