July 30 – Aug 1: As we head north, the beauty only increases in size and splendor. Waterton National Park was hit by a devastating fire that pretty much burned the entire western side amounting to 60% of the park. Waterton was barely saved due to the heroic efforts made by many fire fighters with fire coming within 100 feet of the Prince of Whales Hotel and up to the edge of town.

Watertnon Lake

View up to Prince of Whales Hotel

View looking back down towards Waterton

Waterton from a boat ride

Waterton Lake

Best vintage boat we’ve had

Some of the fire damage visible to the left, but was much closer than shown here

Hiking the burn area outside of Waterton up to Bertha Waterfalls and Bertha Lake. Turned out to be much hotter on the return hike due to the lake of tree cover. One of the problems with many of the wildfires that are burning around Canada and the USA are the fact that they are super heated and sterilize the soil causing regrowth to be much more difficult. You can see much regrowth in many of the areas after less than a year, but much of the land is sterilized.

View of Waterton Lake from above

Hiking the burn area

Bertha Falls–yes is seems to cascade diagonally down the mountain

Scorced view

Sterilized land

Bertha Lake

Watching out for bears!