The sun makes an appearance.

 Last day in the mountains and we get some sun and blue skies.

Combination of clear skies, sun and snow and blue becomes the dominant colour.

Will have to get back here when the temperatures are warmer.  Would love to see Lake Moran but roads were still snowed in.  

A last stop in Banff on our way to Lethbridge

That does it for Snowbird 21/22.  Now on to some of our summer excursions before we head south once again.  

Columbia Icefields

Day 2 of our stay at Lake Louise we took the drive to the Columbia Ice Fields.  Another grey overcast day but despite that the scenery was still breathtaking. 

Seldom did we see the tops of the mountains.

Not open for the season yet.

Quite the channel eroded into the rock. 

Look at that.  A glimpse of blue sky.  There is hope. 

The blue ice peaking through the snow is the glacier known as the Columbia Icefields, or at lest part of them.  The little dot lower left of centre is the buggy used to transport tourists out onto the glacier.  The weather was turning nasty and we decided to head back.  

Next up our last day in the mountains and surprise, some sun.  

Banff, Ab

I'm back.  After a summer break from our travels and with the leaves turning gold it must be time to prepare for our 7th snowbird trip.  The list of things I was going to do this summer is pretty much untouched.  I have less than 3 weeks to put a dent in my list or, as usually happens, it becomes next years projects.  I think Procrastination is my middle name.  

I never did finish posting pictures from our travels home this past spring so the next few posts will be of our stay in Lake Louise and will follow that up with some of our summer outings.  I also bought a new camera and a lens which will be great for hiking and travel.  The new camera has slightly higher MP but the real benefit, I hope, will be the improved focus tracking which should help action shots, particularly birds.  The lens covers 28-200mm and is much smaller and lighter than the beasts I have been hauling around.  A concession to advancing years.

Last years trip had to be one of our best with plenty of reno work done in our vacation home, miles of hiking and, after a years absence, renewed and new friendships.  The protracted trip home was a little too long, only returning mid-May, but was full of new sights.  

The new car was great for the 17,675 km (10983 mi) of driving.  Just love the adaptive cruise.  Our gas mileage on the trip down wasn't great as we had the car pretty will loaded plus a bike on the back which provided some wind resistance.  We averaged 9.6 l/100km or 24.4 mpg (US) or for us old folks 29 mpg (Imp).  We will be traveling lighter this year with no bike so expecting an improvement.

After leaving Vancouver Island we stopped for a 3 nights stay in Lake Louise.  The weather for the most part was cool and overcast with periodic snow flurries.  The sun finally made an appearance on our last day.  Lots of snow in the bush and ice left on the lakes which combined with the grey overcast skies made for some drab pictures.  Good thing digital editing can compensate for Mother Nature.  

Our first day we took a short trip to Banff which, given the time of year, wasn't nearly as busy as would be the case later in the spring. 

A shot from in front of the Chateau Lake Louise.  Ice is just starting to melt but people had no problem walking across the lake on the ice.  

From the highway just before the turnoff into Banff.  

Lori with the Banff Springs Hotel in the background.  

All the rivers were raging with spring runoff. 

Street weren't crowded with tourists yet.  Another month and it will be wall to wall people.  

Main Street in Banff.  Thought the grey weather was fitting for a sepia toned B&W except for one dash of colour.  

      

Next up our trip to the Columbia Icefields.