Sunshine Meadows July 9, 2019

I like being up on top of the world in all seasons.  I like the feeling of being so high.  I like being up there where you can see forever.  I love when you don't have to put in the hard work to get there! Hiking through Sunshine Meadows on a summer's day, up where the Sunshine Ski Hill is, makes me feel like I am on top of the world!  It cost you dollars to get there but it is worth every cent.  I produced my Drivers License and got the Alberta Residence Discount to ride the gondola up to Sunshine Village.  I knew right away this was the day to be here.  It was very warm at the Village, it was quiet, and the sun was shining.    

Today's plan was to hike the loop around the three lakes first and then hike on over to the Monarch Lookout via Twin Cairns to Monarch Lookout Trail, finishing up by descending the Meadow Park Trail thus completing a great big loop.

 the trail that leads to Rock Isle Lake with a view of Mount Bourgeau behind me

After the gradual ascent up to where you can see forever, Rock Isle Lake comes into view.  Before arriving here, I wondered what it would look like today and would there be loads of people in the area.   I arrived to see it looking as clear and sheer as a pane of glass.  Even better there was no one to be seen.

The trail climbs a tiny bit and then loops around to the back side of Rock Isle Lake.  Here you get a view off to The Monarch and the Monarch Ramparts.  The damage done by that fire back in 2017 is still visible on the slope which leads down to Eohipus Lake.

 The next lake in the loop is Grizzly Lake. 

That 2017 fire reached the shore.

 I took the short detour off to the Simpson Viewpoint.  

As far as you can see down along the Simpson Valley the damage from the fire is visible.  

Next you come to Laryx Lake.  The Sunshine People put a few benches in a cleared area that make a perfect spot to sit awhile and snack and savour scenery.  It was incredibly peaceful as I was on my own with only two others that hiked on by.

 The Monarch and her Ramparts reflecting in Laryx Lake

 taking even some more moments at Laryx Lake

 The paintbrush wildflowers are only beginning to open up.

After completing the loop of the three lakes I took the left trail from the intersection that would lead me out to the wide open meadow section.  The trail is called The Monarch Lookout Trail.  I hoped for flowers and big puddles.  

 "walking on sunshine and don't it feel good"

The Sunshine Meadows crosses back and forth over The Continental Divided and from Alberta into British Columbia and back and forth again.  That is Twin Cairns behind the sign.  When I am looking for a weather forecast for this area on Mountain Forecast,  I always put in Twin Cairns.

wide open meadow with lots of little bridges 

This section of Sunshine Meadows only opened a few days ago due to being very wet.  

It is still wet with lots of gigantic puddles but they are off trail.  

wildflowers

a path is cleared to reach the Monarch Lookout

I reached the Monarch Lookout and then carried on down towards Simpson Pass.  

I did not go to the Pass but to an area where there are views and a place to sit for some time.  

The views are amazing here

a perfect place to sit and put my feet up

expressing my love for everything about this day

thousands of glacier lilies were in full bloom all over the place

I dined and then I dashed off to the Meadow Park Trail

The descent along the Meadow Park Trail is just short of two kilometers.  I arrived back at Sunshine Village and sat at a picnic table to snack and enjoy the sunshine.  I people watched, by now there were loads to watch.  Ready to call it a day, I hopped on a gondola for the ride back down to the parking lot.

Tombstone Lakes July 7, 2019

Oh what to do?  Oh where to go?  Oh what's the forecast?  I feel like I am spending too much time weather watching these days!  Ya gotta do your homework though cause ya wanna be safe when you are "out & about" playing!  I had put a suggestion out there a few days ago to hike into Tombstone Lakes with the intention to weather watch then make an informed smart decision just prior to go time.  I weather watched and weather watched and weather watched until I was weather watched out and ready to say na, I can't be bothered weather watching anymore, I don't wanna go.  But, just as I was ready to officially declare that, an email popped in and my friend said oh come on let's go.  I jumped on board quickly and first thing this morning off we went.  

While the weather said otherwise, I did hope for blue sky & sunshine, this is what we got!

While gearing up at the Elbow Lake Parking Lot we spotted a coyote wandering about.  We made sure to check for him along the trail and within a matter of about 5 minutes from leaving the vehicle we spotted it in the bushes just off the trail. It eyed us as we eyed it.

We got the steep climb to the Lake over with quickly.  

Elbow Lake was like a mirror.

It was extra marshy and wet around the edges. 

We crossed the bridge from the Provincial Park into the Wildlands Park.  The trail was wet and we did lots of skirting around puddles, rock hopping, off trail bushwhacking.  I have never seen so much water along this trail.  This looked more like a little lake or a tarn rather than the trail.  It took lots of skirting to get around it.

I always like arriving at this wide open section where you can see forever.  That's Tombstone Mountain to my right in the photo and behind me you see the Cats Ears and Piper Pass.  We considered Piper Pass as a possibility but we had no river crossing footwear with us and it was more like a river than a creek that we would have to cross.

About a klick away from the Tombstone Campground we heard thunder and then the sky opened up and shed buckets and buckets of rain down upon us.  We discussed what to do and I suggested let's at least get to the Campground and find some shelter to dry off and have a bit to eat.  We found some shelter in and amongst a conglomerate of trees.

Maybe 20 or 30 minutes later the sky quickly cleared.  

I snuck out from the shelter to have a peek. 

This is what I saw.

 We opted to take our chances and go on up to Tombstone Lakes.  

This is the view behind us as we began the ascent.

 July 7th and there are still crocuses out there.

We arrived at the Lower Tombstone Lake as the sky turned grey.  It didn't look too threatening so we stuck with our plan.  I have always easily hiked around this Lake but it wasn't obvious enough today  if we could make it with how full the lake was.

 We made our way up to the Upper Tombstone Lake only to see wow it was larger than ever also.  

It was always easy to walk around this lake too but no way that was happening today.  

 enough water to show off a full reflection 

It was overcast and we were not sure what could transpire so we quickly scampered up the rocky ridge for an overall view and I wanted to capture my destination shot up there.  Then just as quickly we scampered back down.  

 view of the Upper Tombstone Lake from on top of the rocky ridge

 back down to a safe wide open space we settled in for tea and lunch

Our lunch time entertainment was a Mom marmot and her babies.  Here you can see one baby right beside her and the other one at the bottom right beginning to climb up to her.  She watched us intently and made some ear piercing squeals.   As we finished dining and began to pack up, the marmot Mom gathered her babies and the family scooted on down behind the boulder and disappeared out of sight.

We arrived back at Tombstone Campground and checked it out now that the weather was nice.  It had been closed for a couple of years and just opened again within the past couple of weeks.   Thank you to those who worked their wonders on making this such a nice space.   It looked so inviting I was wishing I was staying the night.  Some day, some night!

We were thankful to have beautiful weather for our hike back.  

This meadow was yellow from end to end covered in buttercups.

 The river was fast flowing under the bridge.

 at the bridge with the trail and campground behind me

 back up on top of that little hill you have the valley view to the meadow and campground

 view looking back at Tombstone Mountain while along the return trip

We did the same puddle jumping and bushwhacking and skirting while hiking back.  In places we did more and other places less was needed. We arrived back at Elbow Lake and I had to capture some shots. With the time of day and the lighting it made the color of the lake look unreal, but, it was real.

I am so glad we just went for it today taking our chances with the weather.  

We were gifted a most beautiful day out where life begins!

Guinns Pass & Mount Kidd Outlier July 1, 2019

It's been many, many months since I put together an official hiking event.  I wanted to share this Canada Day with others who are as passionate as me about being out there doing what we love in a place we are proud to call our home and native land!  I picked our celebration to take place up on Guinns Pass & Mount Kidd Outlier.  An effort would be necessary to get there, the views would be grand and the summit space is large enough for us to spread out.  It all came together nicely!

We went for an early start which for me is the only way to go these days.  That afforded us a very quiet parking lot, the opportunity to own the trail and to enjoy our summit celebration under ideal weather conditions.  While gearing up I scanned the sky and the mountain peaks.

We hit the long winding trail following Galatea Creek all the way up to Lillian Lake, crossing many bridges.  The campground area was quiet.  Some backpackers had already vacated their spots while others we think were still sleeping.  We carried on by the campground then ascended up to where the intersection is for either the Galatea Lakes or Guinns Pass.  This is the trail we took towards Guinns Pass.

 looking back down at Lillian Lake

The wildflowers were beautiful.  The slopes were covered in forgetmenots, glacier lilies, anemones, and many others flowers that I have no idea what they were.  You can see behind me, that brown peak on the middle right, well that is our destination.

a glacier lily

My favourite part on this new trail is after you pass by the last of the small tree sections and then you have this grand wide open view where you can see forever.  Guinns Pass is at the V in the middle and Mount Kidd Outlier is at the top on the far right.

 view from Guinns Pass over to Buller Pass 

 There was still a good amount of snow at Guinns Pass.  

We opted to capture our celebration photos at Guinns Pass.  

The weather was perfect as was the backdrop and we could safely all be together in one spot.  

We donned our colors and proudly displayed our flags.  

true patriot love

 We continued ascending following along the edge to where we could witness Ribbon Lake below.

 looking back at Lillian Lake and the trail we took to reach Guinns Pass

 It's always nice when you can take a few minuntes to relax on a sofa!

 a view off to a landscape filled with many colorful layers

We reached the summit of Mount Kidd Outlier and then carried on a short distance down past it.  The location offered up a more wide open space and some shelter.  This was my dining view.  What more could you ask for?  We got the front row seats to a private prime time presentation!

from far and wide Oh Canada

 I proudly displayed a banner on the back of my pack.

 my summit shot on Mount Kidd Outlier

with glowing hearts

 We began the trek back after a nice long lunch break.  

That's Mount Kidd as the backdrop.

 lots of wildflowers amongst the rough and rugged rocky ridge

We reached the junction and then made our way back down to Lillian Lake passing by it this time and then began the long descent along the creek, through the forest, over the bridges.  I savoured this one last view before it was time to focus on my foot placement skirting mud and stepping over large rocks and roots.

What a great day we shared in this beautiful place we get to call our home.  

glorious and free

Oh Canada

Happy Birthday