Glenbow Ranch Wildflowers July 26, 2019

I realized today when hiking at Glenbow Ranch that I have not been there during every season when I thought I had been.  I have never seen this gem looking so spectacular as it looked today.  I wanted to fill a few hours close to home this morning actively being "out & about".  Nose Hill and Glenbow Ranch are my go to places for this want.  I performed a little home work and then I made a snap decision from the outcome.  It was prime time at The Ranch for wildflowers!  In my life before retirement, there was not the time to dedicate to photographing wildflowers, priority was a Saturday big long hike and if there happened to be wildflowers then I would capture a few shots.  I am enjoying being lost out there amongst the fields of flowers, taking time to admire them up close, and being patient trying to get clear crisp photos.

I arrived there early with intentions to beat any heat but the heat beat me there.  I started in a short sleeve shirt right from the trail head.  Right from the trail head too the wildflower show started. While I covered lots of ground, ten kilometers of it, I did not travel fast. Sights like in the photos below kept stopping me in my tracks.

At times I was distracted!  

The rabbit in the photo was in full fast hop in my direction.  I stopped and watched it come towards me.  I thought for sure it would veer off but came within about five feet of my feet.  It then did stop and look up and then it jumped up almost as high as my waist.  Then it did an about face and in the blink of an eye it was gone.  

I saw brown movement in the bushes a distance ahead of me.   I zoomed in to see it was a coyote.  He did not see me yet and began to come in my direction.  Once it spotted me it veered off trail into the brush and began to trot in the other direction.  I guess feeling at a safe distance, it stopped at stared at me then put his nose in the air and howled.  I took notice of that warning and took off, every now and then checking back to make sure I was not being followed.

There were lots of little planes flying over.  That is typical for here on a weekday as the Springbank Airport is not far and students are performing their lessons.  One plane looked odd and it was very low overhead.  It's the first time I ever noticed a Nav Canada plane.  

The fields of canola on the other side of the river created quite a backdrop.  Seeing this made me realize that yes I had never been here at this prime time before.  There were a few trains that went by while I was there and the timing was perfect for where I was to capture these colorful cars in front of the canola.

I don't know the names of all the wildflowers I saw.  

Here is a good sampling of some.

I felt tired after this hike, especially being near noon now, and I had to climb up out of the valley bottom.  The sun was out full force and beating down.  My legs felt tired from all the bending down to get up close to the flowers.  Once back up to the top, there were still more flowers but by now I had enough.  I paid a visit to the Visitor Center to make some inquiries and then it was homeward bound. 

This was the route I took today.  

The flowers were everywhere along the way.

You can not go wrong whatever trail you take.

Lake O'Hara July 23, 2019 (Lake Louise Camping July 22-24, 2019)

I have been fortunate to be able to hike in the Lake O'Hara area numerous times.  It is a World UNESCO Heritage Site and there is a quota set on how many people are permitted in the area in a day.   When the website to book a seat on the bus went live April 23rd at 8:00am, I very quickly went for one spot and I got it, for July 23rd. Three weeks ago a campsite for the two nights I needed at the Lake Louise Campground opened up and I grabbed them quickly.  The campground had been booked solid for the time frame I needed and nothing was becoming available.  Then one morning at 3:00am I woke and checked on my iPad just out of curiosity and there it was one spot for the two nights I needed was available.   Staying at the campground would save me from a long drive before and after my time at Lake O'Hara.  Lake O'Hara parking lot is just a 10 minute drive west from the Lake Louise Campground.

For this visit to Lake O'Hara I made a plan and I stuck to it.  There is so much to see here and I always want to see lots so I would rush a bit and not invest the time deserved to truly "remember to breathe".  Today's plan was to hike the Opabin Circuit, it's a shorter distance with not as much gain.  It is a route I have completed portions of at different times but had never covered the full circuit.  

For the first time ever I began hiking along the west side of Lake O'Hara having this morning view.

The West Opabin trail veered off into the forest and began to climb somewhat steeply taking me to high points quite quickly.  Every few minutes I looked backed and then this time when I turned around, there was Mary Lake.  I was already feeling thankful for how this day was transpiring.

The trail taking me even higher!

There is a detour off the main trail called the Opabin Prospect.  I was there once years ago and I remembered there to be quite a sight to see at some point.  The detour is well worth the few minutes it takes to get to the lookout point.  The forest opens up and you can see forever.  That's Lake O'Hara.  

on the slab rock at Opabin Prospect with Lake O'Hara below me

view of Mary Lake and Lake O'Hara from Opabin Prospect

There were a few others along the route with me and we hop-scotched past each other every now and then but none of the others ventured out to the Prospect.  Next came the Opabin Terrace Pools.  The scenery here was incredible.  The pools were emerald and green.  There you have Wiwaxy Peaks in the middle.

There were so many pools and lakes.

It was time to ascend again.  Now I could see back to the trail I hiked along and also the full size of Hungabee Lake.  The trail went through a boulder field but was easy to follow with stones placed to make a stone staircase.  I knew what was ahead and I was excited for that but I stayed focused on my plan and made sure to breathe in every sight at this second in time.

Up and over the boulder field and rocky ledge and there is Opabin Lake.

a reflection in the pool along the way to Opabin Lake

I hiked down and then along the shore of Opabin Lake to where this lone rock sat.  Then I sat on it for my destination shot.  It was hot here and felt good to be by water.  I soaked my bandana and tied it around my neck to help cool off.  This was my dining spot, by the water, surrounded by mountains.

Opabin Glacier on the right

I sat and I sat and I sat.  Enough time passed and then I was ready to carry on.  When I did, I took the East Opabin Route.  You can see the trail on the right side of the Moor Lakes, I am headed down there.

along the East Opabin Trail

Still there are many pools and lakes along the East Opabin Trail.

The trail eventually meets up with the Lake O'Hara Circuit Trail.  This time I headed east and followed the lake shore.  Here you can see up to Wiwaxy Gap in the middle.  I zoomed in and it was quite populated with people.  I have been up there a few times and another time I will go there again. But today, once again I remained focus and enjoyed my time when I got back down to Lake O'Hara itself.

one last photo of Lake O'Hara before heading up the trail to catch the bus

This is my route for today.

There is so much to love about this place called Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.  I am thankful to be gifted a beautiful weather day.  You never know what you might get when booking the day back in April.  You just pick a day and pray.  It was time now for that 10 minute drive back to my campsite and just hang out feeling the bliss!  

Citadel Pass July 21, 2019

The stars were aligning nicely weather-wise for a hike today out to Citadel Pass. There were positive points that were making this an ideal place to venture to on a mid summer's Sunday.  There was no doubt I would get a parking spot without having to leave the city at an inhumane time.  There would be many others along this trail for safety reasons but not near the hoards there would be at other places.   It's a healthy use of $40.00 for an adult Albertan to ride the Gondola up to Sunshine Village. I knew the views and the experience for this hike would be amazing!

It was a quick and smooth sail west to the parking lot at the base of Sunshine Village.  As you can see from the clock I had loads of time to spare seeing as the first gondola leaves at 8:00am.  I purchased my ticket and then chowed down on my banana and peanut butter sandwich.  Then it was time to board my ride.

 that's my gondola

It was hotter at the top then it was down below.  At 8:30am when I began hiking I was already down to a short sleeve shirt and was wishing I did not second guess myself, I should have worn shorts.  I chatted with the two guys up ahead in the photo.  Their destination hike for today was The Nub!  You can see the tip of Mount Assiniboine in the photo left of Quartz Hill, well The Nub is out there.  They were prepared for about a 50km day knowing they would be hiking down the dirt road in the dark.

 Citadel Pass 7.8 kms from here and that is where I am going!

 Rock Isle Lake to my right

So, when I purchased my ticket they told me about the bear activity over the past two days at Sunshine Meadows in the Twin Cairns area.  Two grizzlies were fighting over the territory.   Twin cairns was off in the other direction.  Well, not long after passing the view to Rock Isle Lake I came upon these two diggings.  They were recent, as in this seasons collection, as in this months collection, as in the past few days.   With hikers in front of me and backpackers behind me I still kept a close watch of my surroundings.

 

paintbrushes were pretty and plentiful

 I made it up to Quartz Ridge.

Onward I went from the Ridge to where I had a view of Mount Assiniboine off to the right, Citadel Peak right in there big & brown and Howard Douglas Lake down below.  On the way down I began meeting backpackers coming up.  I said it's a hot climb up.  They welcomed it!  They said it's been wet and cold the past days out in Assiniboine area.   I could tell it had been as the steep hike down to the Lake was wet, muddy and slippery and in parts there were streams of water running down the trail.

 Mount Assiniboine visible to the very top tip

 Howard Douglas Lake with a full reflection

 Mount Assiniboine between the trees

 I reached the wide open meadow which is my favourite area along this route.  

 Fatigue Mountain covered in new snow

 Citadel Lake at the base of Citadel Peak

 I made it to Citadel Pass.

There was a good amount of snow still here, enough so that I had to make the best of it.  It was refreshing to be in it, on it and under it.  The temperature was sweltering and this was a great cool down.  I am just proving here that in the Rockies, there can be a snowfall in mid July!

 destination shot at Citadel Pass

I carried on up the trail towards Fatigue Pass.  The route was obvious with lots of cairns and a worn trail.  I reached the meadow just below the Pass and I could see the switchbacks up to the top.  Time-wise and distance-wise it would have been doable but I opted out as the trail was muddy, sloppy, slippery and I was not comfortable heading up there.  I picked this as my lunch spot instead.

Back down at Citadel Pass there were many hikers and backpackers coming and going.  We shared pleasantries.   I spotted a ptarmigan and pointed it out to the others.  She watched us like she had an eagle eye and was quite vocal.

 Her babies were running all over the place.  I spotted five.  

They would not stay still long enough to capture a clear photo.

This was the best I could get. 

The meadows were full of paintbrushes.  

This means it is summer in the meadows. 

Yet the mountain peaks were covered with a fresh layer of snow.  

 view along the trail on the way back

 The same Howard Douglas Lake with a whole new afternoon look!

I dreaded the climb up from the Lake back to Quartz Ridge.  That's the only thing I don't care about on this hike.  I know I am in for it and just deal with it.  It was a slow slog up on a slippery trail as the sun beat down.  I made it!  With still a distance to go, I fueled up on turkey bacon covered in peanut butter and some salty pretzels.

I was back to the wide open space to where I knew the end would soon be in sight.  It was just as pretty as it was in the morning.  I took a few last photos and then quickened my pace on the easy flat section and also on the last down hill part.  I was ready to sit down at the Village have a last snack then hop of board the gondola.

Yes the stars aligned in every which way they possibly could today.  

I was thankful for that and happy there were no grizzly encounters.

This hike is not the most difficult but it is one of the most beautiful.

Once again at day's end I felt fulfilled & grateful!