Hell's Ridge everything but

I have been enjoying hiking new places and new ridges the last little while and was game to carry on that trend.  I put a shout out to see who was up for a little bit of so called hell on Hell's Ridge.  We went expecting a bit of rough and ugly and hell but found everything but.  We also went prepared as "Heavenly Angels" just in case we needed that extra ammunition to create an attitude adjustment on this Ridge.

What we found right from the trail head was a pretty sight and perfect weather.  

After crossing the bridge we veered left for a very short stretch then saw a tad of flagging on our right  and answered that call which lead us in the direction of up and up and straight up and up and then a steeper straight up.   After that steeper straight up we popped out above the trees on top of Hell's Ridge with this as our view.

We headed north along the trail until we found our next grand opening and that's where we celebrated the day and the beauty of it all with tonnes of fun.   We donned our dresses and went to work giving this our Heavenly Angels touch.   The helmets add the braun to the beauty.

Heavenly Angels on Hell's Ridge

After that fun stuff and dining which was lengthy in time,  we carried on along Hell's Ridge thoroughly enjoying the ups & downs and ins & outs of the trees. Each time we entered a treed section, I wondered what view would we pop out to.  Here is a view to the west.

Then we came out on the other side and had a view towards Mount Burke.

Arriving at the next opening we had a view towards Bull Creek Hills.

I really enjoyed the ups and downs over the last few bumps.  

The openings were wide and the views were vast.  

On a higher point near the end of the Ridge, I went for another summit shot.  

Short Stop aimed perfectly to get Mist Mountain framed between my legs.  

You can also see Junction Hill to the right.

We reached the cairn that would mark the spot where we would begin the descent of Hell's Ridge.  We settled down to enjoy the view a snack and a refreshment before descending.  From my spot I could see Mist Mountain and Junction Hill.

We had a very tiny short scramble off the rock ledge down to the grassy slope.  We followed a low to the ground barbwire fence down the slope.  It was here where the flowers were in abundance.  We spend some time offering up admiration.  

looking up and across to a portion of Hell's Ridge

a longer stretch of Hell's Ridge

The descent off the Ridge was easy as was the hike along the Etherington Creek Trail.  We crossed over the bridge and arrived back at the pullout.  We layed out our tarps and dropped everything on them and then performed the full tick check.  None came along for the ride today.

Hell's Ridge offered up quite a lovely day of ridge walking and scenery.  We were fortunate to have ideal weather the whole time.  The name of this trail might deter some from venturing here but I would suggest add it to your to-do list if you enjoy ridge walking in this neck of the woods.  

Note:  Along the Etherington Creek Trail, there was an unreal amount of flagging.  The tape did not have "zone management" nor "pest control" printed on it. We wondered what the purpose was.  It was not just small pieces with tiny knots, but long strands wrapped a couple of times around with even two or three pieces on each tree.  I have never seen so much and wondered who put it there and why.  Maybe it is for some sort of type of study!  

Like I have been having lately, this was just one of those days!  It seems lately as each day passes, I realize for one reason or another, to recognize the importance of being grateful.  I gave extra attention today to "remember to breathe"!  Thank you for sharing in taking time today,  for just being silly and for the road side belly laughs.

Wasootch Ridge Ridge Rockin

For one reason or another every time in the past when Wasootch Ridge was the to go place, I was off somewhere else doing whatever else.  It was to be a solo Sunday so searched for something to summit safely.  Today I made my way up Wasootch.   I said here before that I like the saying "life begins at highway 40" well that was not all that began at the 40 turnoff.  I drove into spitting rain, then pouring rain and the further I drove it turned to snow.  I could see blue far off so sat in the parking lot for the blue to arrive overhead.  Then I was off.....

Not long into the ascent, the views appear.

The darker clouds lingered a little.........

.....then vanished, leaving behind the kind that I like so much!

The ascent descent ascent descent ascent seemed effortless.  I could contribute that to "and on Saturday she shall rest" and also on new stunning scenery that was distracting and captured all of my attention.   The views made for a photograph's dream today, from the ground cover, to the clouds, to mountain peaks to the lake far below.

looking back at a portion of the Ridge I just covered

I arrived at the summit cairn on Wasootch Ridge to have full right ownership for the duration of my visit.  I could see a threesome heading above and way beyond  and I know there was a threesome below me who made the lower cairn their high point.  I enjoyed my time here.

After admring everything about the summit, I made my way down a bit to settle in for lunch.  

I picked this spot.  I could see Barrier Lake far off and far below.

some Sunday scenery

The scenery was just as impressive on my retreat back to where I came from.  By now lots of folks were aiming for the top.   Many were in shorts and I could have been.  The sun was hot, so I did remove my gaiters, rolled down my socks and went down to a short sleeve shirt.  Seeing vistas like this is what keeps me coming back for more.  

I am happy to have found another location to add to my safe solo summit collection.  

Today turned out exceeding my expectations with weather and scenery.  

This was one of those days where I felt like I was "on top of the world"!

Bowness Area Saturday in the Park

Saturday in the Park

people laughing

people smiling

a real celebration

I hooked up with Happy Hiker and her crew today to put more kilometers on my boots, breathe in the spring air, and enjoy the sights of both Bowness and Baker Parks.  I'm quite familiar with Bowness Park and I thought I was with Baker Park but realized today there is much more to Baker Park.  So today not only was I catching up with old friends and making new friends, I was covering old terrain and learning about new terrain. 

along the Bow River at Bowness Park

a Northern Flecker Woodpecker

Not long into our hike, I already knew today was a photographer's dream.  Eyeing those scattered puffy fluffy clouds and the colors in the river, it was finger on the shutter button pretty much the whole time.  Even the not so pretty spring time browns were catching my eye.

aiming for the other side

trains planes

On this side of the Bow River the landscape changed yet the scenery was just as pretty.  

We meandered along the trail that passed by numerous holding ponds.  

small simple reflection

large lovely reflection

We made our way up to the viewing platform and while on our way we spied crocuses galore.

Once down the other side from the viewing platform we settled on some large stones for snacks, chats and to savour the view.  By now Bowness & Baker were populated with people laughing, people smiling which is so nice to see on a Saturday in the Park.

We eventually began to make our way back over to the opposite side.

Four hours later 

I felt fulfilled from filling the time with friends old & new

covering ground old & new.  

Being a beautiful spring day, being Easter time, 

this Saturday in the Park felt like 

a real celebration!  

Glenbow Ranch Celebrating Friday

This was a day I was determined to make sure I had something to show for it.  It was like a gift, the beginning of the Easter Celebration for me, an additional day away from the office, and an ideal forecast to be out & about.  Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is a great escape that is so close but yet so far.   Rumors were spreading that spring was a surefire thing already found here out in the foothills.  

I came prepared for a long hike.

With a sky "beautiful & blue",  clouds "wispy & white",  ground "bare & brown", it felt springy.

I hiked along Tiger Lily, Badger Bowl, McPherson, Bow Bend, Bow River and Glenbow Trails.   

Hiking along the Bow River Loop offers very up close views of spring.

The snow & ice are disappearing, the river is running.

along the way the wildlife play 

Throughout Glenbow Ranch, there are numerous picnic places.  Already well along nearing about the 13 to 14 kilometer mark and nearing noon, I picked the table that had a pretty view west.  The mountains were not visible today but what was closer west was well worthy of taking time to admire.

fences offer that western ranch-like feel

While bending down to capture a shot of one of those big beautiful boulders, out of the corner of my eye, I spied that surefire spring sign. Nestled in the ground cover and on the brink of opening, there was the sign, there was spring, a crocus!  The delicate crocus was covered in dew with a water drop on the side.  This was my confirmation that proved that rumor true.

Easter in the air!

My last visit to Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park was back in 2014.  

I noticed many signs of improvement and opportunities to learn.  

Now into the early afternoon and covering more ground than I had planned, I aimed for the trail that heads up out of the Ranch bottom.  More and more folks were now out & about taking advantage of today's gift.  

Spring has sprung!  

It's true!

I found it an unwrapped it!

Thank you for this gift!