Day
34, September 15
Locations: Lake Louise; Kootenay National Park; Vermilion Lakes
Miles driven: 164
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I set the alarm for
5:45 again and got up at 6:00 and found there was a light drizzle falling.
Of course! I thought I could see some faint stars thinking it could be
a light layer of fog, but really couldn't tell due to the darkness at
this point, but I figured I'd go down to Lake Louise anyway in the chance
that it could be clear or would clear. I left the Helen Lake trailhead
lot at 6:10. Just after I left, I was able to see that clouds were midway
down the mountains, so I figured I wasn't going to have a chance for anything.
I traveled to Lake Louise in rain the whole way. I shot a few pictures
at sunrise as clouds were mostly obscuring Mt. Victoria. The pictures
look better than I remember the scene to actually look which is always
a welcome surprise. After I was done shooting, I brushed my teeth in the
restroom there and figured I'd head back into Kootenay for some forest
shots as it seems to have quite a bit of potential. I went into Lake Louise
Village and fueled up. Gas prices came down from $1.18 to $1.10 now. I
left here at 8:10 where it was still a light rain.
Upon entering Kootenay, I was driving in and out of the fog. I went to a spot along the highway just prior to the Floe Lake trailhead where the Vermilion River comes closest to the road in an open area. You can see the trailhead sign just ahead at the top of the hill. I stayed at this spot for quite awhile. It rained for a good while and I missed getting a shot of a rainbow during one of the short breaks, though I did manage to get a few others out of the deal. I eventually went to the Floe Lake trailhead parking lot for quite awhile as it continued to rain most of the afternoon. I took a nap as all this excitement had worn me down! I also wrote postcards to the family.
At 4:11, the sun started to come through and some blue sky had opened up above, though it was still raining all around. I figured I'd head back to Banff and try Vermilion Lakes one more time.
Around sunset and back over at Vermilion Lake #1, Si drove up and we talked for the better part of an hour and it was good to run into him again. He had been staying at a motel in Banff just a few minutes away, so it was a short drive for him. There was no light at sunset. He took some reflection shots after sundown, but I passed up taking any of my own. He said he'd plan to shoot at Lake Louise again tomorrow which is where I was planning to be once again.
I drove back up to the Helen Lake trailhead for the fourth consecutive night. The drive between Banff and Lake Louise saw a pretty hard rain, but did let up by the time I got to Lake Louise and the clouds were breaking off further north where I'd be camping. I pulled over at Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint and took a picture as the moon was lighting things up, then drove across the road to camp at 10:00. The skies were half clear at this time, but I knew by 6:45 tomorrow it would be overcast with rain!
8:14 AM —
Lake Louise
8:16 AM —
Mt. Victoria
8:21 AM —
Lake Louise
8:31 AM —
Entering Kootenay National Park near Vermilion Pass
9:44 AM —
Vermilion River, Kootenay NP
12:24 PM —
Looking north along the Vermilion River from the bridge
at the start of the Floe Lake trail
12:24 PM —
Looking southeast along the Vermilion River from the bridge
at the start of the Floe Lake trail
12:43 PM —
Along the Floe Lake trail
4:32 PM —
29 km to Banff
5:53 PM —
Mountains east of Banff as seen from Vermilion Lake #1
6:11 PM —
Composite of 2 shots (not very good at that) of a bald eagle flying over
Vermilion Lakes