Lake Louise Take Two

As my family headed back to Colorado, Adrianne and I decided to stay in the Banff area a few more days. We returned to Lake Louise after hearing that there was a great selection of sport climbing right off of the lake.

Getting to Lake Louise, we encountered some chipper Canadian park rangers. Their accents were especially thick and hilarious.

The approach was a an easy jaunt around the picturesque lake, and some of the climbing was belayable from the main flat trail. Without a guidebook for the area, we walked around and checked out a few of the bolted lines from the ground. A doable-looking climb on some slabby rock stood out as our first target. Gung-ho, I started up the route, only to be slow past some sections that weren't as easy as they looked from the ground. Adrianne struggled a bit but made it up the route as well. Climbers on routes to either side of us kept us company at this popular climbing spot. During small talk with one of our climbing neighbors, they pointed out a few nearby routes, including a nice two-pitch 10c. I responded: “Thanks, but that's a little out of our grade”. The climbers gave me a confused look in return, but didn't think anything of it at the time.

 The first climb of the day named The Incredible Talking Woman

 Adrianne resting at the crux

 Some "thin feet": a climbing term for small footholds

Later in the day after moving to a different wall around the lake, we managed to sneak a look at a climbing guidebook to try to pick out a new route. After selecting a 5.9 to climb next, we peeked at the route we just climbed.... it was a 10c! No wonder those other climbers gave me a funny look. I hadn't led anything higher than a 5.9 at that point! Not having a guidebook helped me challenge myself a little more than I had hoped, but it worked out.

 The view after the first shower

As we had learned after spending a few days in Banff, the weather can be unpredictable. After waiting out some quick thundershowers, we did a classic 5.9 named Imaginary Face at the Amphitheater Wall. Another storm came by and it really started to pour as Adrianne finished the route. We were done for the day. As we headed out to a campsite in Banff National Park, we passed by a rainbow and some animals.  

 Adrianne at the Amphitheater wall

On the way out: soaked but still in good spirits. 

Elk on the way back to camp

The last animal on the way back to camp