Louise and Takkakaw

Venturing from Banff to Lake Louise on the Trans Canada Highway, there are several overpasses like this one.  Yes, those trees are growing on the overpass...it's a route for the critters to safely cross the freeway.  On either side of the road for several kilometers fences block the wildlife from venturing onto the highway and route them toward the critter overpasses.  I didn't see any moose or grizz on them, but they use 'em.

Chateau Lake Louise, accomodating travelers in luxury for over a century.  Even with the Canadian dollar cheap for us Yanquis, the rates are a bit high... like 600 Canadian per night and up.

You can rent canoes and paddle upon the waters of the lake.

Yes, the lake is turquoise...as are a lot of lakes in these parts.  

A dead tree in the lake.

There are large glaciers at the far end of the lake, on the Plain of Many Glaciers.  If you can hike that far, it's still civilized...there's a teahouse where you can enjoy a cuppa.  I didn't make it that far.  There's also another lake about 1500 feet up above Louise...also with a teahouse.

Now I'm in a lesser known national park, Yoho, adjacent to Banff across the provincial border in British Columbia.  This waterfall is about 800 feet high.  It's fed by glaciers out of sight on a plateau above the falls.  In Yosemite, the waterfalls peak in spring and are almost dry by August.  (With the drought this year, Yosemite Falls IS dry).  Takkakaw peaks in August and is at a minimum in winter, when there's no melting snow or ice to feed it.

Lizards kickin' it at Takkakaw.

Another shot of Takkakaw, with its water moving downhill below the cascade.  BTW Yoho is an Indian word meaning, roughly, Whoa!  Cool!  In otherwords, an expression of awe.