02.-05.07.2007: Waterton NP - Cardston - Fort MacLeod It only took 45 minutes to get through the formalities at the border and then we drove to Waterton National Park which is the Canadian side of Glacier. Actually, the two parks were the first to be designated as an International Park. After picking up info at the visitor centre we drove along Red Rock Canyon and went for a short walk to Blakiston Falls and into the canyon. Driving back we saw a mother brown bear with her black bear cub. We drove into Waterton townsite (part of the National Park) and a car coming the opposite way was driving too fast and nearly hit deer crossing the road. We wandered around the streets of the town and saw three small fauns and their mother. The little ones still had their spots and it was really sweet to watch them bounce off all four feet. One of them got so close to us that the video couldn't focus properly! The next day we did one of the best hikes we have ever been on. We drove to Cameron Lake and walked along the Carthew-Alderson trail. You can do this walk as a long day hike by parking in Waterton, getting a bus shuttle to the trailhead and walking the 19 miles back to Waterton. We decided to go up to the summit and down to the lakes and then return the same way. This was 12 miles and 2,300 ft elevation gain. We walked up the switchbacks to Summit Lake which we thought would be at the summit where you get 360° views. But Summit Lake is a misnomer because the actual summit is another hour uphill across scree slopes and barren mountain sides. We weren't the only ones who thought Summit Lake was at the summit. We met a family from Germany, grandparents, parents and a child, who had hoped to get to see the views at the lake and then had to turn around because it was too far for them to get to the top. The effort to get to the top was definitely worth it. The views were superb and we saw some wonderful lakes that are actually across the border in America. Nooney Lake is a turquoise green colour and Lake Wurdeman is a wonderful deep blue lake in a caldera, surrounded on three sides by steep mountain slopes. When we got to the top it was extremely windy and we nearly got blown over several times. We dropped down to Carthew Lake to take some photos and then went back up to the summit and along the top to a rocky outcrop. Our superb hike was topped off when we saw a Grizzly mother and her cub on the drive back. The cub was standing on its hind legs to get a better look at us before they both disappeared into the trees. Unfortunately they disappeared too quickly for us to take photos! In Waterton we went for a free shower at the campground and then got a take away Pizza for dinner. A tasty end to a very good day. The next day we did a steep 8 mile hike up to Bertha Lake. We met several people who kept telling us about a Grizzly mother and cubs coming towards the path near the lake, but by the time we got up there, they were nowhere in sight. Winnie was like an oven when we got back because it was so hot and Helen burned her fingers on the car park bin when she put an empty drink can in there that someone had thrown on the path! We went for another free shower and then bought a large carton of ice cream to cool us down! We went to the Prince of Wales Hotel which is featured in all of the photos for Waterton National Park. It certainly stands out on a grassy promontory overlooking the lake. It was named after King Edward VIII when he was still Prince of Wales and before any one knew that he would later abdicate the throne to marry Wallace Simpson. There was typical English fare on the menu and the waiters and waitresses were dressed in Scottish kilts. We drove out of the Park just after 7pm and went to Cardston to have a look at the Mormon Temple there. The visitor centre had a folder with photos of all of the Temples around the world. On Thursday we went to see the "Musical Ride" at Fort Macleod to see the Mounties performing horse manoeuvres to music.