Icefields Parkway June 23, 2026

No matter what, I was going to be somewhere special today, make the most of the day and be extra grateful.  I knew a year ago today when I came out of surgery, that I had a tough journey ahead if I wanted to get back to feeling “on top of the world”!  Today was a celebration!

coffee time view from my deck

a new day is dawning 

the alpenglow show

view as I drove northwest along the Icefields Parkway 

This Pine Sisken was not my only greeter at the Wilcox Pass Trailhead parking lot.  It was a cold and frosty morning as you can see the frost buildup. My other greeter was a bobcat!  I was not quick enough to capture a photograph.  It walked out of the trail, passed about twenty feet in front of me and headed into the bushes.  It looked at me, it did not stop, it just slowly sauntered along.  I geared up and hit the trail making loads of noise.  I was the first in the parking lot so knew I was first on the tail.

first open view across to Athabasca Glacier

first snack break at the Red Chairs

Townsend’s Solitaire 

Hermit Thrush

Ground Squirrel 

There was still lots of snow and water to find a way around or over or through.

perfect place to be on a hot day

I have been here during mid summer when I was eye level with that sign.

I went as far as Wilcox Pass, I did not venture up to the Ridge. This is my feeling “on top of the world” shot! After taking care of my summit shot, I settle on the rock for close to an hour just to take it all in, be one with where I was physically and mentally. Living life like this is so healthy for the heart and so soothing for the soul. 

play time

a slice of ice

three inches in size

looking across at Athabasca Glacier

panorama shot 

not even a breeze

I took one last look back before heading into the trees! By now I had already met so many people hiking up. I was thankful to have ascended while it was cold.  Lots of huffing, puffing, complaining, coming from those going up,

I had a second, very late lunch back at my home away from home. 

Icefields Parkway June 22, 2026

 

The forecast looked promising plus I was able to secure accommodations equals time for a road trip along the Icefields Parkway.  Ahhh that’s the life, having the freedom to go at the spur of the moment. It did sprinkle as I loaded up the vehicle then it poured as I hit the highway.  By the time I began driving the Parkway, it began to clear, yet it was moody!  That’s O.K. I was up for moody!  

My first stop was at Bow Lake.  This is my kind of moody! I had a quick snack then laced up my hiking boots for a hike along the Bow Glacier Falls Trail.  I knew I would not be going the whole way, the trail is still closed near the junction due to the horrific accident at the Bow Glacier Falls on June 20th of last year.

Moody can be spirited and happy, that was my mood!

lots of water running from the snow melt

panorama with Crowfoot Mountain in the middle 

and the trail I followed on the right 

I went this far, where I could see the staircase in the middle across the moraine, the trail is closed shortly thereafter. The Bow Glacier Falls are on the right.  I believe the lighter rock colour to the right of the falls is where the rockfall happened.  Before heading back, I took a few minutes to think about those that lost their lives and also of those whose lives were changed in an instant.  

view walking back along the creek

the water really is that colour 

Crowfoot Mountain 

I arrived back at my vehicle, had lunch on my lawn chair in the grass, then got back on the Icefields Parkway.  At Saskatchewan River Crossing, I veered off onto the David Thompson Highway, exited Banff National Park then drove to the Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve for another hike.  The blue in the sky came and went yet the shade of blue of the water remained the same.

Yes, the water is that colour!

a few views from along the trail 

It was time to head back to the Icefields Parkway and check into my home away from home.

an ice cold Big Rock Honey Brown paired perfectly with the view from my deck

variety of visits : June 19, 2026

I've been collecting kilometres on a variety of footwear from my hiking boots, to hiking shoes and to my walking shoes from visits to various parks throughout the city.  The footwear is chosen based on route type, distance, weather and trail conditions.  There are far too many pretty pictures to post so I picked out just a handful to share from the past few days. Please drop in for a virtual visit! 

 
Every other day or so, I make a bit of time to learn something new to do with watercolour paints and brushes.  This painting below was not the intention yet when I reached this point, I knew this was it. I decided not to carry on to create my intention! I laid two basic continuous lines then swiped with paint and voila! So simply, so quick, such a pretty view! The following five photos after the painting are a variety of views I saw from various locations over the past few days.    

my favourite kind of clouds

Wild Gaillardia 

Wild Rose

Wild Blue Flax

Wild flower garden

The process of drawing one continuous line to create something was enjoyable for the painting above showing mountains, trees and a lake.  The envelope and invitation were fun to paint but were not done with one continuous line. I was game to give it another try, I had success with the nest. While on the go this week to various parks, not only were the views worth the visits, the variety of birds were at an all time high for me. I spotted the most nests I have ever seen in one season. Many baby birds are beginning their new journey in life.  I opted to pick out just six bird photos to share here.  

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Least Flycatcher

Baby Robin

Eastern Kingbird

Northern Flicker

Thank You for dropping by for a virtual visit! I hope you enjoyed your time here!  It was my pleasure entertaining you! It's so nice knowing that even though we are from a variety of places on our beautiful Earth, we have much in common enough so to look forward to virtual visits with each other.