We are going on our boat cruise of the Upper Waterton Lake today. We checked the forecast before booking and it was suppose to be another day of beautiful sunny skies...but when I opened up the blinds this morning, there were clouds and wind...figures! Maybe it will clear up by the time head off...there was still a few hours before the trip.
We headed off at about 9:15...taking a leisurely walk through town to the marina. Unfortunately, the weather had not improved...it was cloudy, windy and some occasional rain but at least it wasn’t cold. Steve took some pictures along the way...this is the building that the RCMP is housed in...pretty nice...
This is the Prince of Wales Hotel (you’re likely going to see quite a few pictures of this intriguing building)...
This is the marina...and the boat we will be taking...The MV International...
...and a close-up of the boat...
We were early so we sauntered through the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Pavilion. Waterton Lakes National Park (http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/index.aspx) borders with Glacier National Park in Montana...
A close-up of the hotel...
It was about 9:40 when two tour buses arrived...the larger bus was a tour group from Minnesota. It looks like it is going to be a full boat this morning. The boat doesn’t look all that big but it holds 200 people on 2 decks. Shortly before 10am a rep from the Waterton Shoreline Cruise Company greeted everyone over the loudspeaker. He told us about the seating arrangements on the boat (lower deck—inside and upper deck—outside) and advised that there would be no washroom facilities for about an hour until we reached Goat Haunt, Montana at the end of the lake. That caused a flurry of activity at the washroom here...me included...nothing like the threat of no facilities to make you have to go all of a sudden!!
Now it was time to board...we chose the upper deck, of course! And we‘re off....
The border between Canada and the US is marked by a straight-line clearing on the mountains...
A look back towards the town...
Sawtooth Mountain...
Sawtooth Mountain...
The only wildlife we saw on our whole trip...this eagle perched in a tree...
During the one-hour trip to the end of the lake, a fellow was telling us all about the area. He said that this area is one of the most consistently windiest areas of Canada with sustained winds of up to 30 mph and occasional gusts up to 100 mph. When the Prince of Whales Hotel was being built a storm had blown it off of its foundation and had to be pulled back with teams of horses.
We arrived at Goat Haunt, Montana where we would be allowed to leave the boat for about 20 minutes without having to go through Customs. Only those staying and planning on hiking the trails would have to go through the Border Patrol check. Here is a picture of the Rangers Station as we approached the dock just across the bay...
This is where we docked and disembarked. There is an Interpretive Centre and washrooms here. We could also walk the path along the shore to the Rangers Station...
This is where we docked and disembarked. There is an Interpretive Centre and washrooms here. We could also walk the path along the shore to the Rangers Station...
We went for the short walk to the Rangers Station...
Ten minutes before the boat was going to leave, it sounded its horn...that was the warning signal for everyone to re-board for the trip back. Once we left the dock, Steve went down and stood on the bow for better picture taking...I stayed put in my seat...
This is where the 84 year old ship is stored during the winter...
Beautiful scenery...just too bad that we didn't have the clear blue sky and sunshine that we had hoped for...
This is a picture of a unique rock formation...apparently National Geographic has been here to photograph it...see the “V” and the “A” formations...the mountains have been created by layers of compressed mud into rock from an ancient sea. When the mountains were forming many of the rock layers actually bent without breaking. The mountains here are similar to the ones in Fernie in that they are upside down...oldest on the top and youngest on the bottom. That’s very hard to fathom.
This is where the 84 year old ship is stored during the winter...
This is a picture of a unique rock formation...apparently National Geographic has been here to photograph it...see the “V” and the “A” formations...the mountains have been created by layers of compressed mud into rock from an ancient sea. When the mountains were forming many of the rock layers actually bent without breaking. The mountains here are similar to the ones in Fernie in that they are upside down...oldest on the top and youngest on the bottom. That’s very hard to fathom.
Here is the campground we are staying at...
Approaching the marina...
The Commentator thanking us all for taking their cruise...as we approach the dock...
...and there’s that hotel again...
Getting ready to dock...
It was shortly before 12:30 when we disembarked from The International. It has been an interesting and fun trip...too bad the weather couldn’t have been nicer, though...
After stopping to pick up some milk, we headed home for some lunch. Pretty darn picturesque with the mountain backdrop...
We relaxed for a bit inside...avoiding the wind outside...and then thought we would get out for a walk. We took the path towards Cameron Falls which is just on the other side of the campground. Actually the river runs through the campground dividing it into two sections.
We relaxed for a bit inside...avoiding the wind outside...and then thought we would get out for a walk. We took the path towards Cameron Falls which is just on the other side of the campground. Actually the river runs through the campground dividing it into two sections.
We hiked up one side of the Falls for a better look...
Steve let me use his camera :)...
And then over to the other side...which was actually a trail that led to some major backcountry hiking...we only went up (and I mean “UP”) until we were just above the falls and then decided to turn around. We met a couple of girls that had hiked all the way from Cameron Lake...almost 20 kms! They had started at about 9am...and it was now after 3pm...now...that’s a hike! 
We have been intrigued with these birds that are in the campground...not sure what they are (guess I'll have to do some research). They look a bit like a Magpie but have some deep blue on them...
Back home, Steve replied to an email from Jim...planning their elk hunting trip. I had also booked my flights home earlier this afternoon. I will be flying to Victoria on September 25th for a couple of weeks. I’ll visit with the family and catch up with friends...and also go over to Vancouver for a few days to see Chris and have a “girl’s getaway” with some very special people.
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