Icefield Parkway August 20, 2018

Now we are three!  Another friend from another southern state came north to experience our beautiful mountain playground.  Both friends embraced the low humidity we have here.   While I found it hot at times, they savoured the sweetness of a +27C temperature.  We hit the Icefield Parkway north to Jasper.  We made it a full day of travel and site seeing with many stops along the way.   

Bow Lake

 Peyto Lake

 Peyto Lake

 my river the Alexandra River

 Columbia Icefields

 Sunwapta Falls

 Sunwapta Falls

 by the Sunwapta River

 sun shining on us at Sunwapta

We made other stops in addition to the above mentioned.  It was scenery overload and at times for me, people overload.  I was happy the smoke conditions were on the low side and we could actually see scenes.

We arrived at Jasper and checked into our home away from home for the night.  A short walk down main street was where we ventured for a  pub style dinner.  This mural was painted on the outside and it depicts what Jasper National Park is all about.   You have your mountains & waterfalls, trees & meadows and of course the bears.  I have viewed more than my fair share of bears this summer.

When I lay my head on the pillow, I thought through a few words of hope for tomorrow.  

I hope for a clear sky with vistas galore.  

Barrier Lake Lookout Loop August 18, 2018

Just like yesterday, it was time to pull out the saving the day directions and find a way to do it.  I tried but I am not so sure I want to say that I saved the day.  The air quality was at its worse at +10, with 10 being the worst on the chart.  We opted for a hike closer to home and where the effort to accomplish something would not be as great.  I recommended Barrier Lake Lookout and that's what we went for.  The parking lot was pretty much full and I believed those would be backpackers' vehicles.  We crossed the dam under erie conditions.

The sun was up and it looked like it has for the past number of days.  

At the intersection where we would begin the switchbacks there was a new sign.  

This was a first for me to see a sign like this. 

view from the first opening

We spent a minute at the rocky viewpoint then carried on up to the Barrier Lake Lookout.  There was no one else there.  In no time at all, the Lookout Lady and her dog came out to visit us.  This would most definitely be today's highlight. She had no visitors yesterday and only what you could count on one hand the previous days.  We chatted for quite some time.  Her friend who was staying with her for two days came out a few minutes later to partake in the conversation.  I assumed the Lookout Lady would be busy with these dry conditions but I was wrong.  She has had nothing to do because she has not been able to see a thing.  Her district is Morley and you would never know it was down there.  Visibility was pretty much just the around the Lookout.  She did mention the day prior people were caught cutting down a tree to build a fire.  She also shared some information with us about her alarm, as I questioned her on the new sign stating what times during the day people are permitted to come up to the helicopter pad.

After they retreated to their home, we captured our destination shot.

We sat and had lunch looking for some kind of view but there were none to be had.  What I did think about was what a beautiful place it is up here and I have been fortunate to be here many many times when the views are forever.  

The Lookout Lady came out and invited us to the back of her home.  

We took her up on that offer and snagged another photo.  

We packed up our gear, waved good-bye and began the descent down towards Jewell Pass.  It was long and unscenic and I just wanted it over with.  There were no photos ops, even the bridge and waterfalls were not appealing enough today to stop for photos.  

We made it back to the car to find the parking lot was full.  I assumed the Lookout Lady would have loads of visitors today.  The air quality did not improve and views were still nonexistent.  The only thing we had left to accomplish was the drive home and getting inside to fresher air to breathe.  I felt disappointed that I could not show off our beautiful mountains today to my friend.  I was thankful though that we had a home to go back to.  

Chester Lake & Elephant Rocks August 17, 2018

We planned this visit last year when my friend was here and then put the finishing touches on her visit many months back.  My friend's wish was to escape the August high humidity and high temperatures of her southern state in favour of enjoying the fresh clean Alberta air, low humidity levels plus witness grand glacier vistas and mountain tops, maybe even summit a peak or two.  Those were her hopes & dreams.  Well, I have been trained over and over again on how to save the day and have become a pro at it, so it was necessary to put that training to work.

With an unfavourable air quality index due to smoke influx from the wildfires in British Columbia, we opted for a hike that involved less work than originally planned.  Chester Lake & The Elephant Rocks would afford us meadows, a lake, and boulders to play on.  I had little expectations for grand scenery. 

The Chester Lake meadows are known to be frequented by grizzly bears and is often closed for that reason.  The area just reopened a couple of weeks ago so it was open for business.  We were first to arrive in the parking lot.  That meant we needed to be extra noisy.

My friend is happy to begin our adventure!

It has been double-digit years since I have been up here in any season other than snowshoeing season.  It was nice to see the new signs.   The summer trail is on the opposite side of the meadows from where I snowshoe.

When we broke out into the open it was smoky, but not as bad as it was when we departed Calgary a few hours back.  We knew we would be focusing on anything and everything up close and not far off.

the trail to Chester Lake

We arrived at Chester Lake and I was disappointed because I know how pretty the Lake can be.  We spent a few minutes trying to admire it and then began the short ascent up to the Elephant Rocks.  We could see a few clouds which meant the smoke was clearing at least a tiny bit.

My friend was once a climber so disappeared quickly when she spotted the Elephant Rocks.  

I then saw her up on top and joined her.  

We settled down on a big flat boulder to have our lunch.  

As we dined, the sky continued to clear.  There was a shade of blue up there and these days, I will take that.  After refueling, we worked our way down off the boulders and meandered in the meadow finding the right place to drop our backs and play.

attacking the Elephant Rocks

After boulder play, I took out the air lounger and filled it with air.  It took a little work.

We realized the lounger had a slow leak.  I was not surprised, the past play sessions have been a little on the rough side.  We were able to be entertained for an enough amount of time.  

It was time to move on down back to Chester Lake.  

We took a last look at the bouldery scenery.

Chester Lake looked more inviting to visit now.  

We walked around to the far side to enjoy the views from there.

Chester Lake

enjoying being at Chester Lake and seeing the surrounding scenery

Leaving the lake behind, I spotted a snowshoe sign.  My friend's intention is to visit again but during snowshoe season.  I will hold on to this photo for comparison sake.  We will see if she can touch the red square come winter-time.

As we were heading through the meadow many people were beginning to just come in.  We stopped to chat to a foursome.  All of them were facing me while I faced them and the meadow.  I saw close, quick, fluffy, brown movement and declared a bear.  The bears were moving so fast, the yearling chasing Mom.   I realized with how fast they were moving, if they wanted to be near us they would have been in a matter of seconds, not just the Mom but the toddler too.  They seemed oblivious to us but I still felt it best to move on down the trail.

As we began to leave, they stopped and were watching something.  

I just wanted to get as far away as possible, that was the proper thing to do.  

I believe this was an exciting experience for my friend.  It was for me too but we were a little too close to watch in comfort for any period of time.  I would like to say this sighting was the icing on the cake for our day.  But, instead due to the smoky conditions, and scenery not all that vivid, I will say it was not quite a cake today but rather a cupcake.  There you go, the bear sighting was the icing on the cupcake!

Mount St Piran August 13, 2018

It's Monday, a free day, oh what should I do!  Last night I won my debate on that!  This would be the opportune day to hike up to Sentinel Pass which I have not done in years.  The photo banner at the top of my blog is from that Pass.  All the prep work was done before I lay my head on the pillow last night.  Fast forward to this morning.  I was in my car and on my way at 4:30am to secure a parking spot at the Moraine Lake Parking Lot.  I'm laughing, no traffic to speak of heading west, no traffic patrol in down town Lake Louse, the flashing sign is not even turned on, yes I'm laughing, I got this in the bag.  Leaving home at 4:30am, arriving at 6:30am I am getting that parking spot!   I arrived at the turn off for Moraine Lake Road and the road is closed, sign says full, patrol people waving everyone away.  I pulled up and spoke to the patrol person, he said come back in an hour and try again.  I said no I am going up to hike Mount St Piran instead.  I ended up with a bad attitude!  I was so disappointed!   I thought I am so over this place!  For a few seconds I considered just heading back home but then came to my senses, performed an illegal u-turn and went for the Louise Parking Lot which by now was filling fast.  

I geared up feeling disappointed and discouraged.  I fought my way through hoards of people as I head towards the trail head and by now it was still only 7:15am.  For a few seconds I considered just heading back home but came to my senses and worked my way passed the people.  I turned off towards the Little Beehive Trail and no one else followed.   Then the sky opened a bit and my mouth dropped open! Ah this was so pretty! 

the Big Beehive

the turn off for Mount St Piran

There was no one, well really, I could not tell if there was, I could see nothing through the fog and clouds.  I pushed higher and found my way up and out of the clouds and fog.  I could see across to Mount Fairview and down to the Big Beehive.  I thought it would have been a cool experience to be at the gazebo on the Big Beehive.

I hiked the switchbacks higher and then I could see the Little Beehive peeking through.

As I ascended even higher, I began to be become truly thankful for how today was transpiring.  By now I could hear voices behind me but I could see no one.  I could only see mountain tops peaking out above the cloud cover.

I was on the final stretch up over the scrabbly section where I could see out to the west towards the Icefield Parkway.  It was so incredibly beautiful, I had a hard time wrapping my head around what I was seeing.

I arrived at the summit and I was all by myself!  I could still hear people off in the distance.  I went for a summit shot.  I tried a few figuring I could get it so those white areas did not show on my pants, but no luck.  The lighting was crazy right now and I loved it.   After about 10 minutes a couple showed up with their mouths wide open.  They were from Connecticut and had never ever experienced anything like this.  They asked where are all the people.  I said all the people don't come up here.

We dined together as we watched the clouds dance.

We took turns taking photos of each other.  

Here is another summit shot.  

Another couple arrived so that made it five and that's all it was for our hour visit. The views became even more incredible when I did not think it possible.  I got dizzy from doing 360 degree spins.

The first couple left and then the second couple left.  

I owned the place for another little while.  

I took a few moments to think about the day so far.  

How fortunate I was!

I began the descent with many stops along the way.  

The clouds moved about forming frames around mountain peaks.  

I detoured out to the little ledge off the left not long after leaving the summit.

This looks like I am "on top of the world" and I feel like I am not just physically.

Finally it opened up enough that I could see Lake Louise.

I arrived back at Lake Louise and sat on a bench for a little while to finish off my food.

I am thankful for what I experienced today, the bad and the good.  It's a good thing the good came after the bad.  Vice Versa would have done me in forever here.  I am not sure what this area will hold in store for future summers or even for the coming larch season but I am feeling I don't want to be a part of it.  Right now I truly appreciate that I had an outstanding day here today and I want that as my memory of this place.  Thank you for today!