Facing Powder On Powderface

It's spring-time! Time to get out and play in the sunshine!  Time to leave the snowshoes at home!  Time to hike!  It's about time we learned the lesson that spring-time in March is still winter-time!  By passing through this gate, we would be opening ourselves up to what would be yet another adventurous day in the playground.  We all took on the challenge and passed through!

Quite quickly, we were rewarded for taking on the challenge.  

I couldn't get enough of this view.

A few of us took turns breaking trail through the powder along Powderface Creek Trail.  The further we went, the deeper the powder.  We already knew we would be in for a pleasant summit visit after noticing the tree-tops were keeping their snow for lack of wind.

The trail was long!

The forest was wide!

The snow was so deep!  I followed behind two trail breakers who were crawling on top of the snow and I soon realized I would have to do the same.  After crying like a baby in this hip deep snow, I gave in and crawled like a baby.  Distributing the weight helped a great deal and we made it across the snow and up to the summit....

....to where I was so happy!

After our summit shots, we settled down by the boulders to dine and enjoy the view.  There was less snow on our summit spot and it was easy to find our way around and to get around.  Seeing all this from Three Trails Pass, made the hard work along the trail worthwhile.  

Nihahi Ridge

Banded Peak

Prairie Mountain

Our summit visit was way too short.  It had taken an unexpected four hours to get there.   I will be back one day when we can disperse the time where less of it will be on the trail up and more of it can be spent visiting on top.  The descending was fun and swift.  

On the way down, we had closer views of Prairie Mountain.  My other friends were conquering it today and I zoomed in to 35xzoom every now and then to see if I could see them but this was all I could see.  I'm sure they were flying coming down Prairie's powder but not in this mode of transportation.

Today was one of those days when it felt extra special for the soul!  With otherwise life's happenings Monday to Friday, this Saturday filled with lots of laughs with friends was true enjoyment!  Thank you for that!

Feels so good to feel like I am "on top of the world!"

HAPPY ! HAPPY !

Happy to announce "hibernating" won!

Hibernating is what I call the above photo!  It won me 1st Place in the Waterton Winterfest Photo Contest which was held over the Family Day Long Weekend in February.  For that, I receive an Annual Parks Canada Pass, a night at the Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort in a deluxe room and dinner for two at Vimy's Lounge and Grill.

A big thank you to Parks Canada and to Waymarker Hospitality!

Luck of the Irish

While none of us hiking today are Irish, we still had the Irish luck on our side!

Having spring fever and summit fever, I had the feeling which comes with that and that was to get high!  We picked Junction Hill as our destination with an objective of completing a loop in a counter-clockwise direction.  With map in pocket, track on GPS, distant memories of a prior trek, we hit the hill.  Hopes and expectations were for little snow, lots of brown, and a tiny bit of green.  Out of those three we only got the tiny bit of green which can be seen in the above shot.

On our ascent, the views were dull and erie.

We followed our planned route along the outer edges where we could see the trail head below. Yet at times we hugged the trees for safer travel due to deep snow, snow covered rock piles and cornices.  

I didn't have to pick the B&W feature on my camera, it happened automatically.

It took three and a half hours to reach the true summit.  Thigh deep snow at times delayed our progress.  We were lucky to have a warm temperature and no wind for our quick lunch break.    But before lunch, I wanted my summit shot.  I was so happy to be high, I felt like I wanted to do the Irish Jig!

After fueling, it was time to head down and carry on with the loop.  Not only did we head down physically but we headed down in other ways also.  I like to believe everything happens for a reason and I try to take away positive aspects then learn and grow from that.  I learned lots today and feel bigger because of it.

We all choose to abandon completing the loop for one reason or another.  A few of us decided it would be best to ascend back up to intersect our original ascent route then follow our beaten path back to the trail head.  When we reached the intersection, it was a relief. The sky opened up and it was almost like a reward for the hard work we just accomplished.  How lucky were we to now have wide open views where we could see forever.  It all began with the mountain tip peaking out above the clouds.

We still had a long way to go.

We needed to refuel again. 

We stopped for a short period to do that and to enjoy the well deserved view.  

Having added a couple of hundred more meters of elevation on our second ascent, I felt like I reached a summit again, so here is a second summit shot.  Now being able to see everything around us, I decided at this point that I want to come back one day and complete the Junction Hill loop.

We had one last portion of wide open space to hike through before hitting the forest for the final leg of the ascent.   Then we would be heading home down that road to the left.  I followed my friends and was wondering what they might be thinking about.

After seven and a half hours, we all met up at the trail head.   I'm glad everyone made it back safely.  It felt good to change into other clothes, sit down on the vehicle seat, have more food, and pop some Vitamin I.  I'm thankful to have had the Irish on our side today!

I Declare a Snow Event!

The term "snow event" has become a contentious issue in Calgary.  When the city declares one, it makes the news, then the hard work commences with the plowers plowing through all the newly accumulated snow, as the local folks express feelings of differ then groan & moan.  While the population is happy the way is cleared, they are not happy about the whole process.  Well, a "snow event" can be a positive thing worth all the hard work and we proved it today!

I DECLARE A SNOW EVENT 

Our plan of attack today was to complete a loop which would have us snowshoeing along the Shark Lake Trails, dropping by Watridge Lake, crossing over into Banff National Park for a visit, following the Spray River towards Spray Lake Reservoir then finding our way through the forest to connect up with the X-C Ski Trails again.  These trails were not plowed, nor groomed, neither cleared and not even track set.  That meant we were first on the trail and that's how I like it.  

We reached Watridge Lake and broke trail along side to the back side.  

The further to the back, the deeper the snow got where at times it was thigh deep. 

Our view as we took a short break. 

Carrying on with our snow event, we reached the bridge where the gorgeous views began.  

This area looked different today then when I was here just over three years ago on January 31, 2009.  I was expecting the river to be frozen and to be able to walk on top of it.  This time we hugged the side as much as possible staying away from the open water-way.

The view towards the Spray Lake Reservoir.

We were pretty much surrounded by beauty.

View to my left.

I kept looking back!

Directly in front!

Our dining spot had trees at our back and a wide open space in front.  We took the time to "breathe" which means much more then just breathing, then fueled up for what was to become hard work ahead plowing through the newly accumulated snow.  We reviewed our attack plan then carried on with this snow event.

The snow depth increased the further along we went, it was weak in spots and at those moments this stuff earned the name sh**, I moaned, some groaned, feelings of differ were expressed, not unlike the local folks back in the city during that kind of snow event.  At times we became thigh deep plowing through this sh** and even waist deep.  In my opinion, all the hard work dealing with this sh** was well worth it when you are afforded views like this.

We neared the last of the wide open space and it was time to begin the end of the loop.  

I looked back to get one last look before forging into the forest.  

After a short period bushwhacking through the forest uphill, we completed the loop as we joined up with the X-C Ski Trail.  Now we just had some up hills along the Trail before landing back at the trail head.  I was feeling thankful to have completed the plan of attack.  I loved everything about this snow event, so much so, that I needed to express the love!

So glad I got to share a snow event with all of you!

That Explains Everything!

I now know why I finished yesterday's snowshoe trek with a blister and a discombobulated hip!  I blamed my pain on age, not having done a big distance for quite some time, heavy snow/ice balling up at the bottom of my snowshoe and a poor fitting boot.  I popped two pills at lunch time to numb the pain, I continuously banged my snowshoe thinking that would get rid of the snow build up.  What looked like a purposely incorporated limp then really wasn't, I was unknowningly snowshoeing lop-sided!  I didn't realize what happened to my snowshoe until I got home last evening.  The duct tape fix has been in place for awhile.

January 23, 2005 was my first true experience snowshoeing (other then a try out on Nose Hill the week before when I bought these).   I got hooked on that 23rd day of 2005 when I snowshoed to Chester Lake.  It was also the very first time I ever saw an avalanche.   This pair of Atlas snowshoes have taken me to places I never knew existed or places I never ever thought I could reach or visit.  They have opened up a whole new world to me and have given me wonderful memories!  While I won't be wearing them ever again, I'm still not ready to part with them.

Now I have a pair of MSR Lightning Axis to take me where I want to go!

Fun Fit Foxy Friends

It has been far, far too long since I spent a day adventuring in a playground with these fun friends.  Actually they are my fun, fit friends.  Well, truth be known they are my fun, fit, foxy friends!  Options were put out there on what to do and where to do it.  We settled on making it a snowshoeing day along trails that would lead us to Elk Pass and eventually Fox Lake which is in British Columbia.

With each of us having other life's happenings going on, we were content for our attack to be on the easier side with a planned roughly 11km in distance and approximately 250 meters or so in total elevation.  (I questioned that 250 meters in elevation right from the start.)  On this note it was nice to see "easy" signs along the way.

Not long after play time started, an "easy" day was being doubted!  We had an oops along the way (I take credit for the oops), more elevation already then expected plus wind gusts, white outs and snow swirls to contend with.

We made it to the Kiosk with the trail sign pointing us to Fox Lake.

The trail sign on March 3, 2012.

The trail sign on November 18, 2011.

Note:  Come spring/summer the white bag attached to my pack may appear in this general area.  

It is my blue Mountain Hardwear Hunker Down jacket.

We made it to British Columbia!  Here we are in B.C. looking back at our home province of Alberta.  By the way the urban dictionary definition states "Foxy" as meaning sexy, cool, beautiful and awesome!

foxy

We reached Fox Lake and found a sheltered spot with a view for lunch.  

We fueled up and not long thereafter began to burn it off already.

fit

I'm in the middle of Fox Lake with Frozen Lake in the bowl above me & below Mount Fox.

We had our path to follow back so no more breaking trail through the deep snow.  Not only do we live up to the urban dictionary definition of foxy, on top of that, our scientific side came out and we agreed upon our descent route -  "the straight line is the shortest distance between two points. "  Of course Short Stop incorporates the fun with the scientific, always smiling no matter what!

fun

Eyeing the last stretch before us, I knew what I wanted!  I didn't want to play any more! I just want my snowshoes off and to be sitting in the vehicle heading home.  Yes, great minds and great friends do think alike!

friends

As you can see from the profile below, our supposedly to be easy day was more than that.  Even though, I truly enjoyed everything about our outting and I am already looking forward to sharing another adventure with you!  Thank you for joining in and making me feel like I was "on top of the world" today!