Moraine Lake in Banff, Alberta- 09.13.14
This post is part of our special NOTCOT Alberta Great Escape series thanks to our friends at Travel Alberta. In Part I, Shawn, Bucky, and I are loaded up in the NOTFZJ80 spending a week in Alberta roadtripping, camping, and exploring all that we can fit in… follow the series here to see what inspires us along the way!
The BLUE! That Glacier Water Blue… to be honest, I thought most people’s pictures were over saturated or photoshopped, but no. It really is THAT blue. It’s amazing how quickly the weather changed - from our snowy adventures at Spray Lakes to heading up into Banff National Park. My first stunningly glacier blue lake was Moraine Lake. We’d heard rumors that it is even more breathtaking than Lake Louise, so we detoured over first, and WOW. It is AMAZING. And beyond the lake views as you wander around… the Chipmunks! I’ve never seen such chubby little chipmunks run right up to you. Even crazier, they run up to BUCKY! And stand up in his face. You’d think a pup like him would go after it, but when it came right up to HIM, he had no idea what to do. And once you wander up past the chipmunks, the view down at the lake is just incredible. It was hard to leave Moraine Lake, but I had to keep reminding myself this was just the beginning! Check it out on the next page.
When we first arrived, I couldn’t help climbing out on the snowy logs…
To get away from the crowds, we started walking along the edge of the lake…
The colors! I’m sure you’ll see me gushing about the water color a lot over this trip, but it is SO incredible. I’m still in awe.
Don’t be deceived by the sunshine, remnants of the snow storm still lingered even on the canoes.
Wandering the path alongside the lake…
Popping out to the shore every now and then, it just got more and more beautiful.
It’s incredible how clear the water is. Apparently the incredible blue colour is due to the refraction of light off the rock flour in the lake.
The edges of the lake were still a bit iced over.
A couple canoeing across…
We took a moment to take it all in. After the snow we’d just experienced, it felt extra surreal to be sitting at the lakeside on such a sunny day!
Looping back - it was time to head up to see Moraine Lake from a higher viewpoint… but first out popped the chipmunks (and some pikas) at ever few steps!
They have no fear - and perhaps have been fed a few times too many? They were some plump little guys who ran right up to everyone (and even Bucky) - crawling up people’s legs and standing up for cameras.
Bucky was eager to get to them, but then incredibly confused when they ran right up to HIM!
Once you’re at the top…
Also… doesn’t that snow melting off the mountain look like a dripping skull?
Here’s a panoramic (other tourists included) that Shawn captured - CLICK TO VIEW LARGER!
Isn’t Moraine Lake amazing? I could stay here for days… but we must keep moving!
… and since Bucky was so good to those wild Chipmunks, we got him a stuffed one to hang out with in the car!
