Canadian Rockies Trip Day 4 - Lake Louise (Wednesday, June 19th, 2019)
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 4 - Lake Louise (Wednesday, June 19th, 2019)
I did not get much sleep since I decided to wake up at 3:00 am hoping to capture some nightscape pictures. I was not successful since the sky never got truly dark during this time of the year. Joanne and I got up at about 6:00 for our morning coffee. Rain had started to come down between the time that I came back to our room and the time that we got up. Our plan today was to take a short hike up the rock pile at Moraine Lake in the morning and then hike up the Lake Agnes Tea House in the afternoon.
I did not get much sleep since I decided to wake up at 3:00 am hoping to capture some nightscape pictures. I was not successful since the sky never got truly dark during this time of the year. Joanne and I got up at about 6:00 for our morning coffee. Rain had started to come down between the time that I came back to our room and the time that we got up. Our plan today was to take a short hike up the rock pile at Moraine Lake in the morning and then hike up the Lake Agnes Tea House in the afternoon.
Morning coffee and rain
6:30 am
We took our breakfast at the Gold Floor Lounge. The lounge was busy with everyone heading out for the day. The rain had temporarily cleared. We located the hotel shuttle to Moraine Lake and we were off to this summer only destination at 9:00 am. Moraine Lake was featured on the Canadian $20 bill from 1969 to 1979. This is one of the most popular photo spots around Banff/Lake Louise.
Breakfast at the lounge
Full plate
A good start
Freshly squeezed juice
Pastry station
Smoked Salmon
Freshly made omelette
Fruit!
Reporting to the Moraine Lake Shuttle
A clear day - for now
Moraine Lake was about a twenty minute ride from Lake Louise. We would gain about 1,000' in elevation from Lake Louise (5,249' to 6,181'). The road from Lake Louie to Moraine Lake does not open until way into the summer season (late May or early June). It's definitely a seasonal spot.
We got to Moraine Lake about 9:30 am. The shuttle dropped us off right at the rock pile trail head. Once we got oriented, we started to walk up the stone steps up the rock pile to get to the Moraine Lake view point. The trail leading up the view point is extremely windy. We bundled up and started our slow ascent. We reached the top of the rock pile in a few minutes. We spent about twenty minutes at the top of rock pile taking pictures. At that point, a faint snow had started to fall. We started to head back down towards the gift shop.
We got to Moraine Lake about 9:30 am. The shuttle dropped us off right at the rock pile trail head. Once we got oriented, we started to walk up the stone steps up the rock pile to get to the Moraine Lake view point. The trail leading up the view point is extremely windy. We bundled up and started our slow ascent. We reached the top of the rock pile in a few minutes. We spent about twenty minutes at the top of rock pile taking pictures. At that point, a faint snow had started to fall. We started to head back down towards the gift shop.
Trail head of the Moraine Lake view point
Going up the stone steps towards the Moraine Lake view point
On top of the rock pile with Moraine Lake and Valley of the Ten Peaks in view
Is this a good shot?
Mini session in high wind condition
Is this a better shot?
The dreaded family selfie
At the view point
Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks (c 2019)
Canadian $20 featuring Moraine Lake and the Valley of The Ten Peaks (c 1969-1979)
Light Snow
"Crunchie" - local chocolate bar from the gift shop
More photos by the Lake - profile shot
Too much shadow on the face...
Must get everyone
Moraine Lake
We made it down the rock pile to the gift shop. We purchased hot chocolate and candy bar to warm up ourselves. By the time we got down, the big tour buses had arrived. We soaked in the ever changing weather pattern in the mountain and enjoyed our hot chocolate in the gift shop. We took some more pictures by the lake. By then, it was getting harder and harder to take pictures due to the crowd. The shuttle picked us up at 11:30 and we headed back to the hotel for our lunch in the lounge.
At the gift shop
Light Snow
"Crunchie" - local chocolate bar from the gift shop
More photos by the Lake - profile shot
Too much shadow on the face...
Must get everyone
Moraine Lake
After spending two hours at Moraine Lake, we were ready to head back to the hotel. The shuttle picked us up on time and we were back at the Gold Floor Lounge for our snack/lunch. Our plan is to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House after snack/lunch.
Light snack at the Gold Floor
Hot Chocolate and pastry. It warmed us up after a cold morning at Moraine Lake
The Lake Agnes Tea House Trail or Lake Agnes Trail is a 4.7 mile out and back trail with 1,420 feet in elevation change. It is rated moderate by Alltrails.com. It starts off at the patio area of our hotel and hugs along Lake Louise. The trail then starts the ascent on the mountain north of Lake Louise. We would see a glacier lake - Mirror Lake a bit over half way along the hike, then we would reach the Lake Agnes Tea House situated at close to 7,000'.
After taking our light snack, we layered up to start the hike around 1:30 pm. We worn our base layer, fleece, and a rain coat. Shortly into the hike, we all took off the fleece. I carried everyone's fleece in my REI 40L. The trail is quite busy with tourists. We saw many people without proper hiking gear on the trail.
Trail leading to the Lake Agnes Tea House
Gaining elevation - with Lake Louise in view
About an hour into the hike, we reached Mirror Lake, a small alpine lake tucked in the forest. We saw a helicopter rescue right before we reached Mirror Lake. Shortly after Mirror Lake, snow started to come down. We reached the tea house in a full blown snow storm. The tea house is packed with hikers. We took a quick look and descended in a hurry.
A helicopter rescue taking place before we reached Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake, a small alpine lake tucked in the forest
Mirror Lake
Half a mile until the Lake Agnes tea house
Snow fall in June
Coming down
Precipitation turned more flakey and less wet as we gained elevation
Reaching the waterfall just below Lake Agnes
Reaching Lake Agnes in full snow storm
Inside the crowded tea house
Family selfie at Mirror Lake on the way down
At the Swiss Guide Statue before stepping back into our hotel
After getting back to our hotel, we took respite at our Gold Floor Lounge. We feasted on the evening Canapes at the lounge and called it our dinner. Our plan was to hit the pool and sauna again tonight. However, it wasn't meant to be.
Dad's cold had turned into a full blown fever at this time. We measured his temperature and it was 104F. We contacted the hotel staff and the hotel security personnel (Max) came to examine his vital. After Max examined dad, it was determined that he had to be transported via ambulance to hospital in Banff, which is about 40 minutes away. Mom and I went with him. We checked into the Banff-Mineral Springs Hospital past 8:00 pm. After x-ray and other tests, the on-call Doctor (Doctor Holmen) had diagnosed him with pneumonia. He was injected with a large tube of antibiotics and inhaled airway clearing medication. Fortunately, Dr Holmen thought it would be ok to discharge us since we had further itinerary to Jasper the next day.
We were finally released from the hospital shortly after 1:00 am. On the way home, our taxi driver hit a baby fox on the off ramp just after getting off the freeway. He had to call animal control. I was finally able to get back into the room past 2:00 am. I managed to take a shower and got a few hours of shut eye before getting up at 6 am to get ready to depart for Jasper. While we were at the hospital, Joanne took the kids to roast marshmallow by the lake and waited for updates from me.
Dad's cold had turned into a full blown fever at this time. We measured his temperature and it was 104F. We contacted the hotel staff and the hotel security personnel (Max) came to examine his vital. After Max examined dad, it was determined that he had to be transported via ambulance to hospital in Banff, which is about 40 minutes away. Mom and I went with him. We checked into the Banff-Mineral Springs Hospital past 8:00 pm. After x-ray and other tests, the on-call Doctor (Doctor Holmen) had diagnosed him with pneumonia. He was injected with a large tube of antibiotics and inhaled airway clearing medication. Fortunately, Dr Holmen thought it would be ok to discharge us since we had further itinerary to Jasper the next day.
We were finally released from the hospital shortly after 1:00 am. On the way home, our taxi driver hit a baby fox on the off ramp just after getting off the freeway. He had to call animal control. I was finally able to get back into the room past 2:00 am. I managed to take a shower and got a few hours of shut eye before getting up at 6 am to get ready to depart for Jasper. While we were at the hospital, Joanne took the kids to roast marshmallow by the lake and waited for updates from me.
Evening canapés at the lounge
Cheese and crackers
Meat balls, pot pie, vegetable ragout and chips
Cold Plate
Roasting marshmallows by Lake Louis
Oh goodness! Hope baby fox was okay??? Glad to hear the hospital was able to discharge your dad so soon. It’s a good sign. Is the tea house only accessible via hike or is it possible to just drive there? 😬 so the best months to visit is May til what month? Those 3am attempted shoots are what I call dedication! And why do sleeping children just always look like babies no matter what their age is. 🥰 loving the blog and family photos!!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the baby fox was dead. The taxi driver had to call animal service and ensure that dead animals are not just left on the road. The summer month weather is generally predictable but the weather can change on a whim in the mountain. As established as the Banff/Jasper area it is nevertheless still a wilderness. A lot of the great viewpoints are only accessible on foot such as the tea house. That that's part of the fun!
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