Feast and Friends in Calgary - on to the Rockies

Days flew by too quickly in Calgary - filled with highlights. Thursday afternoon, we explored the University. The Olympic Oval was amazing...and 2 zambonis skimmed the ice of the speed skating tracks and giant hockey rinks. 2010 is very close...and skaters stretched and practiced. Press coverage was never so real!

The evening meal was a splendid feast. Stories and laughter flowed as friends from Taupo, New Zealand arrived - about to start their long hikes in British Columbia...helicopter in...hiking out. Hodges' hospitality is five star.

Friday morning we headed to Lake Louise. It's called a diamond in the wilderness...and it really is. Perhaps you've seen photographs or paintings of Lake Louise or Lake Moraine...they actually fall short. We started our explore at Lake Moraine surrounded by the Valley of the Ten Peaks. It is not accessible in the winter so summer finds it full of visitors...even signs rope off upper access as bears roam there in search of mountain berries. We visited Lake Louise in the later afternoon...and again Saturday to gain just the right reflections for photos in the crisp morning air.

On to Jasper..and the wonder of the Icefield Parkway. It winds directly north...but there's no direct progress as short hikes, waterfalls, hanging glaciers and azure rivers that follow one after another create wonderful stops. It was a stunning day of sunshine and warm temperatures.