We departed our hotel in Banff at 5 am to arrive at Lake Moraine in time for sunrise. Waiting in the bitter cold for the sun to kiss the mountain tops was totally worth it. A light snowfall last night had left the mountains and trees covered with a dusting that made the scene even more magical. What is not shown in this photo are the several hundred other people interested in capturing the exact same moment. I was able to use my tripod on top of a retaining wall to shoot over all the distractions.

By the time we left Lake Moraine, the parking lot at Lake Louise was completely full, so I used my drone to get an aerial view, including the famous Fairmont Chateau.

We decided to spend most of the remainder of the day in Yoho National Park, stopping at Takakkaw Falls and Natural Bridge.

By late afternoon, the light on the Icefields Parkway was not very flattering, so our drive there was mostly a scouting mission for tomorrow’s outing.