a summer pass

Paying a visit to Wenkchemna Pass during the dog days of summer has been in the midst of my wanna-do list ever since I first went there years back during Larch Season in mid September.  Today was my fourth venture into The Pass but finally my first during summer.   We arrived at Lake Louise village at 9:00 am for a quick stop before driving the road up to Moraine Lake.  A large flashing warning sign stated "limited parking at Moraine Lake".  My initial thought was that can't be it's only 9:00 am.  Sure enough a few minutes later we arrive at an already over flowing parking lot.  Lucky for us, a car exited a spot as we approached and we quickly secured it. I took that as a sign, a sign that told me "this is your day"!   

As usual, the first portion of the trail was hectic until we reached the intersection where the trail splits to go to either Larch Valley or Wenkchemna Pass.  As usual, most went straight towards Larch Valley and that's how I like it.  After the treed section, we finally catch a first glimpse of our destination which is the saddle-like section in the center.  

sapphire blue  Eiffel Lake with an emerald green tarn along side

clouds were unusual today

posing marmot

my version of rock climbing

The scenery on this hike is out of this world!  It truly is!  

While I like that not many folks frequent this area, I do wonder why.  

The views rival those of neighbouring Passes & Valleys.  

At the end of the Valley of Ten Peaks, the climb begins to  Wenkchemna Pass.  The higher up along the switchbacks and the views get even grandeur.  From left to right you have Eiffel Peak, Eiffel Lake, Valley of Ten Peaks and then the line of Wenkchemna Peaks.   There are tarns here and there and boulders splattered about.  Looks like a money making calendar shot to me! 

arrival time

at 2611 meters

the top of Wenkchemna Pass

my summit shot

Mount Temple & Eiffel Peak to the left 

It was breezy and chilly at the summit.  We settled down, just down from the top, for some shelter, a grand vista and delicious dining. This was our view and yes those are my boots.  I tested my Styngers out last week on a short hike, and went for the full meal deal today and as expected, they performed as expected.  

after lunch view

looking down into Eagles Eyrie

Now refueled, now with a summit fulfillment, we descended back down into the Valley.  

The colorful rocks were inviting and I tried to RSVP but this was the best I could do.  

green, gold, blue, white

colors that create a photographer's dream

valley center

The wide open spaces were nearing their end so before heading back into the trees I captured one last, lasting shot. The trail was filled with fireweed on one side and there were glaciers galore on the other. There was peak after peak and peak after peak topped off with dancing & swirling cloud formations.  We were a group of fun friends, playing & remembering to breathe.  I read that sign right as we secured that one last parking lot "this is your day"!   "This was our day!"

test & play day

I put today aside to be the day I get "out & about" taking the time to begin the breaking in of my new Styngers, being outside walking for an extended period without the wrist lacer and paying more attention to what I am snapping photos off.  This trio is best suited to be accomplished when I am on my own and can take as much time as needed whenever.  The time was right and the weather was conducive so I headed off to Glenbow Ranch just 25 minutes west of me.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Asolo Styngers and they are my tried & true go to hiking shoe.  This is my sixth pair over the years and I was so happy to see they now come in a color other than browny earth tones.  I have had success with this style but still always go for a couple of shorter test hikes to break them in.  I declare they are now good to go the distance, whatever that may be.          

At home, the wrist lacer spends loads of time on the coffee table, at work I have been removing it for short periods of time.  On the trails, it has been on full time with full force.  The paved, gravel & dirt trails at Glenbow Ranch are the kind where I felt safe to let my bare arm breathe, catch some rays, swing free and just be. This is the good side of my arm.  Some friends have seen the bad side.  I'll share that another time with you.

Prime wildflower time at The Ranch passed by a short while ago.  

Some petals were still thriving nicely affording me some pretty close ups & macros.  

Flower shots are not my speciality.

They take patience to shoot.

Time was not of the essance today.

So I took lots of it.

To get this!

It pays to sit to be more steady.

My favourites are vistas of all kinds.  I find at times when I am on official hikes, I tend to race my picture taking part of the adventures.  My camera can be a point & shoot and that is what I end up doing but it has much more capability than that.  Like with taking photos of the flowers, I had all the time in the world, so no pointing & shooting today.  

I remembered to turn my polarizer.

I worked with the lighting.

I played with angles.

I oogled for fine composition.

I had a triumphant trio today!  

My Styngers are ready for many miles!

The freedom my arm felt did wonders for it! 

Fab photos if I do say so myself!

Am I Dreaming?

Within mere minutes of me voicing the words "Citadel Pass next Saturday" my friends were on board and the plan was in place!  Today was an opportunity of new discovery for all of us as we headed in a direction we had never been before.  Every time I hiked up to Sunshine Meadows and passed by this sign,  I wondered what was beyond and hoped one day to find out! Today I found out!                                  

If you are a loyal follower of "Making Waves on top of the world" then I will warn you that while reading this post you may need to settle down with a bigger meal & bigger drink because it's a bigger post due to being a bigger day.  It was not bigger distance or elevation gain wise but everything else wise!  Shortly after one kilometre and we make that left turn onto the trail to fabulousness, we have a  view of the never ending meadows this area is known for and The Monarch.  

The trail goes on forever.

Through meadow after meadow after meadow.

Gradually gaining & loosing elevation all the while.

We make the steep descent to Howard Douglas Lake.  The smell of smoke we had at the beginning of the hike was disappearing but the hazy sky was sticking with us.  Not enough though to not afford a reflection shot.  We stopped for a very very short break here....  

....before coming out on the other side to a wildflower explosion! 

The views were expansive all day, and we were glad when that haze finally did lift.  

There were pretty little creeks to cross.

We concurred we had our timing right with the wildflowers possibly being at their prime.  I remembered about the "low down" I learned on Healy and went for it here.  With no effort to a "low down", this is the reward you reap.

We arrived at the base of Citadel Peak where Citadel Lake came into view.  

We knew we were not far now from our destination.  

Citadel Peak

the view to my right from our dining spot

the view in front of me

Mount Assiniboine 

After refueling, we explored a bit and played around.  

We began our day way back behind those ridges and mountains. 

The temperature was ideal, the breeze kept the bugs at bay,

I could have stayed here all day!

Short Stop and Making Waves

With still much more to see, we packed up and hit the trail for the return trip.  I checked out the kiosk and then crossed the border into Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park first then quickly back into Banff National Park.

I swear the wildflowers bloomed even more while we dined.

They appeared even more spectacular on the return trip if that is even possible.

My energy level was not at its finest today but I still felt like I could soar.  

I played at Quartz Ridge while my friends checked out Quartz Hill.

My friends are up there on Quartz Hill somewhere at a place I will check out on another day.  

Once we regrouped, we aimed for the long trails that wind through the massive meadows.  

This meadow was the proving ground for "hippy-on-a-stick".

Before exiting towards the intersection that would just about end our day, I had one final look back at this grand vista.  The clouds came and went all day while the temperture rose to 25C.  There was no drop of rain nor clash of thunder both of which were in the forecast.  I agree with a "premier" rating for this trek as it left me wondeirng "am I dreaming" was I really there, was all that beauty for real? Pinch me!

With a bit of time to spare, we visited Rock Isle Lake first before checking in to get our token for the bus ride down to our vehicle.  We were amongst the last remaining few who tried to prolong leaving the area.  Eventually though, you do have to head home!