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The second hike we did was to the tea houses around Lake Louise, where we technically combined 4 different hikes, and it took us the larger part of the day. Knowing that it was a long hike, on trails  that could be less crowded, we decided to prepare a little extra by bringing food, lots of water and bear spray (which we luckily did not need).

Lake Louise, Alberta Canada - entrance to the trail

Lake Louise – entrance to the trail

Starting off at the Fairmont Chateau – Lake Louise we first hiked up to the top of the Small Beehive, a small mountain close to the Lake Agnes tea house. On the way up we passed Mirror Lake, a small but beautiful lake, and a perfect spot to stop for a little rest. When we got to the top of Little Beehive, I was blown away by the view, any way you looked there were the most impressive views of the mountains and valleys and the Fairmont Chateau with the lake in front in the prettiest shades of blue. There was also a rock up there which safely let you go close to the edge, so you could see how high up you really were. We decided that this was as good a place as any to stop for lunch. This  gave us more time to take in the views.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Trail

Pretty scenery on the way to Little Beehive

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Close to the edge

As close to the edge as I dared go

We continued on to Lake Agnes, where I was hoping to get some tea (it is a tea house after all), but it seemed like everyone else had the same idea as the line was literally out the door. Instead I stopped for some pictures of the lake, surprisingly with no people in it, before we continued on our way towards the next tea house.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Lake Agnes tea house

Who would expect long lines on top of a mountain

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Lake Agnes

Lake Agnes

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Beautiful view of Chateau Lake Louise and the blue color of the water

 

On the way to the Plain of Six Glaciers tea house the trail got narrower at one point as we headed up a valley. The nature was just amazing with mountains on both sides and a lot of greenery surrounding the trail. Further away – the barren valley you could really see where the glacier had altered the landscape. We also passed a big sheet of ice blocking the trail to the extent where we had to climb over it. On the other side there was a cave underneath the ice, with the coolest bubble like formations underneath, it definitely resulted in one of the coolest selfies I have ever taken.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Flowers

The purple flowers only bloom for a few days every year

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Ice formations

Such awesome ice formations

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Ice selifie

Selfie of the year

 

The Plain of Six Glaciers tea house was not as busy as the one we had passed as it is a trickier hike to get to. We stopped for a rest, before continuing towards a lookout point over the glacier. We had also read about the Abbot Pass Hut, and had high hopes of spotting it, even if everyone we asked coming down the mountain said they had not seen it. The hut was built in 1922 by Swiss mountaineers as a shelter for people trying to climb the surrounding mountains. The trail towards the glacier was not as worn down as the other trails we had been hiking on to get there, and it was also a lot narrower.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Small trail

The trail suddenly got a lot smaller closer to the glacier

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Plain of Six Glaciers tea house

Plain of Six Glaciers tea house

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Impressive mountains

Impressive mountains

 

At the end of the trail there is a big hill of smaller rocks you can walk leading to a magnificient viewpoint of the glacier, and continuing up towards a waterfall. After a small break at the bottom of this hill, I decided to try to walk up to the viewpoint. The path was very narrow, and it was easy to trip on the small rocks, and if you were to lose your footing it was a steep drop down to the glacier and its ravines. I made it with no mishaps, and as the path turns I got hit by this freezing wind coming down off the glacier. The view was absolutely amazing, with the mountains and the glacier, – and we even found the hut! I could barely see it but zoomed in with my camera. How people manage to get up to this hut is still a mystery to me.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Ice sheet

Just look at how thick the ice is!

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Glacier

Even the gray at the bottom is ice

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Abbot Pass hut

Abbot Pass hut

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Valley selfie

As far up the mountain I got

 

The way back down to the lake was easy compared to the rest of the hike. As we got closer we came across a river of melt water feeding Lake Louise. It was so fascinating to follow the river, and see how the water created different paths in the mud and rocks. Closer to the lake we started seeing more people and activities. Some people were mountain climbing what to me looked like cliffs, there were people canoeing on the lake and even a group on horseback.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Valley

You really have to watch your footing

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Meltwater river

Meltwater flowing towards the lake

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - River and lake

You can see how the river moves and changes the landscape

 

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - Mountain climbers

Mountain climbers

 

Back at the Chateau I happily stuck my feet in the freezing cold water taking in the beauty of my surroundings one last time, knowing that no matter how good my pictures turned out they would not be able to compare with reality..