Canadian Rockies : 2013

Sue and I traveled to the Canadian Rockies in late August for 10 days of driving, hiking and viewing -
after day 2, we ran out of superlatives (beautiful, amazing, stunning, magnificent, unbelievable, breathtaking and incredible - thanks Ken!, ...).
If you like mountains, wildlife and glaciers, this is the place to visit.
I took over 1000 photos and about 200 short videos, while Sue took almost 4000 photos.
Needless to say, we absolutely loved it!
I included some of Sue's photos taken while we were driving.
I don't have the videos compiled yet.   Some are here

We landed in Calgary,
drove to Banff and stayed 3 nights,
drove to Lake Louise and stayed for 2 nights,
drove to Jasper and stayed for 3 nights,
and drove to Banff and stayed 1 night.
Then, back to Calgary and the flight home.

• Day 1 : we landed in Calgary around noon and arrived in Banff in the early afternoon
  and drove to Lake Minnewanka and took the boat ride,
  drove in the area to Two Jack Lake,
  and drove back to Banff.
  My photos.
  S&J Photos
• Day 2 : we left early (to beat the big bike race Banff) to go to Yoho National Park
  to see the Natural Bridge, Emerald Lake, Takkakaw Falls and the Spiral Railroad Tunnels.
  On the way back, we fought the crowds (a Saturday) to see the Morraine Lake area.
  Photos : Yoho
  S&J Photos     Moraine Lake
  S&J Photos
  Hike around Emerald Lake (map) (zoom out in the earth view)
• Day 3 : we took the gondola to Sulphur Mountain (gondola base on right, construction road on left,
  hiking trail zig-zagging under the gondolas, gondola upper station center bottom, peak in white area at end of construction road).
  did a (lazy) raft ride on the Bow River from the left below Surprise Corner to the right of the sewage treatment plant (green pool),
  ate on the patio in the Waldhaus Bar and Grill (part of the Banff Springs Hotel, near the center of the map, by the river),
  and visited Bow Falls nearby.
  Photos : Sulphur Mountain
  S&J Photos     The rest of the day
  S&J Photos
• Day 4 : we drove to Lake Louise via the Bow Valley Parkway (parallel to Rt 93/1 - TransCanada Parkway),
  stopping at Johnston Canyon and the Ink Pots (5 hr hike, the Ink Pots are in the meadow, upper center).
  We also hiked the Lake Louise shore trail.
  Johnston Canyon photos.
  S&J Photos
  Canyon Hike, part 1 (map) (look at it with the satellite or earth views)
  Hike, part 2 (map)
• Day 5 : we hiked to the Lake Agnes and Plain of the 6 Glaciers Tea Houses (7 hrs.),
  with a wee bit of trouble because someone has a problem with heights!
  Photos.
  S&J Photos
  Hike (map) (look at it with the satellite or earth views)
• Day 6 : we drove to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway, stopping at the Columbia Icefield Visitors Centre
  for the ride and walk on the Athabasca Glacier and for the short hike to Athabasca Falls.
  The 3 hour drive took us 7 hours - many overlooks and pull-outs in addition to the longer stops.
  Photos.
  S&J Photos
• Day 7 : we drove to Maligne Lake, took a boat ride and did a short hike, drove back to Jasper, stopping at Maligne Canyon,
  and then went on to Pyramid Lake).
  We bumped into a tour group of 15 Germans at each stop.
  Photos.
  S&J Photos
• Day 8 ; we drove to Angel Glacier and did that short hike,
  then to the Valley of the 5 Lakes and that 1 hr hike,
  and then north of Jasper to Miette Hot Springs.
  Photos : Angel Glacier and Valley of the 5 Lakes
  S&J Photos
  Miette Hot Springs
  S&J Photos
• Day 9 : we drove south on the Icefields Parkway to Banff, again taking 7 hours,
  stopping at the Columbia Icefields Visitors Centre, this time to do the walk to the glacier (not on it).
  After dinner at our hotel in Banff, we took a short drive to Vermillion Lakes for some evening photos.
  Photos : Icefields Parkway.
  S&J Photos
  Vermillion Lakes .
• Day 10 : drive to Calgary, no photos, just tears.
• Bow Glacier
• Pehto Lake
• Bridal Veil Falls
• Sunwapta Falls