Which Zoo Should I Go To?

After my morning run, I debated which Zoo to go to!  CrossIron Mills Mall or Calgary Zoo?   

I picked the tame, pleasant, not so wild zoo!

Calgary Zoo!

I spent most of my time at the Dorothy Harvie Gardens.

I wondered around the rest of the Zoo enjoying the sights !  

Run August 10, 2010

My morning run today was the absolute pits!  Usually everything comes together and I get in a groove in about 5 minutes but this morning it didn't happen until I was walking up the stairs to my front door at the end of the run!  I was glad it was over!  

Bike Ride August 9, 2010

It has been awhile since I hit the bike trail for a long ride.  Long for me is 50 kilometers, that's the distance I covered today.  The plan was to head towards Carburn Park but when I reached the Inglewood area, I had a change of heart and did a quick turn-around, crossed the bridge, road through the Zoo parking area and headed west from there.  Inglewood didn't quite feel right or look right today and my intuition told me save it for another time.

I noticed these cheerful and colorful signs lined the Zoo bridge. This "Wild And Not So Wild Things" sign was secured to a pole near the end of the bridge.

I continued on the east side of the river and worked my way towards Edworthy Park.  I found a place down by the water to enjoy my lunch and the scenery.  The temperature was rising so being by the water was nice.

Click on the following photo to get a closer look to see the train engineer at work.  

I like weekday rides!  

DoorJamb LoderPeak August 8, 2010

Not only should you embrace life but how about embracing the weather too!  Enjoy the sunshine and make the best of the situation when the rain falls.  That's how we dealt with Mother Nature today!  (Only me and you, you being the one who finds this stone, will know what is displayed on its back.)

I did this hike/scramble back in March under different conditions.  Agent-X wanted to see what was under all the snow we saw in March, so I was happy to be able to join her.  We took a different route up this time which made this more of a scramble/hike instead of a hike/scramble.  

We still reached some of the same places but just in a more challenging manner.  Until this point the sky was clear but we could see a storm brewing and quickly.  We got the scramble out of the way and worked our way up that sticky rock stuff before it got wet.  Although portions of it were already wet.

Once we got off DoorJamb and sumitted Loder Peak, we signed the log then ascended down the rocky gully.   I prefer the rocky gully with no snow.   By now the sky was blue and the sun shone brightly and the temperature rose.  We took a long lunch break.  Some folks napped, some continued to eat, others scrambled around and explored the area.

The first portion of the creek bed was the same route as before but this time we were able to carry on quite a bit further down.  It got quite interesting and scenic.  We came to a very narrow portion where a lady was coming towards us and trying to get her dog to follow her but the dog had a mind of his own and he was a no go.  She told us that you had to straddle and support yourself with your hands and feet on either side of the walls as the water was too deep to walk through.  We decided this wasn't for us, as it started to sprinkle again and the walls would get slippery.  We climbed a short portion and hiked along to where we saw caves and tunnels and overhangs.

We came out at the same place ending up at a large long wide rock field.  Talk about timing, we were just about at the trailhead and the sky opened and it poured but it didn't matter at this point!  We hopped in the van, laughed at our photos on the way home and shared treats.  This was the kind of Sunday I like!

Sun Point to St. Mary's Falls Glacier National Park August 6, 2010

This was my last day in Glacier National Park in Montana!  I wanted one more hike, an opportunity to get closer to the St Mary Lake vistas I saw yesterday.  There was an 8 km hike that started at Sun Point just down the road from Rising Sun Motor Inn where I was staying.  I  packed up and checked out by 8:15 then headed on my way.  Not home, but to the trailhead!  One more hike! It started here!

For a couple of kilometers the trail followed the lake high above.  The morning light was perfect for beautiful pictures.  I could see dark clouds forming in the distance so made this a quick hike.

The trail headed down near the lake and became more tree lined and also followed a creek.  

At Baring Falls, I took a short detour to this dock.  I walked out to the end and took a few photos in each direction.  What a pretty area!

Such pretty colors!

I arrived at St Mary's Falls which was my destination. 

I climbed around on the rocks.

I wasn't ready to pack it in, so hiked another kilometer to see Virginia Falls and then returned to St Mary's Falls to catch the shuttle bus back to my car.  I had a quick bite to eat then prepared for the drive back to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  Once again, I had the road to myself, the Boarder crossing to  myself and most of the drive from there was sparse of traffic and I sailed home easily.

It was a fun and amazing trip.  It felt like I was away forever!  It is so close and easily can be done as a longer long weekend.  It was a growing experience and a learning experience. I know I can do it on my own.   I know I am allowed to take bear spray into the United States and I am allowed to return to Canada with it.  I know that three 1.5 liter bottles of frozen water work as my ice source for four days and water source for three (under the weather conditions that I experienced).   I know I am fine being the driver on the Going-To-The-Sun-Road.  The biggest thing I learned and know is that I will go back!

From Avalanche to Rising Sun

I knew the drive back from Avalanche Lakes was going to be longer than the two hour drive there.  I could break it up with a few stops along the way where there were photo opportunities.  The first was at the entrance to the tunnel.   

This stop was a 20 minute construction delay just before Logan Pass.  We waited while traffic came from the other direction.  Shortly after this delay, we had another delay.  A bear cub ran down the hillside onto the road, stopped and just looked around.  It sat for a few seconds then got up and carried on down the hill on the other side of the road.  I thought it was probably following Mom and maybe they were the ones that caused the portion of the Highline Trail to be closed.

Getting into the St Mary area and closer to the Rising Sun, I just had to stop and enjoy this vista.  

St. Mary Lake

Where I was spending my last night!

I checked in, unpacked, cleaned up, shopped then headed for dinner and a glass of wine.  It was a long day and I knew I had another long one ahead of me, so called it a day early and was out like a light!  I didn't even relive my day which I normally do!  I did have sweet dreams though!

Avalanche Lake Glacier National Park August 5, 2010

The trail to Avalanche Lake leads away from the Trail of the Cedars, gradually changing from board walk to dirt trail, from log lined dirt trail to a narrow dirt trail to a winding tree-lined then bush lined trail.

The trail looked like it had been struck by an avalanche with thousands of downed trees and gigantic moss covered boulders just sitting along the trail.

The size of the tree trunks amazed me as did the different designs that showed on the trees that were cut.  This was my favourite.  

This one remained standing!  I almost didn't though when I had to lean way back to look up to the top!

Once out of the forest, there it was as big and as beautiful as could be!  Avalanche Lake!  Portions of it were littered with dead trees and that was not the prettiest but the rest of it sure was.  I followed the rocky and beach-like shore line to the far side.

The lake appeared to be a fisherman's dream! I would say a photographers dream too!  The whole back side of the lake was protected by a mountain range which had numerous waterfalls running down.  The sun wasn't in the right place for me to get a photo that does this place justice.

Halfway along the rocky shore, I hid a stone.  It should remind the finder to "cherish yesterday, live today, dream tomorrow." I sure dream of what my tomorrows may bring!

A few folks spent a couple of  hours at the back side of the lake, as I did.   I had my lunch.  I laid back and just daydreamed.  I thought how fortunate I was to be here.

I took the time to play!  I collected tree pieces and spelled out GLACIER.  I am sure others were wondering what I was up to.   Once I left, I looked back to see them hoovering over what I designed.   I wonder what their comments were!

I still had a long drive ahead of me back to St Mary so packed up my pack and hit the rocky shore back.  I preferred that over the bush and tree lined trail as it meant I was by the water the whole time.   I was glad to complete this hike when I did, because by the time I was finishing there were about hundred hikers just heading in.   I now know why this hike is popular and they were just about to find out too!

Trail of the Cedars Glacier National Park August 5, 2010

I was told the drive from Many Glaciers Hotel to the trailhead for Avalanche Lake would take three hours when in fact, it took me only two.  I was well ahead of the crowd coming from my direction and the construction delays didn't start yet.  Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars share the same trailhead.  I did the Trail of the Cedars first.   On what was already a hot day, it was cool and refreshing to be in this forest.

The trail was a board walk through, around, beside and along the largest cedar trees ever.  The aesthetics were tops as the trees, board walks and benches all blended together pleasingly.  

Part way along the trail, a bridged crossed over the canyon and it was just after this where the trail veered off to head up to Avalanche Lake.

I saved the balance of the Trail of the Cedars for the return trip from the Lake. Once again the last portion wound around trees.   The sun peeking through created nice picture opportunities.

This root formation was bizarre!  

As was this view when I looked way up!

This was a short trail, very picturesque and was a nice break from the sun and the heat of the day.

Many Glacier Hotel (One Night Stay)

When I booked this vacation, I left it so late that I had to settle for every night at a different place.  This night would be spent at the Many Glaciers Hotel which is only a mile down the road from the Swift Current Motor Inn and also from the trailhead for the hike I just completed.  I was thankful for that!  

After I checked in and cleaned up, I went for a stroll around the property.  This is the setting. I had a delicious big meal in the dining room.  I enjoyed the meal and the wine sitting by a window over looking the lake.

It was a beautiful evening!  I picked up a bottle of Moose Drool and savoured it just sitting and looking at the view.  

As the beer and the evening went on, the view got prettier!

I was told that the mornings are beautiful!  After a good night sleep,  I was up and out the door early to see what everyone raved about.  This was what it looked like at 6:15am.  I think this is the best panorama shot I have taken to date.

It was well worth it to get out early! It was peaceful and quiet and colorful!

I hit the road at 6:45am to drive the Going-To-The-Sun-Road while it was quiet so I could reach the other side at a respectable time.  I shared the road with two other vehicles heading in the same direction as me. Lots were going the other way.  We had another warm, bright day ahead!