Highline/Paradise Creek March 23, 2019

I looked forward to today pushing on with extending snowshoe season and making one last kick at it with a trek back into Paradise Valley at Lake Louise.  Well on into the day I realized it's time to get this kick over with and pack that sport in.  With what transpired, it turned out being a day where we had to "save the day"!        

There are many signs it is obviously spring but I have been in denial.  We arrived at the Lake Louise Parking Lot and before being permitted to park, we had to drive through a pylon maze that lead us to a Park Pass Check Stop.  I thought, March Break, busy, of course it's Spring Time.

We snowshoed up the Highline Trail at times on packed snow and other times on unsupported snow and then spotted what possibly were bear tracks in the dirty snow.  All spring things!  We made it to the major intersection where the views began and I was ignited with excitement for the beauty.  

A mere few minutes along the trail into Paradise Valley we came upon a collapsed snow bridge.   That stopped us in our tracks, it was wide plus deep and there were signs too of other areas further up that looked ready to melt away.  A sure spring sign! 

Before doing an about face and heading back, I made sure to capture a shot to commemorate our day here.  I thought possibly the next time I am up here, I will be up on that mountain to the right, Saddleback Mountain.  If and when that happens, it will mean it is summer.

We found a safe spot, packed down the snow, then settled in for a long spring break.  It was very warm and peaceful so we decided to stay put for quite some time.  Yup!  Spring Time!  We began the discussion of how would we "save the day" seeing as now we had lots of time to spend.

We opted to snowshoe down the official Paradise Creek Trail instead of along side the creek which I did the other week. I knew it had many snow bridges which made it was an unsafe area to be today.  We found our way out to Moraine Lake Road from Fairview.  As we snowshoed down, three X-C Skiers passed by, slowly passed by, very slowly, very very slowly passed by even having to push with their poles to move.  Slow wobbly not too noticable ski tracks, of course  it is spring!

 view off towards the Ski Hill and down to the Village

what one last big kick at snowshoeing this season looks like

the snow would not even kick up

melted snow exposing spring

Once back at the car we took our time gearing down, favouring to enjoy the warmth from the sun shining down on us. I had a new pack to try today and the outcome is, it is a keeper.  I now feel ready to retire those snowshoes to the basement until next season.

This was the route we covered today.

This was a sweet season of snowshoeing with there being twelve "outs & abouts" in our mountain playground.  Many of the routes were new to me and each time I was afforded an opportunity to make new friends and to share days with old ones.  Thank you for each of those twelve fun days.     

Lake Louise Snowshoe Trails March 21, 2019

When the decision was made to head back to Lake Louise today, I was on board.  A friend said to me a couple of years ago "Why don't you just move there!"  I tell you I do feel right at home when I am at Lake Louise.  Snowshoe season is winding down and this was an opportunity to get another kick at the sport, potentially it could be the last hurrah.  With another one-way planned including a trail I have been curious about, I was a keener to get there. 

It was a day of pure blue sky and warm from the onset.  We headed up behind the Chateau Lake Louise and looked for the #27.   The signage was there but was very confusing.  I hear this is the doings of the Chateau and not Parks Canada.  Once we got well along then it was obvious.   The route was downhill the whole way until we arrived at a meadow near the Great Divide Trail.         

It was back in December of 2017 when I first noticed this snowshoe sign while x-c skiing the Great Divide.  It was a newly established snowshoe loop.  Each time I glided by here I wondered about it.  It looked inviting.

photo from December 2017

Today I satisfied all that wondering!  

Yup!  It's spring!  No hat, no mitts, no long underwear, no jacket, no snow pants.  

Lots of post holing even with snowshoes on, lots of sunscreen, lots of sweating, lots of drinking.  

I looked at those mountain peaks in a different way today.  

My mind wandered to sitting on those summits and feeling all high and mighty.   

The #27 crossed over to the other side of the Great Divide and lead us through the forest for awhile before crossing back over and having an uphill climb back up to Lake Louise. We passed by the horse barns and employee accommodations.

We sat outside beside the Lake for our lunch break.  We could see off towards Victoria Glacier and noticed there had been recent avalanche activity.  The ratings were high at all levels today but we were fine as we stuck with the safe way.

After lunch we hooked up with a short section of the Tramline which lead us back to the Great Divide and then the beginning of the Louise Creek Trail which we followed all the way down.  At the bottom instead of heading right to the Village we veered off and followed the Bow River out to the Station and then aimed back towards the Village.  We did not want the day to end so prolonged it as long as timed allowed.  

This was our route for today.

I already know I would like a re-do of this route but in the midst of winter though when it is truly winter white with pretty powder.  For now I wonder is it time to shift focus and trot my snowshoes down to the basement?  With today being the 21st and looking back to photos from 2016 where in that year I have first crocus photographs of the season on the 24th and the 26th, yes it may be time to shift focus!  

Happy Spring!

Happy Everything!

Nose Hill March 20, 2019

This time around my friend in my neck of the woods was keen to meet me at Nose Hill to join in on a 10km ground cover ramble.  My goal is to hit as many hills as possible so this made a good spring tune-up for her.  Today's "out & about" took us up & down, over here & then there, around this & that, veer towards this, aim for that, jump, slip, slop and laugh about it all.  Nose Hill in most sections was a mess of mud, snow, ice, slush, swamp and water. What can you expect though when the temperature ranges from -15C to +15C over a short time frame.               

Scenery wise was on the not so photogenic side.  The sky was blue without a trace of any kind of cloud and the ground was brown with no specks of green what so ever. We made our own scenery all the while catching up on trip talk and of course life's happenings.

Nose Hill Lake is back!  This area on the Hill is somewhat of a catch basin.  Snow melt from all directions lead to here.  It was frozen enough in the way that skimming rocks across it created a delightful symphony.

We found one of the medicine circles.

We think this must be telling us we are at the center of Nose Hill.

After many ups & downs and everything else we needed to perform to avoid mud & water, we found a bench where we could sit and snack.  Our view was a line of snow covered peaks from one end to the other.  By now we were down to short sleeve shirts and enjoying cool water instead of hot tea.

This was our 10km route for today.

Sulphur Springs Elbow River Loop March 17, 2019

I pulled out my St Patrick's Day decorations a few days ago having them ready to display come the Day.  A couple of hiking options were swirling around in my mind for this Day and I figured I would decide the morning of the Day. Well, that was the plan when I went to bed last night!  I woke at five before midnight and just like that I had a change of heart and was able to quickly find others that I could join up with in the morning.  The morning came, it's the Day, it's St Patrick's Day!       

I'm ready to go!

The plan was to start at Station Flats, hit the Sulphur Springs Trail, follow it out to Route 66, cross the road, aim for the Riverview Trail, follow the ridge that would eventually head down to the Elbow River, enjoy the river views, work our way through Paddy's Flat Campground, cross Route 66, then hike the last few kilometers back to Station Flats, having completed a great big scenic loop.

and so our St Patrick's Day hike begins

We had sun and we had shadows.

It was quite warm and once we began the ascent, delayering was a necessity.  

It felt like spring and it looked like it to out in this part of the playground.  

Lots of the elevation was done by the time we crossed over the Moose Mountain Road and arrived at a fabulous view point.  I enjoyed the cloud dance performance. This big meadow was designated as our early lunch time spot.

Before settling down to dine, I captured a destination shot.

This was my lunch time view.  

As you can see we were afforded a windless lunch break.  See too, no gloves!  Today was a great promise that spring is around the corner.  A few hot cups of tea were really not necessary on this day. It will soon be time to store the thermos for many months.

being one with St Patrick's Day

After our early lunch we climbed up away from the meadow to follow a ridge that afforded mountain views.   The snow here was deep in spots and did not support us.  No big deal though, we got through it all the while I enjoyed the view.

 a vast vista

We crossed Route 66 and began the hike along the Riverview Trail.  

I had no idea this trail existed.  

It was so pretty.

 the sun, the warmth, the shadows, the clouds, the trees, it was all good

From the ridge to the river.  The ice was beginning to break up.  Another great promise spring is around the corner.  We took our time along the trail section that was down by the Elbow River.  No one seemed to be in a hurry, we were all embracing this day and these views.

The trail lead up to Paddy's Flat Campground, my mind drifted to sleeping in my tent out in the wild, then just as quick I came back to reality as we needed to cross back over Route 66.  With a little more elevation gain and then a descent, followed by a meander, we were back at Station Flats.

The blue line shows our route for today.

I'm thankful I got to join up with the others today.  Today's route was a new one for me.  It was nice to catch up with old friends and make new ones.  The spring-like weather felt so good to be out & about in.  In summary I felt lucky today!

Bowness Park March 15, 2019

From full on wintry-like yesterday at Lake Louise to full on springy-like in Calgary today, we have the best of both worlds in this part of our great country.  This was the day to catch up with Happy Hiker to share an urban hike around Bowness Park, capture pretty pictures and exchange our recent life happenings.  We got lost in conversation with so much to share, at times we needed to declare let's stop and look at the view.  These were a few of our river and forest views with some being worthy of Mother Nature's frames.

 This was our 6.3 km route.

With spring on the verge of springing upon us, 

this was a fine taste of what we can expect in the coming weeks.  

Doors and opportunities will open up.

Thank you for today! 

Paradise Plus at Lake Louise March 14, 2019

If the word "paradise" is part of the name of the main destination then I want to be on the go list and go there!  I have been through there in the summer but never in the winter.  When we reached Paradise Valley on our snowshoes today, I wondered why have I never snowshoed here?  Why I asked?  Why?      

Today's route would be another one of those one-way treks beginning at Lake Louise itself and ending at Lake Louise Village.  Our plan was to follow the trail that heads up as if you were going to Saddleback but turn off at the junction and take the Horse Trail, then turn off onto the Paradise Valley Trail, work our way out there for awhile, return back to the bridge but then veer down along side Paradise Creek, hang a left onto Moraine Lake Road until Tramline then follow it to the junction of Louise Creek Trail and that trail would take us back to the Village eventually.

 The horse trail was narrow lined and with snow laden trees.

 The trail sign along the way which at one point was covered in snow.

We took a few minutes once we reached this junction for a quick energy boost.  

Being mid March, soon it will be time to pay closer attention to signs like this.  

We reached the first bridge and I was in awe!  This was the first time for me to be here in winter.  Why I asked?  Why have I never snowshoed here before?  Others had been maybe many days ago so we still needed to break trail to a minor extent.

 It was looking like paradise to me!

We snowshoed our way into Paradise Valley.  It was so white, so pristine, so beautiful!  Those little puffy white clouds were forming and I did not know where to look.  I admired those clouds, I spied our shadows, the mountain peaks drew me in and then the billowy pillowy snow mounds caught my attention.

 in my happy place mentally and physically

We picked our dining spot in the middle, in the wide open, under the sun, feeling the warmth.  We did not venture far off the trail, in fact we settled down on the edge of it.  A step off too far and you could possibly disappeared into the depths of that white powder.  This is my lunch time view of Saddleback Mountain.

After lunch a couple of us ventured down the trail a tiny bit further before returning to carry on with our day.  Parts of the creek were open.  That's Sheol Mountain behind me and Saddleback Mountain in the top right photo.  I was up on that one twice last summer.    

We passed by the turn off at the bridge and opted to carry on straight down beside Paradise Creek.  

This involved more trail breaking with very careful positioning of snowshoe placement.  

I checked back to make sure the others were close behind.  

It looked so pretty back there.   

Not having snowshoed here before I was curious as to where we would come out.  This was the spot right at the big corner by the bridge along Moraine Lake Road and the X-C Ski trail.  We all gathered together again before heading down the Road towards the Tramline junction.

Gosh, it was beautiful along here too and not busy what so ever.  

We did notice the cloud formation right before our eyes.  

At times it looked like a place, some thought Africa.  

From Moraine Lake Road, to the Tramline and now we snowshoed down the Louise Creek Trail. 

At the bottom of the Louise Creek Trail, we took a round about way to get back to the Village.  We could see clearly over to the ski hill and I imagined while not called paradise over there, it looked like paradise and probably felt like paradise to the skiers.

 We reached the Village and had a few minutes before catching our ride and heading on home.  

This was our route for this beauty of an adventure. 

I was already thinking I can hardly wait to get home to see my photographs of this place called "paradise".  It is quite sweet when you get to just follow all the stars as they align from the beginning of the day to the end.  I think I figured out why I have never snowshoed here before. It happened when the timing was right and that was today!