the amazing grace

Charis and I were so excited to hike up to the Lake Agnes Tea House!  The initial hike up is a solid hour of climbing steep switchbacks with no relief!  The reward at the top was worth it.  The most darling European Style Tea House whose supplies are either flown in twice per year or packed in by hikers.  We met a couple there who are from Western Springs, IL and they took this picture of us.  We were actually quite cold despite the tea.  We had sweat so much on the way up that when we stopped moving it was freezing.  The tea biscuits and Summit Bar helped!  While we were there a helicopter landed right next to us.  The chopper was picking up full out house barrels.  We both wondered if they have ever dropped one on the way out?!

After the Lake Agnes Tea House, we hiked the trail up to the Big Beehive.  The views from there were stunning.  We ended up hiking about 3 1/2 hours, looping back around and down to the shore of Lake Louise where we ate lunch.  This was one of the views from just below the Big Beehive.

Lake Louise is actually turquoise, all the more from higher up . Minerals in the glacial runoff cause the lake to have this unreal and ridiculously beautiful color!

Check out the turquoise on this tree bark at our campsite!  I’m guessing the minerals from the glacial runoff that make the lakes this color also make the lichen have turquoise aspects too.  I love this color!