Lake Louise is a Dangerous Place.

So, long Canmore.  Off to Lake Louise.  ...and...oh, yeah, Happy Birthday, Sue!  Let's have high tea!

Well, it was Sue's birthday and she really wanted celebrate by having high tea the Fairmont in Lake Louise.  It was a great idea!

Part of what made it great is that we could park at the Fairmont for the afternoon.  Lake Louise and nearby Moraine Lake are so popular that you really can't drive there.  You have to reserve space in the public or private shuttle service to both places.

We got to Lake Louise early enough we decided we had plenty of time to ride the cable car to the top of the ski slope across the way.  It was a clear crisp day and it made for great views of the Lake Louise and the Bow River Valley from afar.

We dropped our luggage at the hotel and headed up to the Fairmont for tea.

Fairmont Lobby

Looking across Lake Louise.

Tea room view

Pinky's out, now!

High Tea

Happy Birthday, Sue!

The following day, we headed out early for a shuttle up to Moraine Lake. The shuttle was just across the road, down a gravel path from the hotel.  That worked out well.  

Moraine Lake is the NOTHIN', that we AIN'T SEEN, yet.  Just take a look!

We shuttled back pretty early in order to catch a late morning shuttle back to Lake Louise.  We were going to hike to the tea house, and maybe up the Beehive.

Walking back to the shuttle....  Danger!  Danger!  Don't walk with Earl Gray tea!  Or don't constantly chatter with Don while walking!  Or, most likely, don't try to listen and comprehend the constant stream of baloney Don is spewing.  Maybe all three?  A big divot  appeared and swallowed up Sue and her tea.  ...and then her ankle wouldn't support any weight.  Maybe a sprain?  Sue limped back to the hotel.  No better the next morning so, Emergency Department in Banff.  Broken.  Non-weight bearing bone.  Boot and crutches for the rest of the trip.

Sue gets the boot.

Crutches with a train or vise versa?

Well...boy do we feel bad.  About the spilled tea.  But mostly about making her gimp all the way back to the hotel by herself so the rest of us could catch our scheduled shuttle and go on our hike.

The survivors

Glimpsing the lake on the way up.

Mirror Lake and Beehive

A rare moment of empty trail (or people erased - Thanks Google!)

Lake Agnes by the Tea House

Tea House madness.  We ate the PB&J we packed.

Rested and Ready?  No.  Not going up to Beehive.  Heading back down.

Looking back to the ski slope we were on the previous morning.

Tall trees.  Little us.

Just at the end of this hike, we got rained on a bit.  Managed to catch an early shuttle back to our hotel.

Speaking of which...

This was our "splurge" lodging.  Not Fairmont splurge.  Not close.  But a very nice place in a very nice location in Lake Louise.  Patti's uncle recommended it.  

Best place to eat?  The old train station - yes - really!

...and just out side, lots of action!  

and appropriate beverage

Oh, and the food was good, too.

We can no longer say "We ain't seen nothin' yet."

But we're not done yet.  Not by a long shot.

Tomorrow, the Icefield Parkway.