"You can't only take pictures when it's sunny..."

A version of what my teacher told me in New Zealand before I left the main group to do a week of field studies together with just one other student.
That sentence has been playing in my head today since it's been more or less raining the whole day. So, yes, I have taken pictures today!

We finally reached the Rocky Mountains today! Our first stop was at Roger's Pass which is a high mountain pass in the Selkirk Mountains. To me it wasn't much to see there especially not on a rainy say with only 30 minutes to spare. I guess there were more to discover though with more time.


A nice overview of the elevation differences from Vancouver to Swift Current


Roger's Pass...not very exciting right?!

Our second stop was at Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park's largest lake. It was really a beautiful lake even in the rain. With sun and less clouds the surrounding mountains would have looked better though.






Emerald Lake.


The lake again.


And again.

We had today's longest stop at the ski hill in Lake Louise. Since I never joined the meal plan I was way quicker than everyone else going up with the gondola which meant that I would be able to get a few less crowded pictures of the surroundings. My mission by going up with the lift was mostly though to find some snow to play in. And I did! I probably played around in it for 15 minutes or so before the rest of the group began showing up. I guess I didn't really play in it, if creating the perfect jumping picture doesn't count as playing. I had fun anyway! The sun actually came out while up on the hill. I was kind of bummed though that we didn't get to go further up than we did, the peak was probably another 15 minutes on a lift away.



Lake Louise ski lodge...pretty fancy log house.


Going up the hill.



Quatchi and Globe enjoying the snow!


Wouldn't it have been cool if a grizzly would have been in the background of this picture and I would just notice that now?


Lake Lake Louise...the actual lake :)


Quatchi's going down!


Quatchi playing hide and seek!


Banff was our last sightseeing stop for the days. I mostly strolled around for the two hours we were given there. Cute town! But packed with tourists! Guess what I didn't do! I didn't buy the Banff Starbucks mug! It's official I don't my Starbucks mugs just to buy or collect them. They need to reach a certain standard when it comes to its looks. The Banff mug didn't pass and I haven't decided on the Vancouver mug yet. The Canada one (with a maple leaf) is at the moment the best I've seen so far)!



Before the town sightseeing we stopped at Bow Falls.


Bow river.


Banff Avenue looking north.





Banff Avenue looking south.

I'm spending the night at Holiday Inn in Canmore. My lakeview from yesterday's hotel room is changed into a parking lot from this room.

New adventures tomorrow: ice fields, lakes, more mountains and so on. Please sun join us tomorrow!