A Stay at the Chateau Lake Louise

This year our Valentine's Day gift to each other was a ski trip to Lake Louise and a stay at the Chateau Lake Louise.  What a grand setting and beautiful hotel!  The International Ice Carving Festival was in full swing when we arrived.  Twenty-four teams of international ice carvers had 34 hours to sculpt towering works of art from huge blocks of solid ice weighing 300 lbs!  The theme was "carve a song."  They sculpted while we skied!  

Both days that we skied were warm and sunny.  We were able to ski above the tree line, which was a bit windy and colder than further down the hill.  It was kind of scary riding up a new chair and not knowing what to expect when we got off .  We made it down fine, but it felt quite daunting on several runs.  No broken bones to report, just some VERY sore muscles.   

Skiing above the tree line.

A group of snow boarders getting ready to rip down the mountain

Bomber Jim

You don't get any higher than this without an illegal substance

Two old fogeys

Jim in front of an ice sculpture on the ski hill

Yours truly

First Place: "Run Through the Jungle"

Second Place - "I'm Your Puppet"

Third Place:  "Sound of an Angel"