Hiking

Seems like after every Calyx, my husband finally gets to do something with me because the busyness has slowed down.

This time we headed to Kananaskis Country, between Calgary and Banff, and went for a hike around the Upper Kananaskis Lake to see the Lower Kananaskis Falls. The day was overcast but quite warm for an October day in the mountains.

A view across the lake, looking west.

Dave with Mount Sarrail behind him and the Rawson Ridge that he climbed a couple weeks earlier above the treeline.

Lichen hanging off the trees.

A Three-Toed Woodpecker we came across, working away for his lunch. Love his yellow cap!

The turn-around point, the falls.

View across the lake, looking east, towards the Elk Range.

My favourite shot, above the lake, on the Palliser Rockslide, and the path we walked through it in the background.

It was a very quiet day in the mountains, we only came across 2 other groups and their dogs. On the way home, as the sun was setting, some of the ponds in different fields had swans in them! Either Trumpeter Swans that live north of Edmonton, or Tundra Swans who are migrating from the Arctic (I think Tundra, but we couldn't get close enough to see if they had the distinctive yellow mark on their beaks.) It was just the right place at the right time - I haven't seen them for quite a few years.

Life after Calyx

Calyx was a great day on Saturday, visiting with lots of people and discussing textiles with everyone. I sold lots of art pieces, silk scarves, and jewellery. But now that that rush is over it is time to hit the mountains!

Today we headed out to Grassi Lakes, just outside of Canmore. I can't believe that I have lived in Calgary for 30 years and have never done this super popular hike. A weekday in late October is a perfect time to do it as it is usually packed with locals and tourists.

Yesterday was an amazing fall day of 21c and sun. Today was overcast and quite a bit cooler but that was okay for hiking.
Heading west, out of town... The skies to the NW had hints of blue sky and sun peeking through but looking SW it was pretty dark over the mountains!

We took the "difficult trail" up, much more scenic through the trees heading towards the waterfalls. It started spitting rain so I had to borrow Dave's hat (he had a hood) - it was not too bad as anyone who knows me knows how difficult it is for me to find one that looks half-decent on me!

Then above the waterfalls it got interesting with lots of scree and rundlestone steps - lots of vertical covered!

But the lakes make it worthwhile!
There are two, the Lower Grassi

and the Upper Grassi, and they are famous for their colours. Keep in mind this was a dull day and look at how the colours still shine!

And the shadows of the mountain above made for great reflections from some other people who showed up just in time to be photographed across the lake!

Then we climbed above the Upper Lake to the pictographs and the canyon that goes further on to another dam. (Note the rock climbers over Dave's head.)

 

Turning back and heading down the mountain. Here is the view of the two lakes, the reservoir below them, and the town of Canmore on the valley floor.

And Dave ran into a little friendly chipmunk.

For the hike down, we took the "easy trail" (a service road), just to check out the different option. Quite boring in comparison to the hike up through the woods.

As we left the sun broke out from behind the clouds...

And the sunset this evening was quite lovely back in town. Nice soft fall colours...

 

 

Hiking in the Rocky Mountains

Today was a gorgeous fall day and we headed out of Calgary, west to the Rocky Mountains.
First, across the Prairies... where harvesting is in full swing:

into the Foothills and then mountains...

Castle Mountain had the most glorious light on it!

close up of Castle...

through Banff, down the highway, through the village of Lake Louise and finally into the parking lot of Chateau Lake Louise. Here is a sign of the possible trails - we selected Lake Agnes Tea House.

here is the typical tourist shot everyone takes when they first come to the lake

and a map of where we are headed

on the trail heading up up up

along the way we passed Mirror Lake and the Big Beehive

keep climbing...

We hiked up 1300 feet to Lake Agnes, which is at an elevation of 7005 ft (2135 m). The clear shallow lake had lovely reflections and that trademark blue colour.

and the Tea House, where we stopped for a pot of Chai tea and some homemade soup...

Clark's Nutcracker, member of the crow family. This guy was hanging around the tea house looking for crumbs - they are quite cheeky with people.

looking across the valley to Lake Louise Ski Hill

while we are up here, let's hike around Lake Agnes!

lichen #1

lichen #2

this plant was busy hosting a variety of insects

looking back at the tea house

heading back down the mountain and what do we find... WHAT??? You can ride up?

on the hike down, the first view of Lake Louise and it's gorgeous indescribable colour

how iconic - the canoe and the flag, on Lake Louise

back to the bottom - oh my...

good bye Lake Louise!

What a glorious day! The weather was perfect with not a cloud in the sky...

On the way home my husband told me we climbed vertically the equivalent of a 100 story building, then climbed down - I said it was a good thing he didn't tell me that beforehand because I would never have agreed to go. But it was a wonderful day!