Moraine Lake & Bow Glacier Falls

Looks a bit different in the snow!
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Got up at 8.45am and as we went through the lounge on the way down to the kitchen we could see a lovely white scene through the large windows. It snowed quite a bit over night and the clouds were not too low as we could see the mountain tops. With an injection of pace we completed the usual routine and left the hostel in the snow covered truck at 9.50am. First stop was Lake Louise which looked so nice with snow all over the surrounding trees and mountains. We stayed for about 15mins taking in the views and taking pics. We then drove up to Moraine Lake and The Valley Of The Ten Peaks. It had snowed heavier here when we reached the side of the lake we were both struck by the sheer beauty of what we could see. The lake looked a more brilliant blue against the snow and the mountains which arc around the lake looked amazing with snow covering their faces. We climbed the rock moraine to the various viewpoints and just stood appreciating the views before us. We then went into the gift store and bought some presents. After, we walked the lake shire trail which is a 3km loop. We walked through the trees, dodging the clumbs of snow that kept falling from the branches above, right to the end of the trail. It was so nice that without realising we had spent 3 hrs at the lake but it was worth it. We both think that all things considered, Moraine Lake is more beautiful than the much more famous Lake Louise. After eating lunch in the truck we drove back onto the Icefields Parkway and after 35km reached Crowfoot Glacier. As it was clearer today we stopped and took a couple of pics before driving just up the road to the Num Ti-Jah Lodge which is situated at the north end of Bow Lake. Here we found the Bow Glacier Falls trailhead and began the hike at 2.40pm. We followed the trail as it hugged the lakeshire before it took us through the middle of the Bow Glacier bason. We got to the foot of the falls at about 3.50pm and spent 25mins or so climbing a third of the way up the falls on the rocks. As we left at 4.15pm the clouds were coming in and it started to get even colder and then on the way back to the lodge it began to snow lightly. We got back to the truck at 5.10pm having completed the 10km loop and grateful to get out of the biting wind. We drove back to Lake Louise village where we picked up 2 health cookies (yet again!) which we ate back at the hostel with a hot chocolate. Later whilst having dinner we chatted some more with Terry (Bo Selecta!) and then went up to the lounge to read. Another cold day, between 4 and 0 degrees!