Lake Louise January 9, 2025

today’s recreation of my watercolour painting 

🏔️🇨🇦🏔️🇨🇦🏔️🇨🇦🏔️

Down Upper Tramline, up Moraine, across Fairview is my favourite loop to Cross Country Ski and that’s the plan for today.  The groomed trail starts at the far end of the Lake Louise Parking Lot. From the start I could see the snow pack was low yet the level was sufficient for grooming and skiing.  No one else was parked here and it appeared no one else had skied this track yet this morning.  It was -12C with a feel of -19C to start. I bundled up, had a hot beverage in my pack along with my bear spray because you never know!  

 view while gradually gliding down Upper Tramline 

view ahead while slowly skiing up Moraine 

somewhere further along would be my turn off for Fairview

seeing the turnoff for Fairview through the trees

After a few minutes of herring bone maneuvers up a couple of steep hills, then the magic happened throughout the meadows.  It’s along this four kilometres stretch that took me forever to ski.  There is so much to see and savour.

There is even an opportunity to settle in and savour the sights while sitting on the “snowfa”!  Avid skiers who frequent this track build the snowfa each year.  By the time I arrived, the sun was shining on the area.  It helped having ski pants on when I settled in.  I did have my blowup thermarest in my pack but did not bother with it.

view while sitting on the snowfa 

perfect spot for a few sips

(It surprises me how clearly my camera picks up every sound.)

looking back at the snowfa as I glided away

view in front of me as I continued along Fairview 

What do those tracks belong to?

As I neared the end of the meadows and headed back into the trees, I took one last look back. 

My hat blends in with the tall snow covered trees! 

The sun sets on another day in this little piece of paradise called Lake Louise!