Johnston Canyon, Secret Cave, Ink Pots February 10, 2020

Johnston Canyon & The Ink Pots is one of those iconic Banff National Parks hikes that one should not miss if coming to Banff to visit.  I have been numerous times mostly during the winter months and on weekdays.  Today was the perfect day to invest many hours savouring every sight, there is so much to see.  In addition to seeing the stretch along the cat walk, the Lower Falls, the Upper Falls and the Ink Pots, we also aimed to find the "Secret Cave" as it is not off limits at this time of year.  

It was nice to see less than ten vehicles in the parking lot when we arrived as my hope was for no hoards.  It felt frigid gearing up which meant donning the heaviest of my heavys.  We entered under the arch, crossed the bridge, hung a right then carried on our way towards the cat walk and canyon walls.  It flurried yesterday on top of all the snow that was already there and the new flurries just made the scenery that much whiter and brighter.  I have never seen so much snow here as there was today!

view down to the Lower Falls catwalk & cave

We had an idea where the "Secret Cave" was located and as we hiked along the trail between the Lower Falls and the Upper Falls we watched for a beaten path in the snow downhill on the right.  Well there were many as we went along and I tried a few.  The turnoff is very close to the Upper Falls and we eventually found it and scurried our way down to it.  I have seen summer photos from a few years back where the falls are not frozen, we were afforded them in the frozen state.

The frozen falls are there on the left.  We then went up into the cave where the black swift nest to have a view out towards the falls and the big boulder.  This is a view from inside the cave with the opening of the cave creating a frame.  This area is off limits from spring until mid November.

To put things into perspective, that's Happy Hiker standing at the base of the big boulder. 

It was time to carry on to the Upper Falls.  

This time there was some blue ice.

We went down to end of the cat walk where it over hangs the creek with hopes of seeing some ice climbers.  They were there but they were just gearing up to start going up.  We stayed a few minutes then decided it was time to hit the trail to the Ink Pots.  As we followed the cat walk back up, I noticed a beaten path down to the creek, I went for it.  This is a view from down there.  You can see people standing on the cat walk overhang middle to bottom left in the photo.  That's where we just were.  

view up the canyon

We stopped at the intersection of the Ink Pots & Moose Meadows trails for a fuel fix. 

This was our view here.  It was warm and sparkly! 

Happy Hiker sees things in the wintry forest just like me.

Here she saw an igloo designed by Mother Nature!

view as we hiked along the hard packed Ink Pots trail

Then we arrived!  The view was breathtaking in all directions at the Ink Pots.  

We shared the area with three others for a few minutes then they went on their way.  

We agreed to meander about taking photos for a bit then settle down to dine.  

a winter-wonderland

so much snow, be careful where you walk

lots of snow crystals & snow pillows

We arrived where we would dine then bundled up against the cold wind before settling down.  Lunch is always more delicious when you are smack in the middle of paradise.  The meadow to our side was calling us to make a mess and a mess we made.  Happy Hiker was first to get in the middle of it while I set up the tripod.  Yes be careful where you walk, she sunk to her thighs in the snow.

We both got lift off, yet very slightly so!

I performed "the point of no return" fall!

Happy Hiker showing her happy pose!

We used enough energy from making a mess in the meadow.  We saved the rest to meander around again before beginning the ascent out of here.  A couple of the Pots were snow covered but this one was still wide open.  Views like this make this place!  Winter is my favourite season at The Ink Pots. 

We arrived back up top and then it was flat and down hill from here on in.  I still needed more of that feeling of being one with all the snow.  Watch where you walk, after sinking to my thigh here I maneuvered around to stand a bit higher.  Like I said before, there is so much snow here.

back at the Ink Pots & Moose Meadows trails intersection

When we reached the Upper Falls the climbers were on their way down.  

a close up of the climber from the above photo

We passed by going back down to the cat walk overhang at the Upper Falls and we passed by the Lower Falls too.  The light was getting lower and lightened up the tree tops while doing so.  We carried on along the cat walk still taking time to admire the views then made our way back to the parking lot. We still had dinner to do, so geared down, hopped in the car and carried on with our day.

Our stars aligned for us today!  

It felt like we found a little piece of paradise!

PLPP Trails X-C Ski February 6, 2020

The perfect place to feel the love today was Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.  I looked forward to gliding along X-C Ski tracks that were new to me.  Once again we would be spoiled with one of those one-wayers starting from Elk Pass and finishing at the Discovery Centre.  In between we would ski on sections of Boulton Creek, Moraine and Wheeler with short sections of other tracks included.  The more I ski the more I enjoy it, I am doing better at maintaining momentum, my confidence level is improving and this comes from being "out & about" with supportive friends.  We did experience a comedy of errors that would have been ideal footage for America's Funniest Home Videos but it was not a priority to capture it but rather gather ourselves and make sure everyone was O.K.!

The weather was perfect as were the views.

We were a group of ten and it was only us that we each saw for the entire stretch of our ski except for  two or three minutes as we neared the end when we saw a few others through the trees. We had a sky that looked like this all day.  Some sections had been groomed and track set last night.  What more could we ask for?

Views like this had me stopping in my tracks to secure physical memories.

Gliding in perfect tracks over rolling hills was such a delight.  

We took a break here to savour the scenery and to secure some solo shots. 

We continued along the trail to the picnic bench to dine.  Lunch was just long enough to refuel, snap a few shots and carry on some conversation on how to solve some world problems. We had success with the refueling and snapping shots but that's it!

For the next section we spaced ourselves apart to allow for what was to come.  We were aware to a degree of the degree of challenge ahead, but for some of us that degree of challenge came as a surprise.  We were successful with the steep down hill and the very sharp blind quick turn right but then wam bam!  Immediately we had a short steep uphill and here we had a five person pile up, yes a pile up on a short steep uphill.  Five people down, five people trying to stand up on a steep uphill!  I yelled out to warn the others still to come, not to come, that everyone was down!  Thankfully we were all O.K. and afterwards chuckled about it as it did look like a comedy of errors!

All upright and back gliding again, we continued on Wheeler.  

We were aware of the Ski For Light event taking place and came about the signs notifying us so.  

From beginning to end the weather and the views were ideal!

It looks pretty perfect to me!

We arrived at the Discovery Centre, geared down then entered to where we could unload the layers, loosen the boot laces and sip & savour some snacks.  My choice along with a couple of friends was to just relax while the others enjoyed a short film in the theatre about wolves.

This was our view from the deck at the Discovery Centre.

Today's enjoyable outing is exactly what ignites the fire to get back out there again!   

Snagmore Loop & Tea Project February 4, 2020

I woke this morning with a desire to be "out & about" in a wintry white wonderland.  For a full meal deal experience like that it would mean a longer drive west which I was not in want off.   A little bit of homework later and I realized there was potential to find this west of Bragg Creek along the Snagmore Loop.  I went for it and found it!   There was no one at the parking lot but it was obvious others had been yesterday.

The trees were laden with yesterday's new snow!

I passed by the Sugar Momma turn off.

This is where I hang a right.  The climb was gradual and I was happy there was a climb, I needed it to keep me warm.  The morning was frigid and I was donned in loads of layers with my warmest mittens and hat.  The sun was shining through the trees and it created a pretty sight.

a snow cap

This is what I had a desire to be amongst!

Lots of the trail was in the trees with no views other than this.  

While I usually want views, I truly enjoyed this forest experience.  

It was peaceful and quiet, pure and perfect.  

I reached an opening with a log bench and a view.  This was the view far below along the Elbow River.  There was one vehicle down there and a fellow walking about.  I checked out the view for quite some time trying to figure out where was this and what was it?

an overall view 

I'm still on Snagmore, the diamond tells me so!

I could not resist being out in the snow when presented with this wide open meadow.

Just so happy to be high even if just a little high.

I reached a junction and checked the map to see where I should go next.  Then I could hear the groomers, there were two of them.  I realized the way I needed to go back to complete the loop was on the Elbow Trail which is only for X-C Skiing at this time of year.  I went for it following where the groomers were going but I stuck to the far side.

The groomers work.

I completed the loop and came back out to the last section of the trail that would lead me back to my car.  It was so pretty, the snow was still on the trees, there was blue in the sky and it had warmed up somewhat.  I lingered along here.

It was snack time when I arrived back at my car so drove across the 66 to savour my tea and snacks at  a picnic table at Allen Bill.  While sitting here enjoying the view, I thought about the load of fire wood in my basement ready for use.  To Do...have a winter fire at Bill Allen!

With a couple of spare hours late afternoon to fill, I worked on my latest project.  

It is finally beginning to look like the real thing.