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Dazzled by the Lake Louise Ice Sculptures
A few weeks ago Lake Louise played host to the Ice Magic Festival – a 10 day event where you can watch ice sculptures unfold before your eyes.
Last year I had planned to attend but it was so busy by mid-afternoon on a Sunday that you had to take a shuttle from Lake Louise Village; I wasn’t interested in dealing with the crowds and gave it a pass. But this year I was staying overnight at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – so I had a chance to photograph the ice sculptures at night and first thing in the morning when the sun hit them.
Although the ice carvers stick around only for the Ice Magic Festival, their work remains until Mother Nature decides to warm things up. By Sunday last weekend some were already a little worse for wear after an unseasonably warm spell.
The Sound of an Angel ice sculpture
On my recent trip to Saskatoon I had a chance to speak with one of the ice carvers – Kee Gawah – who is responsible for the harp in the photo below. Interestingly most ice carvers come from a culinary background and Kee was no exception. He’d been a pastry chef in Sweden and was looking to make his work more interesting. A stint with some of the best carvers in Japan has changed the direction of his life and now he’s on the international ice carving circuit. (Who knew there was such a thing??)
Ice Harp carved by Kee Gawah
An icy clown
The clown at night
I’m Your Puppet – by day
I’m Your Puppet – by night
Notice the fish detail under the ice
Skeletons made of ice
An icy skeleton looks scary at night
If you want to photograph ice sculptures it’s especially important to be around when the sun makes them sparkle – and in Lake Louise that means first thing in the morning. They’re still beautiful in the afternoon but they won’t dazzle you in the same way.
Which of the ice sculptures from the Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival is your favourite?
For more travel inspiration check out the photos of other travel bloggers on Nancie’s Budget Travelers Sandbox website.
Leigh McAdam
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About Hike Bike TravelAvid world traveler. Craves adventure - & the odd wildly epic day. Gardener. Reader. Wine lover. Next big project - a book on 100 Canadian outdoor adventures.
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39 Responses to Dazzled by the Lake Louise Ice Sculptures
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About
I’ve been all over the world – to all continents but Antarctica and to a grand total of 53 countries. I’ve always got some sort of an adventure planned – even if it’s only a weekend. I thrive on change and travel provides that.
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The horse on the ice with the fish underneath is my favorite, though they are all so impressive it was hard to choose! And so interesting that many ice sculptures come from culinary backgrounds.
Jennifer recently posted..The Colorful Underwater World of the Maldives
@Jennifer I was very impressed with the detail of that one – and it is one that looks better when you’re standing right beside it.
The ice harp is my favorite – but they are all beautiful. What a magnificent setting for the Ice Magic Festival on a frozen Lake Louise with the glacier in sight. Thank you for describing it so well – yet another reason to visit Banff National Park during winter, and to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Roberta Loufek recently posted..Smashing Saturdays #20
@Roberta There are many sculptures I didn’t include because my shots didn’t turn out; it’s very hard to choose a favourite.
These are all great! I love how you photographed them both during the day and night. Ice sculpture carving demonstrations are pretty big on cruise ships and done by the same people who do the fruit and vegetable carvings. My favorite is the Sound of an Angel but they’re all beautiful. What a wonderful place to have this festival.
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted..Exploring the Manitou Cliff Dwellings
I love this festival! I’m so unartistic that I’m amazed at what the artists can do with a big chunk of ice and the setting of Lake Louise is such a beautiful backdrop.
Laurel recently posted..The World’s 10 Most Romantic Hotels
I’ve been waiting to see this post ever since you put a photo on FB! These sculptures are incredible. what an amazing spectacle they must have been. I love the detail in the one with the fish in the ice but the skeleton at night is also very clever. Great photos Leigh!
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..The Children of Jordan’s Al-Amir Village.
The harp, most definitely. I’ve wanted to visit the ice sculpture festival in Harbin, but this looks really nice, too. Can’t help but think, though – how sad to create something so beautiful knowing how short its life will be…
Sophie recently posted..A Garden with a View
Amazing sculptures, Leigh
The Sound of an Angel is my favorite.
Muza-chan recently posted..A Japanese Song per Day: Nightmare – Mimic
@Muza-chan Seems that everyone has a different favourite. I loved the detail in The Sound of an Angel.
Very beautiful sculptures. These remind me of those ice hotels I have seen in some places. Amazing what people can do with a little frozen H2O.
Traveling Ted recently posted..5 Lesser Known Asia adventures
@Ted I’m in awe of some of the carvings though I did get a chance to try when I was in Saskatoon. The tools are so sharp it is quite literally like cutting soft butter.
Props to the ice sculpturists! These are beautiful. I’d be too much of a wimp to ever spend enough time in the cold to make something considered to be “art”
EverywhereAmy recently posted..Photo Adventure : My Favorite Alaskan Harbors
@Amy The ideal temperature for ice carving is below zero but not more than five of six degrees so not so cold. And I agree – they are so beautiful- and all so different.
Wow! What artistry. . .the cruise ships should send their ice carvers here for inspiration!
Jackie Smith recently posted..Oh, the stories they could tell. . .
@Jackie Some cruise ship culinary types have probably jumped ship to take up a life of carving. It sounds like you need to head to Japan if you want to learn carving from some of the best.
I can’t pick the one I like the best! I am always amazed by the talent of artists. These are ice sculptures are beautiful.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..How Gutenberg Changed the World in Mainz
@Debbie I agree. It would have been fun to actually see them being carved too.
I love the fish detail under ice!
budget jan recently posted..Wwoofing Interview – A Ticket to Budget Travel
@Jan That’s a popular one and the detail in it is stunning.
Those are wonderful shots. There’s something about the skeleton with the violin, and little piles of snow on him that makes me want to know his story.
Kymri recently posted..The Nothingness of Namibia
@Kymri I was fascinated with the skeleton shots and marveled at the detail in it.
I’d love to visit an ice sculpture festival – it amazes me that the artists can carve such beautiful sculptures out of a block of ice! Impossible to choose a favourite – I love the Sound of an Angel and the Ice Harp and the fish under the ice is an incredible detail. Your photos are beautiful!
Lisa recently posted..This is My Canada
@Lisa I think your daughters would enjoy the visit too. Thanks for the compliment. I had my fair share of crappy photos too.
I have been wanting to go to a ice sculpture festive for quite some time now. I haven’t made it yet, but I enjoy your pictures of them. There is a definate talent to it and an artform. Thanks for letting me visit with you
.
Sere recently posted..Florida Everglades Gators and Egrets
@Sere Hope you make it to one. Some are even in the summer in air conditioned venues though the sculptures don’t last long.
These are wonderful. I love the harp.
Margaret recently posted..Messy desk, clean desk–an infinite loop
Thanks Margaret.
I had no idea that there was an international ice carving circuit. What a great occupation. These are all so beautiful. I pick the one with the fish swimming underneath. Quite amazing!
Nancie recently posted..Through the Sandbox Lens #51 — Chaing Mia Sunrise
@Nancie It was news to me that there was an international carving circuit – a different sort of job for sure. I would have loved to have seen your fave carved – wondering how it was possible.
These are absolutely stunning! I can only imagine the effort they must have put in creating these. I love the one showing fish. It’s unreal! Beautiful photos Leigh!
Salika Jay recently posted..Passport Safety Tips To Consider For Your Travels
I like the sound of an angle, but the craftmanship is generally admirable.
Italian Notes recently posted..Baked vegetable recipes: Fennel and tomato gratin
Spectacular! I only recently found out about this festival, when I researched a recent post, and it immediately went to the top of my ice festivals wish list.
I went to the Jerusalem, Israel one last year. It was the first time we had something like this in Israel, and it took place in an indoor space, because temperatures in Israel never get cold enough to sustain the sculptures outdoors. Heck, the sculptures almost started melting because so many people came inside. So the management started regulating the number of people who could go in at the same time. Fortunately, there’s another ice festival starting soon in Jerusalem. Would love to see it in the Rockies one day, too.
Ayelet – All Colores recently posted..Israel 2013: When a Highway Turns Into a Water Park
@Ayelet I can imagine you’d be racing the clock carving in Israel. That was definitely not an issue at Lake Louise.
These are certainly fancier than the carved ice heart I got for free at my wedding reception. I really like how all the details show up in your night shots. It must have been wonderful to be there when it was uncrowded. I can’t pick my favorite.
Michele @ Malaysian Meanders recently posted..Penang Cooking Schools
Outstanding photographs, Leigh. The Lake Louise Ice Festival is one of the most popular in Banff National Park. Thanks for sharing your words and images.
hikingwithbarry recently posted..Grotto Canyon Ice Walk – Bow Valley – Hiking Alberta
@Barry Thanks for the lovely compliment. It certainly helped that I was in Lake Louise just as the sun was coming up.
Leigh those photos are fantastic. There is some serious talent that goes into those ice sculptures. I love the the harp one – it looks so delicate.
Alouise recently posted..Visiting The Backstreet Cultural Museum in New Orleans
@Alouise I think the artistry of these individuals is very much in evidence. Hope you make it to Lake Louise one January.