Canada

First off, apologies for being so far behind...We will work diligently to catch back up whilst we run from park to park in Alaska.  So this post will mostly be about the road to Alaska, with a few minor stops.

The first day was a hike in Waterton Lakes NP.  A ferry to the trailhead, and then up 3000' to a hanging valley wall.  There was then a lovely little hole in the wall up to a flooded cirque called Crypt Lake.  It was kind of cliffside-scramble fun!

We also stopped in Banff at two places right-quick...It was gorgeously disappointing.  Here is the view from the shore of Lake Louise:

And here 20 feet back from the shore.

Such splendor, so jam packed full of people.  Bus upon bus of people.  Full parking lots, crowded trails, improper footwear.  The footwear makes me so mad.  I see people scrambling across a log jammed stream, and up a talus field in Crocs, or hiking up a muddy slope in $5 flats from Claire's.  And they look upon us like we are some super human because we aren't slip-sliding all over the place.  Just like tires on a car, no matter how good the machinery is upstairs, if you cannot translate the reactionary forces into the ground, you're SOL.

</rant>

Now onto a place I have wanted to visit for several years now, Moraine Lake or Valley of the Ten Peaks. 

You've all seen the jump shot, but here is a normal selfie standing in the 40-degree lakewater.

And for those familiar with the area, no we did not stop in Jasper, Sorry.  Afterwards we began the real drive.  It was still over 2000 miles of 2-lane, some gravel, from that point.  We didn't really stop anywhere along the way except for gas, food, and lodging.  It was mostly boring road.  There were some animals, a signpost forest, and lots of bugs in the grille.

Canada is wonderful.  We crossed back into the states with plans for a few parks.  No spoilers! (Aside from whatever pictures make it onto instagram...darn Stacy)  We're currently chilling at a Hostel in Seward, about to catch a train to catch a plane.  Talk to you soon!

-K