We packed up our bags and checked out of the Banff Springs, to head up to my favourite hotel, the Chateau Lake Louise!

It was another hazy day as we left Banff, and took the leisurely route up the Bow Valley Parkway instead of the Trans-Canada Hwy #1. Arriving in Lake Louise, it was hazy, and the normally stunning views were a bit muted by the smoke.

We sat on the shoreline for a while, watching the busy scene unfold. There were some young girls, apparently unafraid of the cold water, swimming in the glacial lake!

Here is Nadine taking in the views.

Checking in to the hotel, we were again given our usual lake view suite. We got unpacked and ready for dinner. In all of the times we’ve stayed here, we’ve never eaten at Lago, which is the Italian restaurant at the Chateau Lake Louise. We had reservations for dinner there, and the meal was excellent, which is to be expected at this hotel.

I think this is the largest pepper grinder I’ve ever seen!

After dinner, we returned to the room to get our jackets and changed for the evening. We took the photo below from the window of our suite. It seems the smoke is starting to clear.

Nadine had signed us up for a yoga/stretching class, which seemed like a good idea to get our muscles stretched ahead of our day of hiking tomorrow. The class was offered on the canoe dock!

After our stretch class, we returned to the room to get some rest. Our plan is to be up early for a day of hiking over at Lake O’Hara.