Lake Louise to Lake Agnes

Tuesday, September 6.  We can not believe our good weather but it
is once again a beautiful day.  Our objective today is to head to Lake Louise and surrounding area.  Lake Louise is about 34 miles northwest of the town of Banff, and is one of Canada's most famous natural attractions.  The deep green lake, surrounded by mountains and glaciers, has drawn visitors for over a century.  They have marvelled at the natural beauty and have wondered why the lake is such a strong, almost shocking green color.  It comes from sunlight hitting the lake's floating mineral deposits of 'rock flour' which come suspended in the melt waters from Victoria Glacier

Lake Louise is the daughter of Victoria Glacier. (third photo down for an up close view of the glacier)  In the distance past, the glacier covered the whole lake.  It gradually deposited debris form a landscape feature called a 'terminal moraine' which acted as a dam to hold the melt water as the glacier slowly retreated.  Today the lake, created by the moraine, sits at an elevation of 5,680 feet, slightly more than a mile above sea level.  It is about 1.5 miles long, 295 feet deep.
Native peoples called it 'the Lake of Little Fishes'.  Its modern name honors Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria

We headed off on a "little" hike to see Mirror Lake and maybe continue to Lake Agnes.  The hike to Lake Agnes is one of the most popular trails in the Rockies.  The trail branches from the lake shore just beyond the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and begins its ascent through a damp lower subalpine forest.  At the first switchback we could see Lake Louise directly below.  At this point we had hiked 1 mile and were about half way to Lake Agnes.  A short climb later we reached Mirror Lake. Above Mirror Lake you can see Beehive Mt.  It had been quite a climb but as we had come this far we headed up to the teahouse and Lake Agnes. The teahouse is located above Bridal Veil Falls on the shore of Lake Agnes.  I was feeling quite tired, and I discovered why.... since leaving the Chateau below we had climbed a height of 1,279 feet and 2.1 miles, or roughly the equivalent to 130 flights of stairs!!!!!!!
We stopped at the teahouse for something to eat and drink.  The original teahouse was built by the CPR in 1901.  Built  of vertical logs, the original tea house was replaced in 1981 with a new log building that includes original windows, tables and chairs.  The lake was named
after Lady Agnes Macdonald, wife of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.  The teahouse is open for lunch and tea in the summer months.  The gentleman that served us told us that he lives up there for the summer.  I could not imagine making that hike every day.  Supplies are brought up by horse pack.
Now, all I had to do was to make my way back down the hill... not as easy as it sounds. 

Have to admit that I was pretty tired when we finally returned to Lake Louise.  I was very happy to be off the trail.
From here we stopped along the Bow Valley Parkway and Johnston Falls.... see below....

Candy and Johnny