Nose Hill Environmental Park March 30, 2021

to the moon and back

This is what the morning looks like when I am motivated to get out the door early, to cover 10kms towards my challenge, to get my head space into a good place and then clearly & happily face what the day will bring.  It is an interesting time of year to be up on Nose Hill exploring around and as each day passes towards the middle of spring, it will become full of life and colourful!  

It was a colourful start this morning when the sun peeked above the horizon and painted the landscape a glowing red.  The moon was still up and a bit past being full.  It seemed so close, like I could reach out..... 

 .....and touch it!

With the recent wild weather and the frigid temperature, I was curious as to what Nose Hill Lake would look like!  It was a pretty sight this morning.  It was once again frozen, in places like a pane of glass that afforded reflections.  With the wild winds paired with the cold temperatures, the wavy ripples were frozen in place.  I circumnavigated the Lake a few times enjoying all perspectives of it.  

capturing the sun in the perfect spot

not a mere fraction of a millimetre left or right 

Everyone look at the camera and smile pretty!

Nearing the 10km mark found me very close to where I began and the morning was still young yet.  

My heart was in a happy place and I felt ready for whatever the day would throw my way!

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary March 28, 2021

Unexpectedly this morning's visit to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary turned out being all about the scenery!  I returned sooner than expected after seeing photos of birds others saw recently on their visit here.  As soon as I arrived it was the reflections that caught my eye.  While I could here lots of songs I could not spot the singers so shifted my focus to capturing the pretty sights.    

When I heard a song, I did look up, there is lots of that head motion at the Sanctuary.   

The reflections were crystal clear in perfection.  

The sights remained pretty when I moved on along the trail to do a loop.

My wish was to cross this bridge to carry on with the loop.  I tried a few times but lost my nerve each time.  The goose sitting on the railing at the end of the bridge was guarding the territory and hissed at me each time I got close.  I am not a pro at goose activity so opted to do an about face and return the way I came.  

I know what this duck activity is!  

It was a beautiful morning and I wanted to make the most of it so carried on along the path that leads out of the Sanctuary and heads west.  I reached Harvie Passage and then strolled around throughout Pearce Estates before heading back to the Bird Sanctuary.   

As before, I was hearing songs but not spotting the singers.  I did spot this common starling and watched it for many minutes.  Three times it went into the burrow in the tree and pulled out twigs then dropped them to the ground.  This was a first for me to see!  I have seen birds bring twigs to build a nest but never the opposite.  I have so much to learn!

I completed that loop that I was denied access to early then followed the trail that lead me back to my car.  

urban nature

I lived the urban lifestyle this week gathering kilometres each day towards the virtual challenge.  After last weeks escape south to Waterton Lakes National Park, I felt quite content to drive city roads rather than hit the highway.  We will see how long the contentment lasts.  My urban hikes have a renewed purpose these days and that is witnessing spring in the making.  The birds are returning to our city, the ice and snow are melting, wildlife is waking and the spring snow storms are a sure sign of spring!

After seeing two robins up on Nose Hill, I knew it was time to return to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.  While strolling around, snapping a few shots, a gentleman asked did I see anything interesting or have any success, to which I replied, "not really"!  That was what I felt at that second in time, but once I loaded my photos at home, I realized I saw lots that was interesting and had much success.  My favourite photo of the day was the one in the bottom right of the first collage of the chickadee flicking the snow.  I also saw a northern flicker, a robin, and a european starling. 

In addition to the above birds,  

I saw of course lots of Canada geese, wood ducks and common mergansers.    

There were many mallards but I left those photos in the album.  

As each day passes, as more snow melts, as the temperatures grow warmer, 

more birds will return to the Sanctuary which means I will return again, soon.  

There are sure signs of spring up on Nose Hill and down along Nose Creek.  The lake is back at Nose Hill and for the first time ever I saw Canada geese floating in it.  The coyotes are out!  During an early morning walk along The Creek, this coyote howled like there was no tomorrow.  I believe it may have been guarding a den full of spring-time babies.  A few times recently we have received "thunder snow".  After the most recent event, I went for a walk to check it out.  In a couple of weeks a real sign of spring will appear at both these locations, and I will be on the lookout.  Crocus season is just around the corner!

Alps to Ocean Virtual Challenge Progress March 21, 2021

Before I report on my Alps to Ocean progress, I have to let you know my medal for The Cabot Trail Virtual Challenge arrived a few days ago.  From photos I saw and stories I read, I already knew it would be nice.  As it turns out, it is leaps and bounds above being just nice!  The ribbon, the weight, the detail, the size, the front, the back, even the packaging, absolutely everything about this medal is quality!  It now hangs on my grid board with a few of my favourite sketches.    

I feel I am a bit slow out of the starting gate for the Alps to Ocean journey although that is not what the stats show.  To end of day March 21, 2021 this is where I stand.  My motivation to be "out & about" seemed stronger during that polar vortex back in February.  It's time to work on an attitude adjustment!

Where I am along the trek!

The sights have been beautiful so far.  

I have two postcards to share along with the stories to tell!

With spring now here, I need to get that spring in my step!  

While I am ahead of the pacer in this challenge  I want more space between us.  

Time to dig a little deeper, put the pedal to the metal and create more dust. 

Waterton Lakes National Park March 18, 2021

After checking out and heading back to reality, I returned to a few of my favourite Waterton spots to capture the early morning light.  The parking lot at Middle Waterton Lake was open and was a great spot to witness the start of a gorgeous day.  Once again the sunrise was not spectacular but the aftermath sure was.   

beautiful reflection

This time I drove up the road to The Prince of Wales Hotel instead of hiking up the hill.  

This is the view I had this morning as the alpenglow began.

The Prince of Wales Hotel in front of Bears Hump and Crandell Mountain basking in alpenglow!

Before hitting the highway, I drove to the Waskinonge Viewpoint again and walked down to the lake.  

The burnt ground cover was colourful in the morning glow.  

The reflections were outstanding this morning.

I feel fortunate with how this escape played out! 

It far exceeded my expectations in every way.  

Waterton, I love your wildness!

Waterton Lakes National Park March 17, 2021

At this time of year in Waterton Lakes National Park, locations to hike are very limited due to avalanche conditions.  Before booking this escape I verified there would be sufficient places to explore to make for a worthwhile, rewarding and fulfilling getaway. My verification proved positive with finding enough to fill the hours.

Today was a triple pleasure day!  

It's a mere five minute walk to the shore of Waterton Lake from my suite.  I timed it to arrive before sunrise with hopes of seeing something spectacular.  There was not a cloud in the sky which meant a lack-lustre show.  The alpenglow presentation made up in tenfold though.  This is Crandell Mountain and the rounded Bears Hump attached to the left of it glowing and reflecting.     

Crandell Mountain and The Prince of Wales Hotel

Bertha Peak showing off her early morning glow

After witnessing the beginning of another beautiful day, I headed back to my suite to get ready for a day of being "out & about" around this beautiful piece of paradise.  I started with a hike up Bears Hump.  It was best to do this location first before the sun warms up the trail and turns it into treacherous conditions.  My spikes were my confidence for a safe ascent and descent.

I arrived at the summit of Bears Hump to an amazing view.  The sun felt warm yet there was still a nip in the air and a very slight breeze. While  most of the townsite is open for walking around, the far end of Evergreen Ave is closed along with the area west of Cameron Creek and south of Cameron Falls.  Cameron Falls are open to view.  As you can see in the right of the photo, that whole stretch is avalanche terrain and the concerns for it to go were high.  

Waterton Lake  and Waterton Townsite

enjoying complete ownership of the Bears Hump

After investing enough time to reach fulfillment level here, I packed up to begin the descent.  It was a slow go on the steep icy sections.  Just before leaving the summit I spotted this frozen pool of water.  It was crystal clear enough to see the rocks through the ice.  I love heart shaped sights like this!  

A hop, skip and a jump back down the road towards the townsite is the turnoff for the Akamina Parkway.  Like the Red Rock Parkway this road is also closed in winter yet much further down the road is where the barricade is at Little Prairie Parking Lot.  It has been years since I was along this road.  It had been closed due to the fire in 2017 and since then loads of work was completed.  Even the Little Prairie Day Use parking area is expanded and improved so much more user friendly during winter months. 

 view while driving along the Akamina Parkway

The views are much wider along the Parkway now since the forest fire. 

There were a couple of cars in the parking lot when I arrived so I knew I was not alone a way out here in this wild desolate area at this time of year.  While gearing up two couples drove up who had the same intentions as me, hiking to Cameron Lake.  This is near the beginning of the closed Akamina Parkway and  the road to hike, ski, snowshoe to Cameron Lake.    

getting closer

Cameron Lake sits at the base of that mountain and glacier

There is still loads of snow here.

I arrived at the beginning of the lake and could see a path straight ahead for as far as the eye could see.  

the view as I make my way across Cameron Lake

The path carried on but I picked this to be my turn around spot.  

looking back to the beginning of Cameron Lake which you cannot see in this photo

I arrived back at the lakeshore and chatted with one of the couples who arrived at the parking lot just as I was about to begin hiking.  We exchanged pleasantries then went on with our day, mine beginning the hike back and them heading out a bit on the lake.  The view heading back was just as beautiful as on the way in.  I met no one else coming in.  I did hear voices and see gear at the Alpine Hut on my right as I walked by.

What a day!  What I had left on the agenda for today was to now head back to my home away from home, unpack, clean up then relax.  I stretched out on the swinging lounge on my balcony, sipping a beer and soaking in the sunshine.  That's the life!