Panorama Meadows September 28, 2020

The star of today's show was the larch tree!

The days are numbered for prime larch viewing so there is no putting off another hike for another day.  I had not had my fill yet so picked Panorama Meadows as my destination for today knowing the trees were in abundance in that area.  It was a very dull bright day! I checked the temperature and conditions and assumed sunshine but sunshine I was not gifted. Yet on such a dull day, it glowed brightly.  

Until just before Taylor Lake, there is nothing to see except a trail lined with tall trees so I just made it my business to get that section over with then get on with the "remember to breathe" task which is what I came here for.    I took a few minutes at Taylor Lake.  I have been here a few times and there has never been a blue sky over top.    

I ventured up the trail beside the campground and picnic tables to find my way to Panorama Meadows.  It does not take long before you pop out into the open and are presented with grand vistas.  Yes there is snow up here, just enough to be an added bonus to the prettiness.  That is Panorama Ridge framed by the two tall larches.  

being one with the larch trees

a creek runs through it

The trees were at their prime and some beyond.  The path, the creek and the puddles were covered in needles.  A windy day and the trees will quickly bare their branches.  Working my way through the meadows was a slow go, oh such a slow go.  I took it all in just in case this is the last prime viewing of the season for me.  

The creeks were such a pretty sight.  The rocks were golden and the mossy grass so green.

I like the Panorama Meadows trail because the larch trees are right there, you brush by them as you hike along  It's a win win situation with the grand vistas of the trees and also the up close and personal feeling with them.  I was on my own up here until I began the trek back.  I met many people just on their way in and each set of people was a surprise to see because they would just appear from amongst a bunch of trees.

meadows meet mountains

I invested much time in that "remember to breathe" task and began experiencing that fulfilled feeling.  Time to turn around and take it all in again from another vantage point.  The golden path leads away from the meadow and back into the forest to Taylor Lake.  I visited the Lake again and then hit the trail to descend back to the parking lot.

Yes, the star of the show today was the larch tree!  Instead of the stars being rewarded they rewarded us. I along with many others were the recipients of a gold rated presentation.  I gladly accepted this reward and will cherish it!  Anyone who was at Panorama Meadows today was a winner!  

Mine & Mother Nature's

We are being blessed with wonderful weather here making it very enjoyable being 'out & about" getting our fill of Mother Nature's autumn colours.  Today I joined my sister for a walk through Bowness and Baker Parks and for lunch from Seasons Cafe afterwards.  I love mornings like these that start out crispy enough that gloves are needed and you can feel your nose and cheeks turning pink.  We also donned our downs.  We kicked off with a visit around the Lagoon then went for the loop.

She calls me "crazy!"  Those are not my feet swishing through all the leaves!

The morning was still enough to capture perfect reflections! 

Which side is right side up? 

Am I playing with you here?  

Can you tell the top from the bottom?

Lots of the leaves are already down making for pretty ground cover yet so many remain on the trees that they are still pretty too.  Walking around these two parks was a new experience for my sister.  I enjoy seeing these old familiar places to me through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time.  We walked in spring, summer, autumn...I wonder will we wander in winter?

Colours always seem prettier by water.  I like how these trees add autumn shades to the Bow River.

While life happens, I still look forward to when we will walk again!  

My Sketching!

I have my own kind of colours! Mine are of the pencil kind and come in a tin box. Mother Nature has her shades to share these days and these are mine.  The summit register signing photo was taken on Red Peak August 28, 2019.  I have been wanting to try my hand at sketching a summit shot.  Faces are not my forte and I have no interest right now in making them so.  My selfie shots may need to be from behind!  I have taken no lessons in facial features so for this sketch, I just did the profile outline and filled it in with some light peach.  I still know its me!   

I am feeling ready for another mountainous adventure and we have a user-friendly forecast ahead!

Stay tuned!

Nose Hill Sunrise September 25, 2020

It's been a week of colour filled "outs & abouts!" From the shades found in the National Park on Monday to the hues in the Wildlands Park on Wednesday and then today the tones located in the city at Nose Hill Park.  It paid to be up and out with the birds for sunrise time on The Hill.  I actually missed the first few seconds of when the sun peaked above the horizon as I was distracted by the multitude of beautiful reds and oranges and yellows that were on fire.  I traipsed all over creation appreciating the variety of colours in the different locations. These few photos depict Nose Hill in her autumn splendour!   

Tombstone Campground September 23, 2020

 g o i n g   f o r   c o l o u r

Lot's of colour in my life is what I embrace!  At this time of year there is so much out there, it's easy to find and I became one with it today on my way to and from the Tombstone Backcountry Campground. Earlier in the year when my thoughts poured out on paper with ideas and plans of how to fill my summer, backpacking to this campground made the list.  Then wham to our world and my wants wavered.  A day hike in the area during early autumn would be fulfilling, that I was certain.   

Crossing over from the Provincial into the Wildlands.

early morning light along the Big Elbow Trail

The colours were as I expected them to be!

What a pleasant surprise to find there were a few larch trees at their golden prime just off the trail. 

As I descended down to Desolation Flat dark clouds began to roll in and fill the sky.  The wind whipped up as it was forecasted to do so.  Even though, I still took some time to admire the scenery along the way and take a little veer to the right to capture more colour.

I took shelter at the dining section of the Tombstone Backcountry Campground.  It was still on the early side yet late enough for an early lunch.  I shared the space with two backpacking fellows who were sorting and backing up their gear.  They stayed the night, now it was time for them to move on down the trail.  Others were in the distance taking down their tents.  Most pads were vacant and my mind drifted to the thought it would have been lovely here last night.  

That wind that whipped up just as quickly blew out all those dark clouds it brought in a short time ago.  WOW did the wind now whip!  I left the campground and ascended out of Desolation Flat to get back on the trail for the long hike back.  My intentions were to just move along but I failed miserably at that.  It was just too pretty!  

I veered off the main trail in a few spots just to see what I could see.

There were a couple of low ridges that were calling me so I answered the call.  From here I could see off to the rolling meadows below me.  It was such a pretty place and an ideal photo opportunity.  I lined up my camera to capture the beauty when something blurred across the lens. Curious as to what that was, I lowered my camera only to see a grizzly bear bolting across the meadow.  I knew I needed to bolt too!  I quickly made my way back to the trail and moved with purpose.  For hikers coming towards me, I offered an alert.  

With distance and time behind me, I felt safe and began taking time to invest in the scenery again.  

As I approached Elbow Lake, the sky filled with dark clouds again.  I still was not ready to call it a day so I walked around the Elbow Lake Backcountry Campground.  At the beginning of it, I settled in at the fire pit area to finish off the last of my hot beverage and the balance of my sandwich.  As I did so my mind drifted off to the thought it would have been lovely here last night!    

I  f o u n d  w h a t  I  w a s  

l o o k i n g  f o r !

Healy Pass September 21, 2020

It's short!  It's sweet!  It's larch season!

The weather forecast looked delightful for hours spent lost amongst the beauty of the golden glow!  That golden glow appears prime for a mere one to two week time range into mid September.  Within that window the larch lovers hope for sunshine, blue sky, warm temperatures, no wind nor snow nor smoke.   That total package came today, the day we say good-bye to summer.   With numerous locations to choose from to witness the glow, I picked Healy Pass.  I knew I would have lots of luck here with good parking and few other lovers.  In fact for the entire 19 kms, 726 metres of gain over 5.5 hours,  I saw 15 people.

from this point forward that golden glow glistened

a second in time when I was being one with the beauty.  

The pace from where the golden glow began right up to Healy Pass was a slow saunter.  All variables were on my side so I took tonnes of time to "remember to breathe!".  One never knows if the stars will align for tomorrow or the next day. The majority of the larch trees were at their prime, some were still green, yet there were spots where the needles were already covering the trail.

I could not have asked for anything more!  

This is it!

I reached Healy Pass and wandered around where we are permitted to do so.  This was an ideal location to love a larch.  There was enough blue in the sky with openings between the clouds for the sun to shine through.  I took time to sit on the big rock and enjoy my 100% ownership, a boiled egg, half of a turkey & ham sandwich, some multigrain rounds, a few salted pretzels and washed it all down with my gatorade water mix. Oh and of course, I let my eyes get their fill of the sights. 

The Monarch & The Monarch Ramparts

Feeling full of fulfilment, I was ready to begin the trek back.  

I had one last look behind me, then it was forward ho.  

For the hike back, I just moved while admiring the beauty knowing I already had enough wonderful photographs to hold me for this larch season if need be.  I captured one last second in time though while hiking through the final open meadow.  After this it was focusing on the rocky rooty trail that winds through the forest then after a few kilomters pops you out at the Sunshine Ski-Hill Village.  

The golden glow soothed my soul !  

whiling away the weekend

We booked sister time for today and when we did I prayed the air would be clear of smoke!  The forecast called for it to be gone into this morning and the forecast lived up to the hype.  We spent a few hours traipsing around Fish Creek Park filling our lungs with the fresh air, clearing out the smoke webs between the ears and admiring the autumn hues.  The Park was a happening place and it's the perfect place for the happening to be happening! 

This is our contribution to all the happenings!

the trail to lunch

We opted to pick up lunch from Annie's and savour it sitting on a bench still taking in more fresh air and still admiring the autumn hues.  Today felt like a gift!   I was reminded to be thankful for days like this when we can see blue in the sky and visibility distance goes on forever.  I wish this for those south of us in the western United States.   

Over the past couple of days I spent many hours inside where it was the easiest to breathe and where I could keep my eyes open without them stinging.  I used my eyes and my hands to lay these two photographs onto new types of sketch paper.  The mountain bluebird photo was taken at Glenbow Ranch this past Monday and the leaf photograph was taken last year in September while on a hike to Ball Pass.  Before sketching these, I learned a little about the different kinds of feathers on a bird and the other lesson I learned was sketching drops of water.   It was a treat to get away from greens, browns and greys. 

No greens, nor browns, nor greys, 

it is mid September 

and that means 

orange, red, yellow, gold. 

Stay tuned!

Three Lakes Valley September 17, 2020

Mid September means it's time for another reason to make your way to the mountains!  Larch season is upon us!  While I have been to Chester Lake & The Elephant Rocks, I have never been up to Three Lakes Valley and that was our destination for today. The Lake & The Rocks are quite something to see to begin with, add the golds, crimsons and yellows of autumn and you are packed a punch of beauty.  My hope was the smoke would not hinder our experience and I was pleased it did not.  At a level rating at 3 out of 10, there was no smell, no stinging of the eyes nor throat yet there was a haze that hung over.   

We arrived at The Elephant Rocks above Chester Lake to see the larch trees were making good progress in turning that golden colour.  Some I would say were at their prime.  This surprised me but then again it is mid September and we were at a higher elevation location.  

I scrambled up onto The Rocks for a bird's eye view!

view as we worked our way through Three Lakes Valley

heading for the first lake which is up over the boulders on the right

By now the breeze had died down and we were afforded a perfect reflection.  

This was designated as our lunch spot.   After dining, I scooted up slope to be one with the colours.

looking down to where my friends were

Slowly we began to gather our gear to make our way back.  We lingered in doing so, it appeared no one really wanted to leave. We sauntered slowly but surely.  I made sure to still take in all the sights and captured some sweet seconds in time.  

view of Chester Lake 

Let your heart find love!  

That was an easy task today!