Monday was our long anticipated trip to Lake Louise. We'd been advised to avoid the weekend crowds. So after a reasonably early start we were surprised at the number of coaches and cars already in the car park! As ever though, most didn't stray much beyond the first view point and whilst we didn't have the lakeside trail totally to ourselves the crowds were left behind. As you can see from the photos Lake Louise is a wonderful, bright blue milk. It was easy to see why Lake Louise draws such large crowds as the gorgeous lakeside is easily accessible and the scenes up to Mount Victoria and the glaciers quite beautiful.

Initially we walked the length of the lake and then made for the Plain of the Six Glaciers. The route up got steeper beyond the lake as we climbed up and over moraine and along a rock ledge. Rising into the basin the views open up spectacularly, particularly ahead towards the glacier high on Mount Victoria. At the foot of the Plain of the Six Glaciers we were rewarded by a Teahouse (at 6,857ft) offering chocolate cake and coffee (see photos). A much higher 'cafe' than that found on Snowdon and offering much better fare!

As we were refreshed and feeling fit we decided to extend the walk by taking a high trail around High Beehive to Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes. As soon as we left the main trail down we felt like we had space again. That was until a group on horses came down the narrow path in front of us. We struggled to have anywhere to move aside other than down the mountain! We were particularly unimpressed by the rider who ambled by with both hands on his camera and looking out of his viewfinder - did he see us at all!! Minor brush aside we continued to enjoy a peaceful traverse round to Mirror Lake where we stopped for lunch. The lake was a little shallow so the famous mirror wasn't much evident. However, we were entertained by chipmunks trying to get at Dave's lunch (see photo). We also saw a Grey Jay - also known as a Whiskey-Jack - on a number of occasions along the lake and trails.

Another steepish path and we were at Lake Agnes and Teahouse (7,005ft) where we enjoyed speciality teas, Maple for Dave and Blue Lady for Jill. Still full of beans it was onward and upward again (is there no stopping them?). We decided the summit of Little Beehive was achievable so up we went. We had this bump all to ourselves - amazing when we were so close to the throngs down in the valley. There were great views out along the Bow River valley from a now abandoned fire watch station. From here it was a brisk descent back to Lake Louise by about 4.30pm: a total distance of about 15km and over 2000ft of climbing.

Moraine Lake, another famous Rockies icon, is only 15km away so we decided, in tourist mode, to at least take a quick look and grab a photo. By the time we got there most visitors were leaving and we still felt fresh - in part I think exhilarated from the day's wonderful walking, so we decided to take a quick walk along this lake too! It was well worth it as we saw only half a dozen people and the views of Fay Glacier and Mount Bowlen (see photos) in the evening light where magnificent. What a way to end a very special day!