Peyto & Bow Lakes, Banff National Park August 29, 2023

 The last time I was actually at Peyto Lake was when I skated on it back in November of last year!

The last time I actually hiked the trail to the platform to view Petyo Lake was February of last year. 

Today, I hiked the trail to the Peyto Lake viewing platform to see the sunrise.  It was absolutely freezing cold and if there was any moisture at all, it would have been snow!  This is what the kiosk looked like today, I captured this photo upon my return to the car.  

I was a little late in arriving to see the actual sun come up but I was early enough to watch the sun rise creating alpenglow on the mountains overlooking Peyto Lake. Like I said it was freezing cold, I have three layers underneath the down vest and yet it was not warm enough.  It was well worth it though, when this was the golden award winning view!  

It was so peaceful, so calm and such a sight to see the alpenglow and the reflection in the lake.  

After being at Peyto Lake for an hour or so to watch the sun rise higher and higher, I then headed down the Icefield Parkway to stop in at Bow Lake and witness more beauty.  Is was still just as cold, still just as peaceful and still just as calm.  This is Crowfoot Mountain reflecting in Bow Lake. 

being one with the scenery as much as I can while keeping my feet dry

another beautiful reflection that I captured before crossing the bridge

a view of all the mountains reflecting in Bow Lake

the line of rock breaks up the reflection

I went for a short hike along the edge of Bow Lake.  This trail leads to a couple of hikes but I only wanted easy walks today.  This photo is deceiving, and I did not realize what it looked like until I downloaded it and saw it larger.  Bow Lake looks small in this photo but it is gigantic. The reflection gives that deceiving look. 

After reaching the far end of the lake, I then turned around and came back the same way.  By now the cooks were cooking in the Lodge and I could smell the makings of cinnamon buns.  My hope was to purchase one but the cafe was not open yet and anyway I believe the buns are part of the breakfast for the people staying there.

Both Bow Lake and Peyto Lake are so beautiful.  I am not sure which season I like better up in this area.  Winter sure grabs my attention and offers something so unreal.  I guess I need to consider myself fortunate in that I can experience the Icefield Parkway in any season I want and come away with four different types of adventures! 

Wilcox Pass & Ridge, Jasper National Park. August 28, 2023

Before heading on this trip up along The Icefields Parkway, I did some investigative work with a plan to hike to Nigel Pass.  I had been there once many moons ago and thought I would like to give it a go again.  Fast forward to this morning, as I am driving along The Parkway watching for the turnoff sign, I see the sign, I drive right past, in a split second decided I lost my nerve to hike that quiet trail alone so drove a little further to the trailhead for Wilcox Pass & Ridge. Oh dang! This was the sign posted at the trailhead!  I was the first car in the lot which meant I would be the first on the trail this morning.  Maybe Nigel Pass would have been the better choice!  I opted to stay here and hike to Wilcox Ridge, I just knew I needed to be very vigilant and be LOUD!!!

 

I was very vocal until I reached the Red Chairs!  The last few "YOOOOS" were somewhat weak and I felt I was in need of a lozenger to soothe my throat.  All that loud yelling while ascending those few kilometres tuckered me out so this was the perfect place to sit for a bit.  

looking back from a short distance after I continued up the trail

now that's a big snack for such a little fellow

more of that red that I love so much

You know how I like to play with perspective, this is a very tiny tarn just a few feet wide.

the trickle of the creek is the sound of music to my ears

I made it to Wilcox Pass where I stopped for a snack and had to delayer a layer. By now I could see three people off in the distance coming this way.  It was so wide open along the alpine meadow and you could see forever so I did not bother to be loud.  From here I followed the trail up Wilcox Ridge.

Mountain Goats relaxing just off the trail

view along the trail that ascends to the high point of the Ridge

looking back as I get higher

One of the three people arrived while I was here and we exchanged taking turns capturing each others destination shots.  This is how I choose to celebrate being here.  It's being in places like this with views like this that keep me coming back here year after year after year.  It never gets busy while I am here.  Yet it looks crazy busy out at the Athabasca Glacier behind me with bus after bus making its way up that road on the left to the base of the snow.  

While enjoying the view and savouring lunch, the fellow and I chatted it up.  The two people he was with along the trail were a couple he just met.  They were hiking/scrambling up to Wilcox Peak.  We watched them progress.  That's them in the red circle.  Not long after this, I could no longer spot them.  The fellow left soon after and I owned the summit. 

looking back at the view as I carried on down the trail

the view surrounding me while I stood in the middle of the alpine meadow 

view beside me before heading into the trees and descending back to the Red Chairs

When I arrived back to my car, I breathed a sigh being thankfully to have had such a great experience with no bear encounters.  After gearing down, downing loads of water, I then hopped in the car for the thirty minute drive back to my home away from home.   Treat time!  I savoured a mango ice cream on a waffle cone with this as the view. 

Sunshine Meadows, Banff National Park. August 27, 2023

Just like previous years, at this time into August a bit of a panic attack rocked me when I realized September is closing in on us!  I better get going again was my thought!  Given the weather was forecasted to be hot, with no rain in sight, only a slight wave of wildfire smoke to be in the area, I put a plan in place.  When I found accommodations were available, I jumped on it and made a booking.

Today would be my last opportunity to get back up to the top of the world at Sunshine Meadows.  I was there a month ago so this time I went for a different route. The gondola stops running on September 11th, that’s when they start preparing for the upcoming downhill ski season.  It’s too early for the golden larch show but it was prime time for that red ground cover that I love so much.

After departing the gondola, instead of riding the chairlift further up, I hiked up Rock Isle Road with intentions of hiking around the three lakes, Rock Isle, Grizzly then Laryx.  There's that red!  While I cannot smell wildfire smoke, it is hanging out around here.  This is Rocky Isle Road (a ski route in the winter) with a very faint view of Mount Assiniboine to the left of the more visible mountain.

The last time I was here, the "hippies on sticks" were small and lifeless looking.  This is how I like to see them!  They were more alive today which was odd because prime time for them was a month ago.  

Once I crested the top of Rock Isle Road, Rock Isle Lake came into view.  

Where the trail forked, I veered left for Grizzly Lake.  Along the way, many birds sang songs of all sorts.  This Savannah Sparrow stopped singing its sweet song just long enough to show its curiosity about me.

along the trail to Grizzly Lake

When I arrived at Grizzly Lake, it was hard to tell what was lake and what wasn't. The reflection was perfection!  It was so calm, there was not a single tiny ripple in the water. Not only was it calm, it was hot already. Wearing pants was overload.

Grizzly Lake

a "Hippie on a stick" gone wild

After leaving Grizzly Lake behind and before arriving at Laryx Lake, there is a viewpoint where you can see down into the Simpson Valley in Kootenay National Park.  It was here I met up with a Park Employee.  While monitoring the trails in the area, he stopped here to check out the sight.  We chatted for quite some time.  Yes, that is wildfire smoke obscuring the view. 

When I arrived at Laryx Lake, it was time to stop for some snacks.  Not a breeze to feel nor a cloud to be seen and it was hotter yet.  Never before while out hiking has the thought crossed my mind that I sure hope everything will be OK today given the heat and the dry conditions.  

the view around Laryx Lake

Laryx Lake

leaving Laryx Lake

After visiting all three lakes, it was time to veer left at the junction and hike along the Twin Cairns to Monarch Lookout Trail.  I hiked this trail in July but that was after riding the chair lift up.  Today this section of trail was lined with that gorgeous red!

There had been recent bear sittings up on top of the world with the most recent being yesterday but that was in another location closer to the ski runs. So, when I heard a rustle in the bush and saw some brown movement, my heart skipped a beat.  What seemed like minutes, were mere seconds when it became obvious what it was.  It was a young male deer settling down in the bushes and trees.  I assumed it was seeking shelter from the sun.  

along the trail where all the tarns were dried up and the creek was just a trickle

party central for the "Hippies on sticks"

When I arrived at the Monarch Viewpoint, I settled in for about an hour. There's something about this view, whenever I am here, I get lost in my mind with what I see in front of me.  A couple came along and shared some time with me.  They were from Ohio and this was their first time in the Canadian Rockies.  They said the beauty was leaving them speechless!  

When I left the Monarch Viewpoint, I hiked down the Meadow Park Trail.  This was the view in front of me.  See those ski runs to the left, in three months or so, they will be covered with skiers.  I am making that assumption, but to be honest with you, I am curious as to what our autumn and winter will be like this time around!   

along the Meadow Park Trail

the end is in sight

Once back at The Village, I did not stick around long, I had a place to get to.  I hopped on the Gondola for the ride back down to parking lot.  At one of the Gondola junctions, this was the view just outside the window.  There were three adults, another was off to the side and there were the two babies relaxing.  It took a minute or so for the Gondola to slowly make the turn so I was able to get a few photos.  The adults were moving about and I was nervous they were coming too close and might get hit.  When the Gondola did the turn and carried on, I looked back, the booth attendant was outside now and it appeared she was shooing the mountain goats away.

It was time to head on up The Icefield Parkway!  

I checked into my home away home!

a map of the Sunshine Meadows area to give you a lay of the land