We left Calgary this morning, caravanning with Tom and Nanci and Dennis and Cheryl. The drive was long, partly because of construction along the Transcanada Highway 1, which left us in bumper to bumper traffic for many miles. Fortunately an earlier caravan arrived at Lake Louise Campground and made reservations for the whole group (Thanks, Wes!).
At 8 p.m. we went to the amphitheater to see a ranger presentation titled "To the Top" about early mountaineering in Banff National Park. It was one of the most entertaining programs we've seen and included lots of information about the Swiss mountain guides who kept early mountaineers safe as they summitted the many peaks. We also saw a brief film made by Georgia Engelhard, who bagged 32 first ascents, titled "She Climbs to Conquer." Here's a quotation about her from a website:
Georgia grew to love the Canadian Rockies. After reaching the summit of Mount St. Piran in 1929 at the age of 23, she wrote: "The lake and valley were still in deep shadow, but the surrounding peaks, all I had climbed, were bathed in golden rosy light. I was seized by an indescribable ecstasy, filled with the joy of conquest. They were all mine -my beautiful, private, world of mountains. Yet, at the same time, I felt how infinitesimal I was. It was an unforgettable experience."
 This ranger really gets into her presentation! |  Audience participation |
The campground is wooded, with sites well spaced, and runs along the Bow River. Unfortunately it also runs along the railroad. The trains are the loudest and most annoying of any we have encountered, but the overall camping experience is still wonderful.
The campsites have no hookups, so we had to fill our freshwater tank. With our inverter, we hardly miss shore power. Ken even set up the internet dish. Luckily we were able to point it down the road at the back of our campsite and get a clear view of the satellite.
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