A flower blooms @ Banff National Park
After packing up at Banff campsite #1 we made our way into town to pick up a few ingredients for dinner. Then we rode to Emerald Lake. To our surprise Emerald Lake was even more crowded than Lake Minnewaka. We pulled on our boots and headed up the trail with the highest elevation gain (per Helen’s plan to escape the crowd). Within 100 ft it was clear we achieved the goal.
Helen, with the eagerness of a Canadian wildflower seeing the sun for the first time, led the way at a break neck pace (any faster we would be classified as trail runners). Adam wanted to complain that the pace wasn’t fair but instead he stayed silent as he realized that Helen was not only setting the pace but also carrying the only backpack between them.
It wasn’t long before the people were gone and we could again hear the sounds of the forrest. As the roar of a waterfall grew louder we eventually found the source.
We hiked away from the beaten path in search of the best views.
As we hiked up we dreamed of a clear view of the lake but “only” found this
As the distance between us and the parking lot grew, so too did Helen’s lead over Adam. After an hour or so Adam was granted mercy since we had to turn back in order to make it to Banff campsite #2 on time. On the way down we heard the call of a beautiful wood thrush.
Before leaving Emerald Lake we made a quick stop at the gift shop and found our 3rd sticker of the trip!
We drove to our next campsite via the Trans Canada Highway. We made it to camp with enough time to make a bonfire, cook black bean burgers, and read a book.
We were woken in the middle of the night to unexpected rain on the tent. Helen heroically braved the elements to move our boots and helmets to a covered location. While Adam, the damsel in distress, surrender to fate and accepted that he would pay any and all cost in the moment to avoid the cold rain.
It was a rough morning as we woke early to pack up our wet gear for a day of sight seeing. While packing cold wet camp gear Adam would warm himself by holding hot coffee between a crack in the dense canopy:
Next, we go even farther North to Jasper!
