Just a heads up: part one of my adventure in Banff is available here. If you are already caught up, then we are now arriving in Toronto! I parked my car at a shady, cheap parking lot, shuttled to the Toronto airport, and flew to Calgary. Honestly, I don’t even remember the flight at all. I reserved a bus ticket with the Banff Airporter ahead of time to take me from the airport to Banff.
It was about a two-hour bus ride to Banff, and by then, it was already late. Late as it was, it was light outside, like weirdly light out. I took a video at 10:03 PM, and it was as light as day outside! Although strange, it made the ride into Banff even more epic because I could marvel at the mountains during the entire ride.
Getting to Banff
At around midnight, I had finally arrived at my first hotel, the High Country Inn. I knocked on the door of my hotel room, and a nice lady with all white hair and a rosy, smiling face answered the door. She said hello with her arms wide open and hugged me. Her name was Meriel, and she would be the “wild woman” I would share a room with during the entire trip.
Discover Banff Tour of Lake Louise & Moraine Lake
I wasted no time getting ready for bed. It was late, and I had to be up early. The Wild Women group did not have to meet until 5:00 PM tomorrow, so I had the entire first day in Banff to do whatever I wanted – and I felt a lot of pressure to make the most of it. Figuring out what to do with these few hours is what I spent the most time on while planning for this trip. Well, it wasn’t even just figuring out what to do so much as figuring out how to do it.
However, long story short, I said there was no way I was going to Banff and not seeing the famous Lake Louise and Moraine Lake because I may never go to Banff again, so I booked a tour of the two lakes through Discover Banff Tours. Most tours were already booked, and bus tickets were all sold out, and I didn’t want to risk waiting on cancellations, but I am so glad I booked the tour.
I barely slept that night. I was so wound up from traveling and so excited to go on the tour in the morning, and was lying on the worst cot imaginable in an overpriced room that smelled like cigarettes.
I’m excited to share that the High Country Inn has rebranded to The Kenrick Hotel. Hopefully, it’s nicer and cleaner, but I’m going to guess it’s even more expensive. Even splitting the room, and even though I was there for maybe five hours and sleeping on a cot, it cost me hundreds of dollars to stay at the High Country Inn. There’s your one downside to Banff. Everything is expensive.
Lake Louise
I was outside the hotel at 6:30 AM, coffee in hand, where the bus would pick me up. We took the bus to Lake Louise first, passing elk walking on the sidewalks as we left town. The tour advertised that you would have 30 minutes at each location. I know, not long, but it was the only way I would at least see these lakes with my own eyes. So I didn’t plan to hike at all and would just admire the lakes from the shore. However, when we arrived at Lake Louise, the bus driver announced we had an hour. My plans changed immediately. I wasted no time, hustled off the bus, and high-tailed it up the first trail I saw, still holding my coffee from Banff.
The Fairview Overlook trail is only 1.25 miles long. But I was not prepared to do any hiking since I didn’t think I’d have time, so I huffed and puffed as I made my way to the lookout. I didn’t stop to look at the lake when I was at the bottom, so this was my first moment where I took it all in. The water was a beautiful milky blue. It was incredible, except for the mosquitoes. You pretty much had to take your pictures and keep on moving, or else they were just on you.
When I got back to the bottom, I walked along the lake and took more pictures. I was just in awe the entire time at the glassy, bright blue water and the snowy mountains behind it.
Moraine Lake
Next was Moraine Lake. This lake is one of the ones you see on Microsoft screensavers. There are no strong enough words to express this lake and landscape’s beauty. After getting off the bus, I went up the stone steps leading to the overlook of the lake with the rest of the group. My mouth was agape when I got to the top. The water was the bluest blue I had ever seen. With the pine trees in the foreground and the mountains directly behind it, it didn’t seem real. This view just cannot be real.
Back down the steps, I walked along the lake. Finding a quiet spot, I took off my sneakers and put my feet in the cold, glacier water. Not to be dramatic, but this solo moment with my feet going numb in this bucket list lake was a spiritual experience for me. I spent every second here taking in the scenery and making sure it had a cozy place in my memories.
The Rest of the Day
I got dropped off at my hotel in the early afternoon, and even though I was exhausted from not sleeping last night, I changed and went back outside to explore the town of Banff. Meandering around, I found myself by the railroad tracks, where I saw walking paths in the woods and along the river on the other side of the road. While walking towards the road, in the not-so-far-away distance, I saw a black bear run across it from my side and onto one of the paths on the other side where I was heading. Mind you, this road was busy, and no one seemed to bat an eye at this bear. Ignoring everything I know about bear safety, I sped up, keeping my eye on where it went.
I got to the path just in time to take out my phone and capture a video of the bear running into the woods. People further down the path were saying, “Hey, bear.” When they got to me, we all talked excitedly about the small black bear we had just seen and walked along the river together until parting at the kayak rental shop. I found my own place along the river to stop, put my feet into the glacial water again, and watch the train go by with the mountains behind it. For the thousandth time that morning, I thought to myself how I couldn’t believe I was there and how lucky I was.
Taking It All In
I feel like so many people are stunted by fear or excuses and never go on the trips they dream about. I was nervous about going on this trip and being “alone.” I was nervous about driving to Toronto by myself and navigating the airport, and I’m scared of flying. It was also last-minute. I didn’t have the money saved or the PTO from my full-time job. I had plenty of reasons to say “no,” even though I had always wanted to visit Banff. So I took the chance and booked it, and now I was here, living it out, and it felt like I was in a dream. Nothing felt real to me.
That evening, our Wild Women group met in the lobby of the Elk + Avenue Hotel and went out to dinner together. This was when we first met and made introductions. Tomorrow, we would finally be heading to the Banff Trail Riders horse stables and kicking off our backcountry trip.