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Published: July 11th 2015
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We didn't really do all that much today, but we enjoyed what we did. After a good breakfast we left Canmore for Johnston Canyon. Our plan was to hike up the canyon, but when we got there the trail was closed due to a tree that fell across it right at the beginning. Bummer. But we found a park ranger and asked his advice, and he told us of another way to the upper part of the canyon, on what is known as the Moose Meadow trail. Why it's called that I do not know. We saw neither moose nor meadow the whole way.
We did see lots of forest, a couple squirrels, butterflies, the most beautiful flowers, and we reached the upper Johnston falls not long before they closed those off too. A couple of very inquisitive squirrels checked to see if we had something good to offer them, but all we had were carrots, which they didn't approve of. Picky squirrels. We sat by the falls and had a much needed rest. Cool breeze off the water, the noise of the flow over the rocks, solitude and a snack, not to mention washing my face in the chill,
clear water. Pure bliss.
We decided to give the ink pots (a bubbly spring further up the mountain) a pass, as it was already afternoon and it would mean another hour's walk in each direction. So we returned down the mountain to the car. On the way Tamar caught a butterfly who took a great liking to her. It sat on her hand sipping her sweat for about 15-20 minutes while we walked down the mountain! Tamar became so attached to it she named it. Phillip. Eventually, after a moving farewell speech by Tamar, it flew off.
We continued our tour to Moraine Lake, and although crowded it's stunning! Humongous mountains with snowy peaks (yes, in July) feed glacier waters to the clear, sparkling turquoise blue lake. Even the little rain that paid a visit didn't detract from the beauty. We had a snack of sandwiches in the lake shore while watching the canoes, the raindrops on the water and the mountains.
As it was still relatively early we decided to drop by to Lake Louise for a visit too. It's right nearby and just as beautiful. Also crowded. More so, in fact, but we really didn't
mind. The place is well maintained, there's a fancy hotel and resort there and it's kept clean and fresh. The water there is also greenish-blue, but of a milky color. Strange to see. The plaques there explain the phenomenon; the glaciers that feed the lake grind the rocks beneath them into powder known as rock flour. This rock flour runs into the lake with the runoff from the glacier and gives it the milky look.
We finally had enough of the natural beauty and headed to our hotel. On the way, along Highway 1, the Cross Canada Highway, Gilat and I saw a few bighorn sheep. They earned the name! I managed to slow down a bit but not enough to get a picture. A little later on there were a few mountain goats (at least I presume that's what they were) and I did stop. Gilat got some pics of them.
Have a look at the vid:
We got to the hotel in the Great Metropolis of Golden. Don't blink or you'll miss it!
Tomorrow is another day in the Rockies. Stay tuned!
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