Waterton Lakes National Park July 12, 2026

Last minute cancellations for someone meant a big time score for me!  I can never get enough of Waterton Lakes National Park. My visit here the end of May was amazing, that left me wanting more. After the three hour drive here, arriving to high plus twenties Celsius temperatures, I did not have it in me to start a hike, yet I sure was ready for many short walks and drives. This was the view along the winding road not far from the Park Entrance.

I drove the loop around the Bison Paddock. Just before entering the Paddock, I saw the Bison by the water.  They could not be seen along the drive so I exited the Paddock then drove to the lookout lot. After a five minute walk up the hill, this was the view. There they were, parents and babies, all by the water cooling off.  

After entering the Park, I went on numerous short walks along the Red Rock Parkway and Akamina Parkway. Wildflower season is in full swing and that captured most of my attention.  There were other sights to enjoy such as seeing this Brewer’s Blackbird which was one of many.  

Wild Gaillardia

Brown-eyed Susan

view at Maskinonge

Wild Daisy

I have never seen so many Wild Daisies, they line both Parkways and filled fields.

I had to stop to let a family of something cross the road. 

There was an adult and three little ones.  

This one was trying to catch up.

Wild Alberta Rose

view along one of the short walks

view from one of the pull outs

Paintbrush 

Wild Daisies along one of the short walks 

Lupines

This is my first sighting of a fawn this year.  It was with its Mom.  

They were meandering in the townsite.

alpine hiking July 8, 2026

This is what getting happily high on a hot day looks like!

The downhill ski season ended at Banff Sunshine on Sunday July 5th then Sunshine Meadow hiking season started July 6th.  Hiking season was a late start this year due to there being an extraordinary amount of snow.  Getting up high onto the alpine was the perfect place to go to escape the city heat. How high did I get you ask!  I left Calgary which is at 1045 meters (3428 feet) above sea level and drove to the Sunshine Parking lot which is at 1668 meters (5472 feet).  A view as I aim for the Gondola which is at the top of the stairs to the left. 

The Gondola took me up to 2180 meters (7152 feet).

This is the view looking out the Gondola window.

After getting off the Gondola, I followed the path through the Village to the Standish Chairlift which took me up to 2372 meters (7782 feet) above sea level.  This is the view ahead of me as I ride the Chairlift up higher. 

I stepped off the Chairlift to this view!

There was a lovely cool bite in the air so I started hiking with all my layers on. 

While there was not much snow left in this area, there was on the trails to the west. They were closed due to the snow and also bridges along the trail were in need of repair. Sunshine employees spent time over the past few days shovelling snow from sections of the hiking trails.   

scene from Standish Viewpoint 

arriving to one of many viewpoints of Rock Isle Lake

a baby Hippy on a Stick

mature Hippy on a Stick

Chipping Sparrow

Western Anemone

arriving at Grizzly Lake

Glacier Lilies 

This is the first of three snowmen that I built. There were lots of locations where snow lined the trail making it easy to access and totally irresistible. The child within came out to play.  

view of Laryx Lake

a Common Loon at Laryx Lake

looking back at Laryx Lake

completing the loop and arriving back at Rock Isle Lake

a little more uphill

this ground squirrel looks ready for a nap

at the top of the last uphill section

all downhill from here

wildflowers lining the trail 

Before hoping on the Gondola to head back down to the parking lot, time was well spent relaxing, snacking and taking in the views.  Eventually I tore myself away. I offered well wishes to other hikers sitting nearby, who I chatted with on the trails. The Gondola whisked me back to the parking lot, I geared down, slid into my vehicle and after a ninety minute drive, I arrived back home to where the temperature gauge read +30C!

two stories July 4, 2026

I have far too many stories to tell. 

I picked two to share with you! 

story #1

For a few hours every day, I make time to be "out & about" somewhere.  With camera in hand and a pep in my step, kilometres are covered (which are quicker these days to keep ahead of the bugs). Even though the  pace is speedy, I still stop, I listen and I look to left and right. There is loads of looking up too. The clouds always capture my attention and they have been lovely lately.  Between seeing the cloud formations, the wildflowers and the wildlife, I always arrive home with a treasure of photographs and a smile on my face.  

two Wood Duck Ducklings in a cuddle

a House Wren captured a snack to bring home to share

the Cedar Waxwing was swallowing the berries whole

one of about fifty White Pelicans

a Robin ready to feed the young ones

I learned a little more about Double-crested Cormorants after seeing these two.  Males and females look alike, it is hard to distinguish which is which so I don't know what the one on the left is. I learned the one of the right would be a non-breeding female as it is predominantly dark.

Blue-winged Teal with her Ducklings

One day while "out & about", I garnered a nickname, it's "chatty birder". I met a birder on a trail and asked what have you seen so far.  I then shared what I saw.  She made a click on her device and said "met a chatty birder".  She was playing bingo while birding and I fit one of the boxes.  

 

story #2

July is World Watercolour Month! There are numerous sites that offer daily challenges. While I don't care to do a challenge each day of the month for July (during a winter month I would),  I still want to participate in some capacity. I picked one of my favourite watercolour sites and will play along with their challenge.  July 1st, Day 1 was a wet on wet wash. This is my outcome, the words were put on afterwards via photoshop.  The challenges are not meant to take much time.  I did another one on another day.  But.....

 .....I did another painting outside of the challenge!  If you have been here, you know where it is!  I worked on this watercolour painting a few days ago during the rain event and when the wildfire smoke blew in. The thought of painting this came to mind when a friend shared with me a painting she purchased from a local young budding artist which was of this location but done in acrylics. I have been fortunate enough to visit this place many times over the years but not in the last four years.  I am sharing a few of the times I was there which were always stop for a photo before veering off on a trail for one of many big hikes in the area.

This is my photo which I used as a reference. 

This photo was taken on June 28, 2021. 

September 18, 2010

May 28, 2016

with Helen from Walking with Friends Down Under

October 12, 2019

This was the last time I visited Moraine Lake in Banff National Park! It was for sunrise on June 29th, 2021. I shared the space with no one before heading off for a hike in snow up to Larch Valley. It was when our world changed and borders were not open yet. I cherish every second I ever spent over the years in this piece of paradise! Our world is different now, I doubt very much I will ever get back to Moraine Lake. 

a simple ink and wash to pass a few moments while dinner was cooking