Day 40: Sunwapta Falls - Johnston Canyon Lodge
In the morning we go to the restaurant for breakfast. The breakfast is not as phenomenal as the dinner.
We head towards the Columbia Icefields.
On the way the mountains are hardly to see. The weather and smoke situation did not really improve, although it rained heavily during the night.
As we approach the Columbia Icefield, it gets colder and colder. This is partly due to the increasing altitude and the rather modest weather, but also due the cold from the glacier. Unfortunately, we already get into rain far ahead of the glacier. We decide to take a break at the Visitor Center, where we can take a look at the cloud-covered glacier. It is even less visible on this visit than on my first visit here. I do not think there are many days in the year when you have a much better view.
The onward road to Lake Louise is a disaster. The rain is getting worse, the cold too. At some point we have sleet, which attaches to visor and windshield. Of course, Brigitte freezes more than me, at least I have something to do. So this trip down to Lake Louise is a tough test. There is no choice but to ride straight on, along the road there's no shelter.
Once in Lake Louise, I send the body-shaking Brigitte ahead of me to the restaurant so she can get into the warm as soon as possible. Her teeth are chattering and her hands are shaking.
We get hot chocolates and a soup very fast. After that we are a little better. Brigitte changes her clothes and we buy her the warmest underwear, we can get in the outdoor shop here.
A bit warmed up, we decided to take a look at Lake Louise - beautiful, but very touristy.
Fortunately, the rain spares us on the backroad to Banff, so we can enjoy this beautiful route, but unfortunately without seeing wildlife.
Our cabin, that we booked at the Johnston Canyon Lodge for two nights, is very cozy and even has a gas oven. We decide to do a little trip to Banff, but because of the mass tourism there scares us, we immediately return back on the back road to our Lodge.
The evening ends with dinner in the restaurant and a Canadian whiskey (Rye) in our cabin heated up by the gas oven. Exhausted as we are, we fall into bed after a hot shower and have a restless sleep. Good decision that we booked for two nights here.