Banff

Two days after our arrival to a hotel in Saskatoon, we headed west to Banff, Alberta, a beautiful ski town.  We enjoyed the best food....maple-crusted salmon & elk burgers!  I enjoyed the unique shops and we saw two cow elk in the woods on our walk into town on the first night.  I was hoping to see more wildlife, but the elk were quite neat & two tame deer wandered around by our hotel.  Also in attendance for the conference, our friend Nick arrived from IL and Alex and Thomas made the long trek from New Zealand.  The five of us spent a day outside of Banff at two lakes.  For our first trip in Canada, Banff did not disappoint.  

The mountains were so close!

Canada Day Parade

Poutine (a version of it anyway)

First Nation Pow Wow for Canada Day

Turquoise colored lake due to cold glacier water.

 
Hiking by Moraine Lake outside of Banff

Lake Louise

Hiking part of the Canadian Rockies.

 Long hike uphill.  Thought we would never reach the  Tea House.

Finally arrived.  It was hot and we were hungry!  The staff hike the mountain with fresh supplies once a week. The dry food is brought up by horses at the start of the season.

 This area, we later found out, is the second (behind Niagara Falls) most popular tourist destination in Canada.
Wonderful trip.  So glad we got to see the mountainous part of Canada, since we live in the prairie.