Another cold morning and we planned to go up the Lake Louise ski lift today, apparently grizzly bears are spotted there most days. It's our last chance to see a bear.
Low cloud was hanging around so we didn't rush and got to the lift just after 9am. You could choose a chairlift or gondola ride so we chose the chairlift so we could get those iconic photos of the bears, but no bears were seen . The views of the mountain peaks from the top looked amazing as they poked through the low cloud that still lingered in the valley. The cloud eventually cleared to give the views of the lake in the far distance. We went on a trail which gave the usual warnings about bears and went to a display about all the animals in the area which told you exactly what to do when you encounter a bear but all we saw was a deer. The restaurant offered a good buffet lunch deal with the ski lift ticket, so we warmed up with hot soup and a good lunch before setting off for Banff.
Arriving at Banff we wandered around the town. Banff is mainly fall of tourist shops or outdoor wear shops. It's much bigger than Jasper and more crowded but quite a pleasant town. We had chosen to stay at Canmore which is a few miles away but much less touristy and cheaper than Banff we have a lovely studio apartment so well equipped and in beautiful location on the edge of town, surrounded by mountain scenery. It's mainly a residential area with lovely houses with amazing views. The outdoor pool is a bit small and circular so the hot tub seemed a better option.