Going on a bear Hunt

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Sunday dawned very wet and the forecast wasn't promising for the rest of the day. Mid morning we set off for a Tim Horten's coffee. Not a good decision on a wet, long weekend Sunday. The queue had to be 20 deep. Stuart joined us at this point and suggested we go for drive along the Bow Valley Parkway and animal spot.
First stop was an overlook for the Bow River. Back in 1996, my family and I had sat here eating our lunch, having just spent 3 days skiing at Sunshine Village. The boys were 10 and 8.

The animal count wasn't high, but the drive very enjoyable.

                                 7 elk

Osprey nesting on a bridge across the Bow River.

 

Leaving the Parkway, the car travelled east along the 93, climbing to the point of the Continental Divide and into British Columbia. The surrounding mountain peaks were covered in cloud, so we could only imagine their beauty. One was called Storm Mountain. I could fully understand why, on this day. Not long after we pulled into the carpark for Marble Canyon. The canyon is surrounded by burnt trees from a blazing fire that swept through in 2003, burning for nearly a month.

Mount Whymper.

             Storm Mountain

The limestone canyon carved out by Tokumm Creek, over thousands of years, is deep and dramatic, with glacial meltwater that is a spectacular ice blue. It is impossible to photograph its magnificence 

with my camera. 

The photos are in the order from the exit of the canyon back up to its entrance waterfall.

A layered rock just 'sitting' beside the canyon. How? When? What is it? 

Back in town, we took a walk along the Bow River, before finding somewhere to dine for the evening.

Rainy yes, but another magic day with our son in his beautiful part of the world. I would love to read your comment.

Barrier Lake, Prairie Trail, Kananaskis Provincial Park

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Saturday morning dawned wet and cold, with the mountains lost in cloud. By 11.30, when Stuart collected us, the sun was shining brightly over Banff. As we headed towards Calgary to take the Kananaskis Highway to Barrier Lake, we soon left the sun behind, but the lower cloud lifted revealing some of this valley's beauty.

It was 12 o'clock, when we hiked across the Barrier of the lake to make our ascent of McConnell Ridge, on the Prairie Trail.

               View from the carpark.

Lovely colours of the lower forest.

Somewhere up in the clouds is where we are headed.

An interesting small area beside the lower trail Someone had placed a scattering of gerbra's in the small firs. I would love love to know why.

Trail beginning to get steeper.

And steeper.

View back to the carpark, halfway up.

Nearing the summit, we were fortunate to arrive as the clouds briefly parted.

Wildflowers trying to show their spring beauty.

Here the trail became extremely steep, muddy and slippery. Without our poles [still travelling] we deemed it sensible to turn round just a little further along.

The beautiful Ptarmigan bird chose to exit the forest and impress us with his beauty, soon after we made this decision.

The descent was at a much relaxed pace.

Now, where did we hike too?!

13 kms of rewarding hiking, even if the ascent was a little tough.

I would love to read your comment.

Damp, Fabulous Banff.

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Yeah, I can access my blog.

Our 29 hour journey was pleasant except for the fact that our luggage is still trying to catch up with us. Fortunately we had packed a set of clothes and our hiking boots in our backpack so yesterday we were out and about with our son. The weather wasn't at it's best, but we had a magic day on two trails, covering 10 k's.

Initially we had a stroll down Banff Avenue.
                          Cascade Mountain

Bow River - snow melt flow.

A 20 minute drive to Canmore took us to the Grassi Trail. This delightful flat walk through the pine trees very quickly became mountain goat climbing, but the rewards were magnificent.

A drive along the Bow Valley, took us past the beautiful Lac des Arcs.

Somewhere opposite this shoreline we commenced hiking along Heart Canyon, named for Heart Mountain dominating above.

                          Before the hike

                     After the hike

Rain is forecast for the next 2 days, but as they have had a very dry winter, I won't complain and take each day as it comes.

I would love to read your comment.