We started out the day by kayaking around Two Jack Lake. It was good we got there early because we had no idea that tour buses stopped there. Just as we were getting ready to push off, a bus pulled up and Iris became the star attraction. She did look pretty cute in her red life jacket, and the tourists thought it was great that she kayaked with us.
After a peaceful and quiet time on the lake, we decided to try to find the local rock climbing that Mike read about. A quick trip to the Visitor’s Center and an outdoor store were not helpful. We decided to go to Plan B and drive the Bow River Parkway to Lake Louise. There was supposed to be hiking around the lake and some climbing too. The drive was pretty and uneventful. Lake Louise on the other hand, was not peaceful. It was packed with people. There were so many, it looked like people were waiting in line for a Disneyland ride. We found a parking spot easy by parking in the mud on the side of the road and using the 4 wheel drive. The lake and especially the surrounding mountains were breathtaking. In the 10 minutes that we stayed, we decided that Lake Louise on a Saturday afternoon was not a great idea but we are glad we saw it.
We drove back on the main highway, and Mike suggested we take the Sunshine exit. He didn’t tell me at the time but there was a climbing place called Sunshine. We randomly found it. It was a small limestone crag with virtually no hike required to get to the climbing. After scouting the rock, Mike started on a 5.9 warmup and moved on to an 11.a/b. The 11 was an overhung juggy route that Mike nearly on-sited and got on the second try. It’s a good thing he brought his climbing gear at the last minute. Another long and wonderful day!