Jasper National Park May 31, 2021

Wilcox Pass 

Deja-Vu! I had such a wonderful experience during last year's visit to Jasper in June, I wanted to go again this June.  While the world is still the way it is, with families not road tripping yet, with conditions not quite ripe for high peak adventures, this month is good for wide open roads with no traffic plus quiet trails.    Also accommodations of all kinds are readily available so no booking long in advance is necessary.  I waited and I watched then when a long stretch of gorgeous weather was presented, I went for it!         

To break up the long drive and to pass time before I could check into my home away from home, I picked the hike up to Wilcox Pass as a perfect place to pass some hours.  I got the first section through the trees over with as quick as I could because I knew what I was in for! Then when it opened up, boy did it open up!

I could see across to the Columbia Icefields.

looking back as I continued ascending the trail towards Wilcox Pass

Reports told me there was still lots of snow higher up and those reports proved to be true.  In years past when I hiked up here, I continued over to that meadow but that would not be happening on this visit.

seeing the tour buses on the Athabasca Glacier and the people walking on it

People had been up on the meadows near the pass on prior days and I could see a couple ahead of me.  A path was made through the snow which I followed.  The snow was still firm enough that I did not sink too far.  

continuing a bit higher to dry sections

This place looked so different with so much snow.  I could not see the high point where the pass sign is and I was not comfortable searching for it or even going any further where the snow was becoming deeper.  I found a bare dry high spot that had loads of rocks.  I built my own summit cairn, captured my summit shot then dismantled the cairn. This was a great spot to sit awhile, snack and savour the scenery.  

hiking back from where I came and seeing the Icefield Parkway below

For some people, this is a destination point instead of carrying on higher to Wilcox Pass.  

It offers an amazing view.  I settled in for a bit. 

With only just about 20 minutes of hiking left, and just over an hour drive ahead of me, I packed up and went on with my day.  I was ready to get to my home away from home.  I checked in, unpacked, put my feet up and let the sound of the Athabasca River running lull me into relaxation!

Ford Knoll Loop May 27, 2021

What would this hike look like in the springtime was what I was wondering!  I had been twice before but that was in autumn.  The entire loop of Ford Knoll turned out being snow-free, ice-free and dry which I was thankful for.  Yet still, it looks like full on winter in the highest far off peaks. After parking at The Pond, crossing the road, I then aimed for the open gate to begin the uphill hike in the forest. 

perfect trail conditions

near the top, still no snow, peaks begin peeking through

It's easy to miss the trail that spurts off leading to this opening.  I paid attention to not pass it by.  The dirt Powderface Trail road is below which is now open for the season to drive.  Forgetmenot Ridge is over there and it is looking doable, that is if crossing the river is doable as we get into the full swing of run-off season. 

There is another little trail off to the side which is easier to spot that leads to a location offering wide open vistas.  That's Nihahi Ridge!  It has been years since I hiked up there which means I should add it to my list of places to venture to again.  

There were numerous one-offs that I spotted today.  These are them except for one, which if you continue reading this post, you will come upon that exception.  Seeing crocuses was the furthest thing from my mind and this one stood alone with no others anywhere to be seen.  It was not until I got down and closer with our earth that I realized this was a mushroom.  It stood alone with no others anywhere to be seen.  What are you little bird?  My friend says not all birds are meant to be identified!  It stood alone with no others anywhere to be seen.  With my head down watching my footing, I spotted this heart-shaped rock on the edge of the trail.  There is so much I am loving about this day!    

a view of the section of Nihahi Ridge that I would venture to if I did venture that way

The trail remained clear and dry on the descent.  

While it looked like spring, I could smell spring too! Ahhh!

a location shot before aiming for the exit

The Exit!

After closing the gate behind me and strolling through the meadow to cross the road, I then hit up the trail that follows the Little Elbow River to take me back to the parking lot.  If you look very closely, in the middle of the photo well below the highest peak, you will see a short straight horizontal line, that is the pink suspension bridge that crosses the river leading to the Wildhorse Trail.    

Speaking of wild horses, the mustangs were hanging out a very short distance off the pathway.   

That one-off exception I wrote about earlier, here it is, a baby mustang napping! There was only one baby and it laid curled up all alone as the guardians guarded over it while savouring lunch.  This was the sweetest most heart-melting thing.  This was the view that I ended my hike with, a mere few minutes later I reached my car and headed on home smiling and sighing! 

sketching when the sun don't shine

With spring upon us and with antsy happy feet, I have been spending more and more time being "out & about".  My sketching lessons and sessions have become fewer and farther between.  But, recently when the sun didn't shine and the rain poured down, I put pencil to paper.  These are my two recent projects rendered from my own photos or from my own dreams and visions.  

Numerous times in the past I mentioned about nature journaling but have not yet attempted that while out in nature, I only dabbled at this craft inside at my table. With spring veering on summer soon, these are the days to be getting lost in that art.  I want to but I just need to put in the effort to take the first step!  

      

Kruger Park Virtual Challenge Progress May 25, 2021

After covering ten kilometres at Glenbow Ranch today, I am now at the 75% completion point of my Kruger Park Virtual Challenge.  More about my visit to the Ranch later in this post, but first an update on making progress along this journey.  At 412 kms long, my intentions were for this challenge to carry me through the spring and most of the summer months.  Being antsy and having happy feet, my goal is now to reach the finish line before summer even starts on June 20th.    

My pacer (that red pin) is no where to be seen when I look back!!!

On May 14th this postcard popped into my mailbox and here I pass it on to you.  

At that time I thought it would be nice to have virtual views of animals to entertain me along the way.  

These are a few of the virtual views over the past number of kilometres.  I had to search almost above and beyond to see these beautiful sights. In the first photo there is actually an elephant on its own at the right under the tree down by the river.  This is the first virtual animal sighting! That being said, The Conqueror crew announced this version of the Kruger Park Virtual Challenge will be discontinued come September 1st and no more bib numbers will be sold.  They listened to the feedback from the participants about the boring road route, lack of pretty sights or animals, and only a small portion of the route is actually in Kruger Park.  They heard us and are taking action!    

My next progress report for this challenge will be whenever I reach the finish line!  

I have already been perusing the other challenges offered, dreaming of where I might like to venture next.   

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

Deja-vu, I better get busy being "out & bout" before we are rained on again!  The window wasn't wide so I did not want to go far.  A visit to Glenbow Ranch would fit the timeframe.  I knew it would be one of those days where the views that were up close would be the focus.  It was all cloud cover beyond that.     

The majority of sparrow shots in my previous posts had to be re-identified.  I updated them with the correct name.  While they are easy to spy, they are complicated to ID, I am learning all about that.  I found a chart that was posted in a group I belong to.  It shows simplified, elementary-like shapes & colours of sparrow types which is ideal for beginner birders like me.  Very, very closely comparing colour schemes on the head, I am certain this time I got these right!      

These were the only spring babies I saw today!  

It was a nice surprise to see some crocuses were still looking healthy and in full bloom.  I tried to focus on getting crisp and clear images showing the rain drops.  I came upon one area that was covered in shooting stars and that was an even nicer surprise.  I did get down and dusty and a tad damp capturing these photographs.   With all this rain and then the sun to come, the wildflower season should soon spring to life!   

Carburn Park to Fish Creek Park May 23, 2021

Today's forecast told me you better get out early!  I did exactly that hitting the pathway around Carburn Park and then all the way to Fish Creek Park and back.  I went with hopes of coming home feeling more fulfilled than I did from yesterday's 15km walk.  Saturday's top sightings were deer chasing a coyote through Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and also a goose biting a man's leg.  While this morning's weather was more favourable I hoped the sights would be too.

The colours at the park are perking up!

I aimed for the dirt path that follows the river and enjoyed the sights of the ducks performing their morning rituals and the sounds of the birds that I could yet not see.  When I arrived back at the pond I took a minute to admire a Female Common Goldeneye perched on a log.  She eyed me with a piercing eye.  At the time I did not notice the fluff underneath her.  Then just like that, she took off into the water and so did her three ducklings that were underneath her.  They were entertaining and such a sweet sight to see!

Songs were coming from everywhere.  These are a few of the sparrows I spotted: top left - Song Sparrow, bottom two - Clay-Coloured Sparrows.  The top right bird may be a Male Tennessee Warbler.  Thank you to my "bird nerd" friend for assisting me with sparrow identification.   I still wonder when our world gets back to some kind of normal, will I remain having this new found "bird nerd" identity I have been embracing!

It was a beautiful morning to meander the dirt trails along the Bow River at Fish Creek Park.  

Duck sightings were plentiful this morning. I know for sure the Male Common Goldeneye from the round white cheek patch.  I have no doubt in identifying the Male Wood Duck, they are so colourful and to me they look like a plastic toy.  I am learning about the Wigeons and I can say this is an American Wigeon, noticing the green swipe running back from the eye.  The bottom two ducks are a couple and stuck together the entire time.  They are the Female & Male Common Mergansers.   

I think people were on the same page as me and knew to be "out & about" early.  

While the paved paths became very busy, the dirt trails were not. 

Weather-wise this May long weekend is offering up what it typically does giving us rain, snow, wind, cold. Where there are clear open windows of opportunity then it is time to wander!  

 

Dale Hodges Park for the ducks (birds too) May 21, 2021

 'Tis the season for goslings and ducklings and such and those were what I went searching for at Dale Hodges Park today.  What I found instead were ducks of a variety that I had not seen before.  Or maybe I did see them but not being a duck expert thought them to be just plain ducks. The wetlands were alive and my searching success today was with ducks and not babies.

one of the trails to wander along that connects the platforms

I saw one duckling, it looked lost, all alone with no siblings to be seen nor parents anywhere.  In contrast to that, the Yellow Headed Blackbirds were in abundance and were on a mission chasing away the Red Winged Blackbirds from where ever they were perched.  I believe these are Song Sparrows after comparing them to what are shown in my bird book.

another trail to follow

The birds and ducks were busy this morning and nothing was staying still for any length of time.  I am learning to be trigger happy and just snap, snap, snap.  Some birds and ducks I am able to now recognize immediately yet others like the Sandpipers it is necessary to refer to my bird book. 

These are a few of the beautiful wetland sights that were presented at the Dale Hodges Park.  It was a perfect time of day to be here seeing the blue sky scattered with puffy fluffy white clouds, bird songs filled the air and reflections filled the ponds.   

Another work week has come to an end!  These are my kind of work weeks kicking Monday off with this kind of work and ending the work week on a Friday that looked like today did.  Now we are into a long weekend but for me that does not mean a bonus day off work!

urban nature walks

Fish Creek Provincial Park

Our intentions were to head off in a direction we had not been before but that did not turn out to be the type of path we wanted.   Yet we did discover a new little pond we had not seen before which was being visited by a variety of ducks and birds.   We then aimed for a trail we had meandered along before but missed a turn off somewhere along the way and ended up in an area new to both of us.  This was a wetlands being enjoyed by many bird and duck species.  We saw an American Coot with the white bill, a male Yellow-Headed Blackbird, a Red-Winged Blackbird and a Cormorant.  One place we did know for sure how to get to was Annie's Cafe for a sweet speciality beverage to top off our visit!     

Bowness & Bowmont Parks

We were in for another nice day to be "out & about" seeking nature in the city.  We opted to meet at Bowness Park and work our way around there then head towards Bowmont Park.   It was when we arrived at Bowmont that we noticed this is a happening place today.  The blossoms and buds are exploding with color and the grass is already looking like a carpet of green.  We heard birds, saw ducks, dodged dogs all the while catching up on lifes' happenings. BUT, what captured our attention for about thirty minutes and making it a highlight of our day was how a Mother Duck cared for her babies!    

finding fulfilment enjoying springtime in the city

Powderface East Ridge & Forgetmenot Pond May 17, 2021

Before heading out past that gate along Route 66 which opened at 8:00am on Saturday , I let the weekend warriors wander there. Come Monday when they all went about their work week, I went west beyond the open gate to hike up to Powderface East Ridge which I know as Sunrise Hill.  

The route gets your heart pumping right from the car door.  It was not long after hitting the trail that I needed to delayer, it was warm & muggy.  I made a business of just getting up the dry trail, into the trees, through the snow and then when I popped out into the open, I began to "remember to breathe".

 

From here on up, the trail was snow free and dry.  I watched for crocuses but I believe it is still early season for those on this slope.  I kept looking behind me to see the mountain views get bigger.  I liked the smooth wavy division between the cloud and the blue sky. 

someone picked the bark to create the heart

a gray jay (aka whisky jack)

I reached the pass between Sunrise Hill and the steep slope up to the main drag of Powderface East Ridge. Some snow remained here but it was easy to circumnavigate it.  The cloud formation wrapped around to here, where it met up with the blue sky .

creating extensions to the Inukshuk

looks under the weather but is actually full of life

high enough that Banded Peak is now visible

I reached the summit!  I picked a rock in the shape of a mountain to include as a prop.  That's the Little Elbow River far below me in the middle.  That little blue circle in the lower middle right is Forgetmenot Pond.

snack time

I savoured a lengthy visit on the summit.  I noticed others far below following the trail to the pass below.  I took a little more time before packing up and beginning the descent.  We met along the way and exchanged pleasantries. This was the view in front of me as I descended. 

looking back up at the summit of Sunrise Hill

Before reaching my car, I met a few others who were on their way up.  We all picked a perfect day to make our way up into this gorgeous area.  There was still  more beauty to see!  I changed my footwear then hopped in my car and drove over to Forgetmenot Pond.   

When I arrived at the parking lot, my initial feeling was disappointment.  The road to get here only opened at 8:00am on Saturday and now it was noon on Monday.  Already there was garbage everywhere.  Picnic people left their bags of garbage at the picnic sites where wildlife got into it.  It was also scattered around the garbage bins and on the grassy spaces around the Pond.  Another thing I saw which I don't even know is permitted in a Provincial Park was someone dug up a section of grass on the bank of the Pond and planted pansies.  I wonder will the $90.00/year or $15.00/day Conservation Fee that comes into effect on June 1st remedy there being a mess.  Will they hire people other than the regular maintenance people to pick up all the garbage?

Forgetmenot Pond itself was beautiful!  I love this place at this time of year when there is still ice in the water and the mountains peaks are still topped with winter white.  This is a creek which leads to the Pond.

I look forward to returning to Forgetmenot Pond, 

putting my feet up and staying awhile.