Touristy Day Away

You know when you have that feeling that you have been handed a gift and you just have to accept it with wide open arms and live life and go for it?  I woke this morning with that very feeling!  The plan for today was once again to tackle those tasks but being the expert I have been lately for failing miserable why break the trend.  I packed up and hit the highway west to play tourist for a day.  I had no idea what to expect conditions wise but I had to take the chance.  Once out of the city boundary, the highway was summer dry all the way.  The views were out of this world and I wanted to stop for photos but opted not to or I would never make it to Banff.  

I made a quick stop in the town site of Banff to scope out my objective which is that little bump in the fluffy cloud that is to the left of of the tall trees.  That is the top of Sulphur Mountain.

I would be taking the easy way up today, the gondola would be my mode of transportation to the top. I snapped this shot just before heading into the terminal building.

You can see the gondola in the snow to the right.

As I stepped out of the terminal building at the top, I knew this was where I needed to be at this moment in time.  It was the most amazing looking winterwonderland.  I have been up here a handful of times yet it has never looked as beautiful as it did right now.

along the boardwalk

Banff below

framed tourquoise river

seeing through the dusting of clouds

blue sky blanket of white

beauty galore

I stepped off the boardwalk to walk down along the top of the Cosmic Ray Road.  

The snow was a couple of inches above my ankles.  

I declare, I love life!

After a little more admiring, I headed back along the boardwalk under the blue sky and sunshine and snow bomb after snow bomb after snow bomb.  For those coming up any time as the day goes on, the snow covered trees would not be, but just mere trees. 

I planned to site see around the townsite but as time was passing the snow was disappearing.  While still beautiful, there was not much of that added white bonus.  I visited Bow Falls behind the Banff Springs Hotel.

bridge towards the Banff Springs Golf Course

Bow River near Bow Falls

This photo has a story!  It was my last photo of the day.   The river runs behind downtown and as you can see is a beautiful spot.  I went off the trail, through bushes to get to the river's edge.  I snapped my shot.  I heard big rustling in the bushes, I heard talking, a voice saying "it is now heading west", then the bushes broke and there were two wardens with one carrying a big antenna type thing and the other talking into a walkie talkie type thing.  They told me there is a grizzly bear and they are tracking it.  I started to get the heck out of there and they said no look at it over there on the other side of the river.  I could see it running, too quick for a photo.  The wardens took off, talking in the walkie talkie type thing saying "it is heading to Fenland", they hopped in their truck,  set the lights on flashing and they were gone.   

I had plans of hiking around Fenland Loop but knew now that would not be happening.  I was so absolutely pleased with where I already went and what I already saw today that I was O.K. to call it a day and hit the highway to home.  I arrived home to all those tasks still hanging over my head.  We will see what tomorrow brings!

Successful at Failing Miserably

Depending on last Friday's results, this week was suppose to be either a full week of rest or a week of attacking those big elephants that have been waiting by the wayside ever since that May day.  The final verdict was to take two days of relaxation, then live your life as you have been.  I was over the moon!  I luxuriated both Saturday and most of Sunday in +26C temperatures under sunshine and full blue sky with the plan then to tackle those elephants thereafter.

I failed miserably at dealing with plumbing, organizing the basement, cleaning out the closest and all those other tasks that needed two strong hands for a full on attack.  Monday came with a vengeance! Old man winter lost his mind and hit hard on a summer day.  The tree in front of my home that usually hangs high above my car was laying on top of it instead.  I was able to safely move my car and see that it was no worse for the wear.

From that point forward, I relished in what we were thrown.

My September 8 snowman.

I tested out my snowshoes.

My September 9 snow family.

My September 10 snowman.

By late afternoon of September 10, the snow was gone.  

The arborist came to care for the tree.

 He would come back tomorrow to clear away the debris.  

All the while, instead of accomplishing chores & tasks, I played, I read, I shopped.

I love failing miserably!

...and I continued to fail...

STAY TUNED!

something everlasting because

I am always so happy when friends jump on board no matter what I suggest they would be in store for on any given day to play in the mountains.  That tells me something!  There is never any coaxing, they just say yeah. For me personally, today had more meaning then otherwise, so I needed to make it mean something.  I wanted beauty, I got it.  I wanted long, I got it.  I wanted fun, I got it.  All this was to be had on our hike into the Tombstone Lakes and up to Tombstone Pass.  

along the Big Elbow Trail

Tombstone Mountain

through Desolation Flat

After Desolation Flat, we came upon the intersection where we would veer left, descend and then arrive at the damaged bridge, that if it wasn't, the creek crossing would be easy peasy.  We managed to make our way across to the other side.  

We took a short detour to check out the Warden's Cabin.  

Nobody home!

trail towards the Tombstone Lakes

Lower Tombstone Lake

Upper Tombstone Lake

This was our dining spot.  

It was peaceful and beautiful and we owned it.

It was difficult to find out info about Tombstone Pass from others who may have been.  One guide book had directions so that's what we followed to get us to the Pass.  The beginning was pretty.  It was a gentle climb and then flat for quite some time.

Tombstone Pass

We had meadow views but no far off distant sights which I expected.

Once off the Pass, we intersected the Big Elbow Trail completing a gigantic loop.

This was our view descending the Pass.

Wildflowers were nearing the end of their prime bloom time.

The campground looked inviting, so we stopped in for a snack break.  I checked out the sights and thought this would be my ideal spot to spend a night. Maybe one night another year.  A few sprinkles showered down on us but they came and went quickly and then we went.

hitting the trail back yet still stopping at some nice sights

When we arrived back up at the Desolation Flat section along the Big Elbow Trail and followed it for a few kilometres, I took one last look back before....

....focusing on what was ahead, a big mountain.  

I wanted today to be something everlasting. 

I felt like I was "on top of the world" and that meant the world to me!

          

Fabulously Fulfilling Feast

When I hiked into this area last September during the larch performance, and we caught a glimpse of the Skoki Lake down below, I knew I wanted to come back in a summer month to experience an alternate showing of the same area.  Seeing as this summer's hiking theme is turning into a "going back and seeing collection", I decided today would be the day to add the hike in the Skoki area to that collection.  I was happy to have fun friends on board so off we went, up the 4km of fire road.  Just get that done, easily & quickly.  Knowing what is to come makes that road portion of the day bearable.       

...and then it begins...

After the fire road, then taking time to admire the glorious fireweed, we arrived at the Halfway Hut.  The door was ajar like an open invitation, so we went in and paid a visit long enough for a quick big snack break.  I guess you could say we dined & dashed, ate & ran.

view through the valley from the Halfway Hut

There is such a variety of landscapes in this vicinity.  

We went from green lushness to the dark rough and ruggedness of Boulder Pass.   

On the other side of Boulder Pass is Ptarmigan Lake.  

It is a wonderful destination all on its own.  

As you circumnavigate it, the various views begin to build.  

flower frame

reflection section

wide and wonderful

pink & pretty 

As we skirted the shore, we watched for a cairn which would mark our way to begin ascending to Packer's Pass which is that dip below the lowest blue cloud.  To the right of that Peak (Packer's Peak) in the middle is Deception Pass.  The trail we followed was defined, gradual in elevation gain, spongy, and the trip up went by easily.  I was so curious to find out what was waiting for us as we crested the top.

I could not believe what was right before my eyes!

Zigadenus Lake is one of the Skoki Lakes.  This was what I saw back on that day in September of last year, but then it looked nothing like this.  WOW!  HOLY!  UNBELIEVABLE!  This has got to be one of the most beautiful lakes I have laid my eyes upon.  What a feast!

This is a close up of the white speck on the far left in the above picture.

This was our lunch time view.  

We spent just short of hour here.

Not wanting to leave but having to get on with our day, we ascended back up to Packer's Pass.  From there we had an amazing full view of Ptarmigan Lake below us, which was now where we were descending to.

...looking back on the way down...

...back at Boulder Pass...

After a quick visit back at the Halfway Hut, we hit the trail to head home.  

The clouds danced over Mount Temple, never giving us a clear view of her peak.  

Before arriving at the fireroad, I stopped for this one last look.  

What a truly beautiful area this is, and how lucky are we to have it in our backyard.  It is vast with many more directions to veer off and explore.  I like that it's not a busy area, and the variety of colors, formations, landscapes makes it spicy.  For all those reasons you gotta know that I will be back!