Canadian Rockies Photo Blog
Tour name: Canadian Rockies Via Rail
Tour dates: July 27-August 3, 2019
Tour Director: Patti Olson
Tour Director Highlights: A trip through the Canadian Rockies, especially with an overnight in the train, is on many people’s bucket list, and this year’s trip was all and more than any of the passengers anticipated. Nothing compares to the color and beauty of Lake Louise, or the vibrant colors of the landscaped gardens in what was a huge gravel pit at Butchart Gardens. And then to ride up onto a glacier and try to walk around without slipping on the ice was something few people ever get to do! We had beautiful weather and a delightful group of adventurers — what a blessing this trip was for us all. When I need encouragement and strength, I love to flee to the mountains, such as we saw on this journey. But if they are far away, I can turn to God’s Word from Psalm 121: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (vv. 1-2).
[Click on any photo to begin slide show.]
Off we go!
Heading west across the Rocky Mountains toward Vancouver, BC.
Arriving into Vancouver, BC, there are so many islands dotting the coastline.
There is an abundance of agricultural land in the coastal plain outside Vancouver.
Fireworks over Vancouver BC harbor greeted us on our arrival night.
A beautiful view of Vancouver Harbor from our hotel. The Holland America ship in the distance is just arriving from its journey to Alaska, just like our arrival on BNT trips to Alaska each year.
Downtown Vancouver, BC.
The public market in Vancouver was a great place to find some lunch.
Artwork decorates these old grain towers in downtown Vancouver.
Mother and baby Orca whales done all in vegetation!
Vancouver Harbor on a glorious day!
Our ferry is arriving in Vancouver to transport us to Vancouver Island — the only way to reach Victoria.
On the deck of the ferry before it got underway — then it got really windy up top!
What a delight for me to lead our passengers through this tour of western Canada and the Canadian Rockies.
It takes a steady and strong wind to hold this flag out for a photo!
On the ferry ride over to Vancouver Island and Victoria, a naturalist was onboard to visit with our travelers.
We had a clear and sunny day to tour Victoria and the famous Butchart Gardens.
So many photo ops for our passengers.
The main quarry pit at Butchart is now a beautiful garden!
Dragon fountain at Butchard Gardens.
The Japanese garden with its iconic red bridge over a stream at Butchart Gardens.
Victoria was filled with many colorful floral gardens!
The historic Empress Hotel graces the harbor in downtown Victoria, BC’s capital city.
The historic Empress Hotel graces the harbor in downtown Victoria, BC’s capital city.
Queen Victoria reigns over the city in front of the capitol building.
Totem pole in the atrium of the Victoria convention center.
Waiting to board the train…
Canada’s passenger train service is Via Rail. This was one of our cars with sleeping berths for overnight.
How exciting to take a train overnight through the Rockies!
There were many, many wild blackberries along the train track, but we could not reach down far enough to pick any.
Green lakes and rivers indicate that they are glacier-fed.
This river gorge narrows to create some wild rapids.
So many views out the window of our train as we crossed the Canadian Rockies.
To get beautiful waterfalls, it requires rain, but it’s worth it to see the spectacular drop from the mountains.
We spotted MANY bears on our journey!
And big horn sheep, too!
One of many beautiful waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies.
Rapids – beautiful, but not for us to try to navigate through!
Another amazing waterfall in the Rockies.
The historic Chateau Lake Louise and its beautiful flower gardens. We had time to explore the lake front and the hotel.
Lake Louise and the reflections of surrounding mountains.
An iconic picture of Lake Louise, its emerald-green water, and a bright red canoe traversing the lake.
What do you think? Did I get a good picture?
This is Emerald Lake, located near Lake Louise and with the same beautiful color.
This is the rocky trail we hiked to view Emerald Lake. Places were quite steep and with slate steps and no handrails!
We all made it safely to the lookout for Emerald Lake. It was quite a challenging trail with slippery steps and narrow, rocky trails with no handrails. I would have given anything for a walking stick!
The view of the trail from the gondola station atop Banff’s mountains to the remote weather station on the next peak. The hike was worth the view from there.
The gondola ride from the valley floor to the peaks above was phenomenal.
Looking down on Banff from the weather station high above.
The remote weather station at Banff National Park, high atop a peak beyond the gondola station at the summit.
The visitor center at the Banff gondola station is in the distance. The walk to the distant weather station is a combination of boardwalk and many stairs. When I made this trek in 1969, the trail was just rock and gravel.
The only elk we saw in Banff. The city has installed cattle grates to keep the elk out of town where they were becoming a nuisance.
A female big horn sheep has smaller horns than the males.
A male big horn sheep with curly horns was spotted as we drove past.
A boat ride on a remote lake with its crystal clear glacial water.
The boat that took us on a serene ride on a glacial lake.
Passengers enjoying the boat ride.
A walk in the woods…
This trail took us to a beautiful waterfall.
Indian paintbrush flowers in Banff National Park.
Grab your cameras! There’s a bear outside the coach.
Some of the mountaintops still had snow on them.
Are we really going to drive up that glacier in a big-wheel vehicle?
The view driving up the glacier in a special vehicle made for such a trip.
Incredible mountains, everywhere we looked.
Giant plows are used on the face of this glacier to break up the ice for a roadway for access to the glacier face for a very slippery walk on top!
Watch out! It’s slippery!
Can you see the profile of a wolf in this glacier lake?
Behind us is the glacier that we walked across!
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