Leaving Banff, Arriving Lake Louise

This morning, wildfire smoke hung in the air over Banff - first time we have smelled smoke, and strongly.

Before leaving, we stopped at Banff Cave and Basin Historic site. At one time there was a hotel, bath house, and large swimming pool (thermal mineral water, now covered). The area smells strongly of sulfur, and the hot mineral water seeps from the entire hillside, making pools, marshes, and streams. There are several holes in the ground/caves with mineral pools. The photos show the biggest one, and the one that we could enter. The signs say the hot mineral water is (slightly) radioactive, and people drank it for their health!

Enroute to Lake Louise, the sky became even smokier, then it began to rain. The rain slowed to a drizzle, then stopped, allowing us to hike the trail to Silverton Waterfall (up, up, and up). Part of the trail was perilous, just 12-18" wide with a steep slope. I was happy to be past that point!Read more