Around the World with Hardy(T)Around the World with Hardy(T)...continued from Rockies (1)
Heading down from Jasper to Banff, I stumbled across Canada’s biggest and best ski resort – Lake Louise – and I didn’t even know it was there!
The hostel at Lake Louise is fantastic, better than a lot of hotels I’ve stayed in and only $22.50 a night.
I skied on Sunday, perfect sunny day and lots of fantastic spring snow. And what excellent views from the top of the mountain. Unfortunately, this combination of great skiing conditions probably pushed me slightly beyond my capabilities and, on what was going to be my last run of the day anyway, I managed to hit a bump and go spectacularly head over heels for several hundred yards. Luckily the crack I heard was the ski bindings, not my leg, but I still had to depart Lake Louise on the ski stretcher, which was probably more terrifying than the accident itself.
Rather than limp around Lake Louise, I decided to get the bus down to Banff, and check in at the less than luxurious YWCA! When in Banff, I would recommend a visit to the Norman Luxton Museum of the Plains Indians. Fascinating sepia photos of marvellously named old women such as Mrs Big Belly and Mrs Man Who Smokes Pipe and great teepee building demonstration.
Meanwhile, the leg is getting more and more uncomfortable and by 3.30am I have checked into Banff hospital. Apparently my accident has triggered a particularly bad spot of gout in both ankles, no wonder I’m in pain. Luckily, however, nothing broken, and the nice nurse lets me stay in the hospital for a day rather than return to the somewhat seedy YWCA which, somewhat eerily, reminds me of the lunatic ward in the book I’m currently reading – “Girl Interrupted” by Susanna Keysen.
On crutches for the next day or so - but that doesn’t stop me getting the gondola up Sulfur Mountain – excellent views of Banff and the Bow Valley – before getting the Greyhound bus up to Calgary...