West for Winter October 14, 2017

I declare "I am ready for winter" so I went west today looking for it.  I kicked off summer with heading to Iceland, a place I had never been and it was such a successful solo trip.  I had a wonderful summer of venturing to new heights at places that I have never been.  I shared trails with many old & new friends, more so than ever before.  I found a new love in kayaking a sport I tried for the first time in September.   I enjoyed three large larch hikes the most I have ever experienced in a row.  

Now I want winter!  

Do you?

At 2:30 am Saturday morning I realized I needed to save my Saturday.  All original plans finally fully fell by the way side and I was on my own.  I knew I wanted winter and I chased it down.  I landed at the Lake Louise parking lot in darkness along side only five other vehicles.   I geared up and joined the others.  We waited, then waited a little more.

then Lake Louise began to wipe the sleep from her eyes

then she stretched

then she came alive

and showed off her winter white

then added a touch of color to her day

While the others packed up and headed on their way elsewhere, I strolled along the lake shore.  

The scenery was incredible.  

My pace was a photographer's one.  

I was alone and thoroughly enjoyed the peace the quiet the scenery.

nearing the far end of Lake Louise

I knew I could go deeper into winter following the trail.  

a golden moment in my day

At the far end of the lake I noticed other fresh tracks in the snow that were heading the same way I was.  They came down off the slope onto the trail.  They did not belong to a bear but they were a significant size to not belong to a bunny, nor a weasel, nor a coyote.  Then I noticed there were two sets one bigger one smaller.  Then I did an about face and aimed back along the lake.

I arrived back to the parking lot in time for some lunch.  I savoured that then headed out again along the Fairview Trail and the Tramline to check out when the X-C Ski season may start.  Soon my friends, soon!

Before leaving The Village, I went for a stroll along the Bow River Trail.  

I thought about being up on Fairview (on the right) with my southern friends this summer.

I said good bye to Lake Louise and hit the highway east then south.  I drove into Kootenay National Park in British Columbia with intentions of going deeper south.  The weather here was not what I was expecting and the road conditions rattled me a bit.  I turned around and stopped in at The Continental Divide for a safe photo opportunity, the one and only from B.C. today.

Next it was on to Banff where I spent the next hour walking along the Bow River here and admiring the beauty and watching the runners race on the icy pathway.  The trees still had color and it felt autumn-like here.

I roamed around the Bow Falls area.  I watched a wedding from a vantage point on the other side of the river and after that walked along the paved golf course pathway.  The weather was incredible and the scenery too.

Once I invested time in touring Banff it was onto the 1 then onto the 1A.  I stopped off to capture the scary looking cloud, admired Yamnuska, and continued along the winding old highway.

 from scary cloud to friendly cloud

Nearing dinner time I was getting close to Ghost Lake.  I pulled in nd envisioned kayaking here next summer on a calm day.  It was wild and windy here right now.  I thought about waiting here for the sun to set but I was ready to settle too, settle onto my sofa with my blanket and drifting off to dreams of winter to come.

While it's still autumn in the city it is winter in the mountains.  

I know what I am ready for and what I want and it's time to chase after it.