La Quinta CA January 28, 2018 Date with the Desert

On my first hike for this escape I wanted to begin with a comfortable familiar and then veer off to the unfamiliar.  The plan was to hike through the Mission Creek Preserve and then at the junction take the trail to the San Gorgonio Overlook.  The drive on the I-10 was easy from La Quinta and I arrived at 8:00 then began my adventure at 8:15.  It was already hot which was not in the forecast I saw but then again I am in the desert what do you expect.

                                 What water there was!

I arrived at the junction!  What?  Are you serious?  Which way do I go?  I checked my sources but there was no indication to set me straight. I followed the PCT for a short bit then spied a defined trail pretty quick and veered off onto it.

Now I venture into the unfamiliar all the while looking to where I should be ascending to the Overlook.  I hike and hike and hike on a defined trail with no obvious turn offs.  So now I am not only lost in the desert I am also lost in the beautiful scenery. 

                                         This is true wilderness!

                                 

Seeing no defined way to up higher, I made my own way to a place where I could see the Whitewater Preserve far below.  That area is off limits right now due to a pack off wild dogs killing calves.  

I descended back to the trail and carried on along it until it abruptly ended.  It wasn't the Overlook I was expecting but I will take it.  It was quite a sight seeing San Gorgonio Mountain over there and the valley far below my feet.  It was not, it was breezy, it was desolate, it was the desert.  

After investing a little time here snacking, hydrating, being appreciative and topping up the sunscreen, I returned the way I came until I was back at the signed junction.  Instead of continuing on back I opted to head north on the PCT for a mile or so. 

The higher I went the grandeur the view of the San Gorgonio area and of where I was lost.  I wanted to continue higher but played it smart in this heat and turned around for the trek back.

I used up all my sunscreen but still had plenty of fluids.  Now being back on the comfortable familiar, I took another snack break then took my time to admire the desert scenery.

While I have grown to be no longer a fan of this high heat, I still do love the desert.  As long as I hydrate, cover up, take it slow, I find enjoyment.

I now see this adventure is about to be over.  Nearing 20 kilometres of hiking my feet and legs are feeling it.  Walking in wash is a workout!  The only thing left is to buy more sunscreen, drive to my home away from home then open a pint and enjoy the Santa Rosa Mountains from  my balcony.

Only a day and a half into my Desert date we are hitting it off fabulously and I see it only getting better.  

Sulphur Mountain & Sundance Canyon January 20, 2018

I can't help myself, I keep looking at web cams from throughout Banff National Park and I sigh and I just want to be there.  Thursday morning rolled around and I then had time to consider where I might like to hang out on Saturday.  It was looking like I would have to go solo so needed some place safe.  Sulphur!  Sundance!  I am probably the only avid hiker who has not hiked up the front side of Sulphur under the Gondola.  In getting my focus back on track which I forgot about, I went for something new.  

I began early with intentions to be on the top before loads of tourists arrive.  Today is the first day the Gondola is running after the annual winter maintenance closure.  My pack was light, only microspikes and poles were needed, and off to the top I trekked.  

It was just me and the trees.

Every now and then I got a peek between the trees.

Thank goodness for switchbacks, they made for an easy quick ascent.  I arrived at the top just as the first Gondola tourists of the day were arriving.   I hoped for a pretty view and I got it.  Banff just woke up.  You can see little brown Tunnel Mountain bottom right.

At the far end where Cosmic Ray meets up with the boardwalk was the best spot for a summit shot.

new untouched snow

morning tea time

After checking out the views from the boardwalk I checkout out inside then took the stairs to the fourth floor and headed back outside.   This new facility is wonderful.  The fires were going and that paired with the chairs, the scenery and sunshine, I could not resist the invitation to just sit.....

.....take it all in and "remember to breathe"!

some of the sights from up on Sulphur

Slowly the tourists began to arrive, gondola car by gondola car.  The place was not overloaded yet.  After investing time to see all I wanted to see and experience all I wanted to experience up here, I hopped the gondola down.  It was a free ride which is the case in winter months if you hiked up.  This was my view out the open window.

I have only been out to Sundance Canyon once so I added that to today's Banff adventure  to see it in full on winter mode.  While the parking lot was packed the trail was not.  I made quick time down the trail getting to where the Bow River was accessible.

along the Bow

the river, the mountains

I reached the entrance to Sundance Canyon.

You can see the suspended bridge down below that I crossed.

The section going up to the bridge was dicey as was the section getting up to here.   The stairs and steps along the way were filled in with snow and that was compacted and straight up and down and slippery.  Even with microspikes it was sketchy.   That being said, it was pretty up here and worth the sketchy stretches.

On the way back the views were just as sweet.  

I captured one last photograph.  

I like shadow shots like this.  

It shows how sunny today was. 

I was reminded again today how fortunate I am to have this beautiful National Park out my back door.  I saw so much it seemed like I was away forever.  What a wonderful escape today and I am thankful for that!

Rawson Lake & Upper Kananaskis Lake January 14, 2018

Did anyone stay in the city today?  Is pot puffing now legal?  I thought for certain hitting the road west very very early on a Sunday morning would afford me a quiet easy sail to where life begins at the turnoff onto Highway 40.  I was mistakenly wrong big time, so I just went with the flow until it was time to break away from that madness.  I arrived at a quiet Upper Kananaskis Lake parking lot.  The ice fishermen were already fishing and more were suiting up to do so beside me.  Or should I say were "puffing up" beside me.  As I geared up I began to think I may get my "high" fix not just from when I "remember to breathe" but by just breathing alone.  I geared up and got out of there while finding myself smiling wide, but why!  Yes, I was happy! It was pretty here, the temperature was ideal, it was quiet and I was where I belonged.  That's what I contribute my happiness to!  

What a morning it was here!  It seemed surreal in a way.  There were the odd touches here and there that made it that much more beautiful.  Snow covered boulders scattered along the edge of the Upper Kananaskis Lake.....

.....mountain peaks peeking through cloud windows.....

.....a line of cloud stayed stationary the whole time.....

At certain sections along the trail I snowshoed down to the lake side for more wide open vistas.  

I got to see back at the bridge I just went over.  

There were new signs along the way.

I spotted a wildlife camera while it spotted me.

I like to arrive early at Rawson Lake in the winter to get the good lighting.  As the minutes passed and the sun got higher the view became blinding white and washed out.  There was no one else here.  It was incredibly peaceful and pretty.

I followed the broken trail to a safe view point.

owning Rawson Lake

After my Rawson reprieve, I went for a quick trip down to upper.  For the majority of the descent my method was a jog of a sort.  I arrived back at Upper Kananaskis Lake and took the trail along the shore back to the parking lot.  That cloud still lined itself along the mountain range.

The pot puffers were out ice fishing by now.  My only source of "high" now is the sight to behold.  I geared down then drove over to the Interlakes parking lot to hike in that area.  This was my first view.  I enjoy being alone at times so I can take the time I want to play photographer.  I like to see things in a different perspective, I will let you figure this one out.

The view in front of me and behind me was amazing.  

Behind me that long cloud still lingered.

This is why I like winter!

I found a place in the sun, settled down and soaked it up.  

I like perspective!

This is about a foot high!

But this is about six feet high!  The moose owned the road for a little while, while we all waited for it to decide what to do.  A little moose was off to the side in the bushes.  When the road was clear we began to move on and as my turn came the moose turned and started to walk the road again.  I quickly snapped a shot and got the heck out of there.   I think the moose was telling me to get going!

Ahhh!  

What a day!