November 11, 2016

Remembrance Day

I felt compelled to stand quietly today and witness the sun rise over our city while acknowledging our war heroes on this November 11th of 2016.   I wanted to see the flags wave gloriously and freely from these poles.  One of those heroes is my Dad.  He served as Staff Sergeant with the 8th Field Battery in the Royal Canadian Artillery from September 1939 to October 1945.

I arrived in darkness so I could have some quiet time alone.

to walk between the crosses row on row

I placed my poppy on the cross of the Unknown Soldier.

It was a beautiful morning and I appreciated that and the colors in the sky.  While waiting for the sun to rise and for the Sunrise Ceremony, I strolled on and on and on.  The rows of crosses went on forever.  Every cross with a name of a soldier from Calgary and the surrounding area.  I believe there are approximately 3000 crosses.

I looked to the beautiful sky as the clouds danced in color formation

waiting for the raising of the flags.

The bugle sounded.

The bagpipes wailed.

raising the flags

It was an emotional few moments while partaking in this ceremony.  I gave thanks to able to stand here because I wanted to and because I could.  I thought about how that came to be and I thought about my Dad and what he did in his young life to make it a possibility for me to stand in this spot at this moment in time with not a worry.  

Thank you to all those soldiers who gave their lives for us.

Thank you to all those who supported their loved ones while they served.

Thank you to everyone serving and protecting us now.

Rainy Sunrise Powderface Ridge November 5 2016

a Canadian Rockies November gift

The past few days here in my part of the planet, the weather has been phenomenal.  This is so unusual having such warm temperatures at this time of the year.  I looked at it as a gift that I wanted to open and share with friends.  Who doesn't like a gift, my friends are into sharing and we are all game for adventure.  Today's gift was located all along Rainy Ridge up to Sunrise Hill (aka Rainy Ridge Summit) and for a long stretch along Powderface Ridge.

We unwrapped the gift and found this! 

It was now time to enjoy it!  We met at the Timber Harvesting Pull-Out, geared up and began our adventure aiming for these colorful foothills.  It was already windy which was what was called for today.  We made our way into the forest and found shelter from the gusts.

The Rainy Ridge is rough & rocky requiring attention to foot placement.  We reached the viewpoint and from here we could see Sunrise Hill which would be our first high point of the day.  If you click on the photo, it will enlarge and you can see the flagpole on top.

It was a steep climb to the top, along snowy icy sections.

We were happy to be here and secured our Sunrise Hill summit shot.

It was quite windy!

Our visit on Sunrise Hill was not long.  We then descended off it, crossed over the Powderface true trail then once again went for a steep climb.  This time up to the south end of Powderface Ridge.  This end of the Ridge gets you to the views much quicker.  Also this end has some boulder sections to work through but that's fun stuff.  Then the views begin.

in front of Nihahi Ridge

I sported my Hawaiian Lei in recognition of the warm winds.

It was too windy to be out in the open for dining time, so we worked our way down slope to the edge of a treed section for some shelter then settled in and fuelled up.  This was the view we had to our side and also to where we would be heading after lunch.  Our next destination would be the high point in the top center.

this is what that destination place looked like

fun, colorful, pretty

That high point was the furthest we would go in that direction today so was our turn around spot.  We savoured some time here though before turning around and heading back.  We did some more down and some more up then arrived back on Powderface Ridge.  This was the view behind me and from where we came.

the gentle section of Powderface Ridge before 

heading back into the trees and through the boulders

We safely got down the steep slippery sections off Powderface Ridge. 

We were then faced with our next up.  

We needed to get back up to the summit of Sunrise Hill.  

before beginning that climb, I collected yet another destination shot

We slowly but surely made it back to Sunrise Hill Summit.  The wind gusts were unbelievable.  The forecast had called for gusts up to 60km per hour but these gusts were much higher than that.  It was difficult to keep balanced on two feet and planting poles to help was in fact no help.  We did not linger at all and swiftly got down off that Hill.

What a relief to get down and into the sparse enough trees where there was protection.  It was time to just keep on going but I first had a look over at Forgetmenot Ridge.  Snow looks minimal over there.  It was feeling really warm, probabaly up again in the double digits.

We got off Rainy Ridge and reached the road where now we only had a few more minutes to the trail head.  The bending inward trees made it appear like an arch way exit.  This is the way hikers and job well done!

I expected our distance to be greater and our elevation gain to be less.  I got those mixed up.  Even though I was happy with our time out there and how the day played out.  How fortunate are we to have a day packaged together like we did.  It was quite a gift and thank you for it!  

Pigeon Mountain Loop October 29, 2016

High on  Halloween

Everyone has their own style for getting high. 

This is what mine looks like.

It involves fun & color!

It's filled with fresh air & fitness!

It's packed with scenery & beauty!

It's all real!

Hiking the full Pigeon Mountain Loop was the choice objective to celebrate Halloween!  I put the idea out there and was thrilled four friends were just as keen to share the day with me.  I left the idea open of completing the loop or returning the way we went up.  It depended on snow conditions and much to my surprise there was not much of that sweet stuff to impede in any way.   We got an early enough start that we were able to witness the alpenglow show while we geared up.

We took care of the first business which was to get that initial 4.7 kms out of the way.  It was easy going but seemed like it took forever.  Then it was wide open beauty for the next few hours.  A touch of fog and cloud drifted about, here and there, every now and then.  It added to the ambiance.

I have hiked this location a few times yet always forget which is the last little hill.  Those things go on and on and on.  I took my time in this section and made sure to take in the entire surroundings, even behind me.  The alpenglow at the trail head was pretty and just as pretty was the sundog further along in our hike.

frosty

The saddle between the two summits was as pretty as can be.  

Instead of keeping to where the main trail would be, we opted to head straight to the snow laden trees.  No one had been, it was untouched and out of this world beautiful. We owned this spot and invested loads of time in our ownership.  

it seemed dreamy and surreal

We reached the official Pigeon Mountain Summit and once again took our time.  

We each captured our own memories and shared memories.  

Here I am with Short Stop in our shared memory.

Ever since discovering the full loop route, I have never returned the way we came.  We gingerly worked our way up to the lower summit.  The beauty continued.  We made this our choice place to dine.  Talk about a table by a window with a view.  After refuelling, we took a second series of summit shots before hiking down along this meadow to carry on with the loop.

just having fun feeling & living the moment

The views along the wide open meadow were magnificent.  We only had a couple of inches of snow to contend with.  No need for snowshoes nor foot traction along this whole section.  We did attach our microspikes for one down hill area for about thirty minutes but they were more of a nuisance than anything. 

Further down there was less snow on the ground and on the trees but it still made for a pretty picture.

We made our way back out to the Skogan Trail and followed it back to where we intersected the wildlife sign and then carried on along the long stretch back to the parking lot.  The sun was warm, it was all down hill, we were high and happy.

I always have expectations for a day which are realistic given forecasts and previous days weather.  I also incorporate into those exceptions that at the snap of a finger, at the drop of a hat, at the.....oh you give my drift, the weather can do a 90 degree, a 180 degree, a 360 degree turn in either direction for better or worse.  I was prepared for the worse when in fact we got the better, even better, it was the best!  Thank you for today!

Packers Pass October 22 2016

desire for a mere glimmer of hope

The forecast for our hike into Ptarmigan Lake and then on up to Packer's Pass looked ideal.  If you are in the know though, you are aware and go prepared for the exact opposite. We got that close to exact opposite as we started out, yet I held out hope for ideal and when we got that glimmer of it, my attitude changed and I was a much happier girl.  That glimmer came by way of a touch of blue.

I was happy to have a few friends on board who were game for a large day in a wintery wonderland  in one of my most favourite areas no matter what time of year.  Still autumn with winter so close I can almost taste it, I knew we would have some snow I was just not quite sure how much.  Much to my surprise we were knee and at times for some thigh deep in that sweet powder.

 After experiencing snow flurries along with dark clouds, it then opened up to some blue off and on over the next little while.  The ons were exactly when I wanted them to be.  For example, when we arrived on the other side of Boulder Pass at Ptarmigan Lake, there it was that glimmer of hope.

Thank you to the guys for breaking trail and finding the route with least snow and least resistance from Ptarmigan Lake all the way up to Packer's Pass.  Out in this open, it was cold, it was windy and it was tough work to get to our destination.

We made it!

This is my summit shot 

on Packers Pass 

in front of the Wall of Jericho

with Zigadenus Lake below me.

 The blue sky appeared when I hoped it would.

We had a short lunch break at Packer's Pass.  It was too windy and cold to stay for an extended period.  We refueled, we captured our memories and then made a beeline back down.  I lingered behind, admiring every little thing.  From the sun on the peak...

 ....to the lonely little larch.

By the time we arrived back at Ptarmigan Lake, there was blue galore and it was feeling on the warmer side.  I took one last look back at the view before heading on to that big boulder.  You know that big boulder!

The Yoga Boulder!

It was time to work our way back down through Boulder Pass.  

The lighting was beautiful!

 Soon the bushes will be totally covered with that sweet powder.

We reached the intersection back by the Halfway Hut.  

It was very warm, we delayered, then headed for the forest for the long hike back to the trailhead.  

 We had views for quite some time.  We stopped along the way for snacks and also to check out all the fresh tracks of the cat-like kind.  There was obvious activity of chasing and catching so we did not linger around this area too long.  We had an amazing view of Mount Temple to end our day along this section.

I truly enjoyed being out in these conditions in this area with these friends.  I am ready to embrace winter and what it throws at us.  It always holds true and it did today, if you go prepared for anything & everything including an adventours spirit, you find that way to make the play date an awesome one!  Thank you for today!