Standing at one of the most picturesque lakes I have ever seen, it's not difficult to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the lake and it's surroundings. Maybe it was because this place is one of the most Instagrammed locations in Canada (or North America or even the world) that it almost looked like a postcard or a picture. It looked so clean. Being on Instagram, I might have seen a photo or two prior to the trip ;)
It's called Peyto Lake and it's located between Banff and Jasper on the Icefields Parkway, an amazingly scenic route in west Canada. Right next to the road there's a parking lot and after a short walk you will find a platform which is pretty overcrowded if you visit the place at any moment between April and September. However - and that's the beauty with almost all popular places - if you decide to walk an extra mile you'll get to enjoy the magnificent scenery all by yourself. Sometimes this involves a challenging walk and maybe a climb or two but it's definitely worth it!
After arriving at the desired spot, the next thing you want to do is sit down. Don't take a photo right away, definitely leave your phone in your pocket for a while and just sit. Sit and enjoy the view and the feel of nature! Especially when living and working in a pretty crowded city - like myself - I very much enjoy and appreciate the calmness of the forest and the mountains. Sharing moments like these perhaps even makes them better...
You always need to carefully watch with whom you're sharing these moments...We came across some furry friends a few moments later. The elk on the first photo was probably more dangerous at that moment than the black bear just coming out of hibernation and only having eyes for the grass and berries. We spotted both animals in time, while they were still over 25 meters away and these photo's were taken with a telelens, but you should always be alert when walking in the woods in these parts.
Of course the lakes filled with the sediment from glaciers giving them their bright blue color are amazing, but don't underestimate the other lakes the country has to offer either. And Canada has lots of them. Here's a few examples of other lakes we stumbled upon while hiking through forests.
These photos also show how much difference the sky makes in a photo. While I think both photo's - more specifically both lakes - are impressive, the color of the sky and clouds really determine the atmosphere and ambiance of the scene. Not one is more beautiful than the other though.
When being out in the woods or the mountains - or out in any kind of nature really - make sure to relax, take in the surroundings and take your time to really feel and enjoy it! John Muir was right!
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”
― John Muir
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