Once at the top we took the boardwalk to the very top where once a cosmic ray monitoring station from the 1950s existed. The walk is 1k each way and involves hundreds of steps.
From the top you are as higher than the surrounding mountains. Banff and the Bow River is spread out below. Hot Springs attracted early attentions from government who quickly established a protectionist reserve here. Soon a cadre of "health" practitioners, some of dubious origins, encouraged people to visit for the health enhancing properties of the hot springs.
It's an effort to climb to the very top but we did it and descended in good time! Definitely another highlight! Riding down in the gondola we were excited to see a Big Horned Sheep- it was huge!
From here we took a viewing drive past the Fairmont Banff - this prestious hotel was built through the vision of the President of the Canadian Pacific railway , William Corneliius Van Horn. It is impossible to underestimate the importance of the rivers here which made possible the early exploration of this vast wilderness. The rail roads followed and then the roads. The CP president was determined to bring people to enjoy its delights and he conceived the chain of castle hotels which were truly elegant, luxurious and central to gracious society. They are now part of the Fairmont chain.
Bow Falls and the Bow River below the hotel is a popular rafting and canoeing jumping point and many walking trails are on offer.
Today we enjoyed more walking and less bus travel.
Johnson Canyon is very different because the water hurtling down is crystal clear. It is not glacial run off but results from rainfall and melting snow.
Lake Louise and another Fairmont hotel - possibly the most famous and photographed lake. It is a beautiful turquoise.
The great outdoors were vastly appealing: mountaining, hiking, skiing - but there were no guides or instructors. William Cornelius, keen to enhance visitor experiences went to Switzerland and recruited guides and for the next 50 years they instructed and guided visitors. The little hut where they lived is still here.
Our last stop for day - Moraine Lake formed when the glacier carrying huge boulders melted and deposited them thus forming a dam wall which created the lake.
By this time we were feeling a little "laked out" so happily sat for coffee (8.67 Canadian dollars including 15%tip) and people watched. And bird watched!
Our Rocky Mountain trip coincided with the mid summer long weekend. Canadians embrace travel and flick to the mountains and this combined with the tourist season has meant enormous crowds. Every nationality seems to have converged here and the air is filled with the eager chatter of many languages. It's been great fun.
Tomorrow another 800k back to Vancouver but a different way back.
Home soon!
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