Oxygen not needed on Banff trip to the mountain top.

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Yesterday surprisingly we both took the cable car ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain here in Banff. Perhaps even more shocking we both took the walking trail from the top station to the summit. It did help that it was a wooden walkway but it did go a long way up and there were an awful lot of steps. Jim describing it as an epic feat was a bit of an exaggeration. More stunning panoramic views. Photo night will now need multiple intermissions and include geography questions to see who has been paying attention.

Last night this part of Alberta suffered a 10 hour power cut causing a lot of disruption, including no hot bacon and eggs at breakfast!

Today we have meandered up to Lake Louise, carefully choosing a route guaranteed to bring you into contact with wildlife. Nobody told the animals and we saw zilch. However we did stop for coffee at a mountain lodge which was like something at Disney World but the real thing. Bison Head, bearskins, old snow shoes etc decorated the interior with a log fire burning even today in a huge stone fireplace. It is a pity we are not staying there because the log cabin accommodation looked great.

Lake Louise itself lived up to its reputation for being one of the most picturesque places in Canada. The water is a vivid turquoise, having fed down from the mountain glaciers that surround it, James and Zuzka would have really enjoyed paddling around it in an Indian canoe. We settled for a short shoreside stroll before we retraced our route back to Banff. Again no luck with bears!

Tonight we are going souvenir shopping before we head off to Calgary tomorrow. At least we will see some wild action at the stampede although bear baiting is no longer part of it.

Today's blog has been retyped by Jim after Joy's entry got lost in the Internet ether.

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