Upper Rowe Lake Waterton Lakes National Park July 31, 2024

More blue sky and clean fresh mountain air with lots of wind was forecasted again for today!  I’ll take that any day and I did for the hike to Upper Rowe Lake.  Just like yesterday, hikers were starting up the trail as I pulled into the parking lot.  Geared up and ready to go!

I hiked this trail in 2022.  What I noticed this time around was that the foliage is fuller and along some stretches it is very closed in so much so that I could not see my feet.  I pushed the brush aside as I hiked through it.  This section near the beginning was so pretty with morning light making the green look so green.

There were plenty of Paintbrushes lining the trail.  The majority of them were past their prime.  These were the best of the lot.

a Willow Flycatcher 

For quite awhile early on, I could hear the hikers in front of me but I could not see them. I believe eventually they turned off at the junction and carried on to the Lower Lake.  I don’t care for that one so passed on by.  After the long steep switchbacks, I came upon the opening where I could see Upper Rowe Lake through the trees.

As I suspected, no one was here.  Before settling down for an early lunch, checking out the area and taking photos was in order.  My destination selfie shot!

This was one of two Barrow’s Goldeneyes that were at the Lake.

Yellow Columbine 

This time I ascended the slope at the back side of the Lake to get an overall view.  Carrying on around the backside was calling me but my inner voice was stronger and said not on your own you won’t.

gorgeous surroundings and oh so peaceful 

It wasn’t until I started descending the switchbacks that I met others on their way up. It was a hot climb up, it was cold and windy at the Lake, I still felt cool while descending, so after crossing this creek I stopped to take the extra layer off.

views from the meadow while removing the layer 

The long stretch through the thick forest on the way back was uneventful other than crossing paths with many others heading in.  A group of eight horse back riders were riding in also.   I heard many birds but could not see them.  Hawks of some sort were calling to each other as were Mountain Chickadees.  

When I reached this section, I knew the end was near.  As I rounded the last corner I could see the parking lot through the trees, twenty minutes later I was back at my car.  

Stay Tuned for what I have to report after returning from being off the radar!

Forum Lake Waterton Lakes National Park July 30, 2024

Just as I pulled into the Akamina Parking lot to hike to Forum Lake, five hikers were starting up the trail.  In some locations it brings comfort to know there are others in close vicinity ahead of me.  I knew others would come later.  There was rain in the forecast for this morning so I was prepared for that.  As it turned out, the rain never did materialize.  It was overcast with a slight breeze, I like it like that while gaining elevation!

lots of fireweed

As I neared Akamina Pass, I met a lady who just left the backcountry campground and was continuing on her way north along the Great Divide Trail.  I turned around to see her hiking through the trees and snapped this shot.  In a matter of minutes, along come two guys who were also hiking the GDT. Due to the wildfires, their trek is cut short so will not be able to hike much further north.

At the stone boundary marker at Akamina Pass.  Looking at this photo, the left side of the picture, my leg is in British Columbia and the right side of the stone, my leg is in Alberta.

a meadow of wildflowers

nearing Forum Lake

arriving at Forum Lake

Just as I arrived at Forum Lake, the five hikers I saw at the parking lot were just leaving to continue up to Akamina Ridge.  We chatted for a few minutes then they went on their merry way and I had the Lake to myself to play. It’s just what I do! 

time to settle down to savour the scenery and snacks 

White-crowned Sparrow

No one else arrived while I was at the Lake, but I met many on their way up as I was descending. It was quite warm as I was nearing the end of the hike and I could see lots of blue in the sky over the townsite.

I drove to the picnic place that I was at yesterday.  This time, I sat in the open with my bear spray close by.  The wind was strong which kept the temperature comfortable.  The waters are quiet these days with non motorized watercraft not being permitted.  It was always fun to watch the kayakers and windsurfers. 

Time came to retreat to my home away from home!

Then time came to sit in my patio with a beer and bag of chips!

Crandell Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park July 29, 2024

A trip to Waterton Lakes National Park was long overdue!  I did not get there this past winter nor in the spring.  I cancelled a planned trip here a couple of weeks ago due to very high heat.  I finally made it here and even better, I was able to score accommodations in Glacier National Park, Montana for after my Waterton visit.

Crandell Lake from the Red Rock Parkway is the perfect hike for me after the three hour drive south.  I arrived to a parking lot that had two warnings and thankfully one of them was not a bear warning.  The fire danger is rated extreme so no fires are permitted and effective April 1st, no non-motorized watercraft are permitted in any bodies of water within Waterton Lakes National Park.  Locals with watercraft that stay within the Park and rentals within the Park are permitted.

There was not much pretty to see on the drive down with a smoky haze hanging over.  As I neared the National Park, blue sky was in abundance as can be seen along the trail early on into the hike.

When I came to the area where the fireweed was, I thought of Jasper National Park.  Will it be pretty in pink one day, as fireweed grows where once there was a fire.

It was a very sunny and hot day!

a White-crowned Sparrow!

Even though it has been very hot and very dry, it is still very green.

There were five other people already at Crandell Lake when I arrived.  The hike up to the Lake was sheltered from the wind but boy oh boy, it was wild when I arrived.  

I found a perfect spot to sit for awhile.  I wanted to stay in sight of the others.  You can see three of the people on that log down below in the centre.

I went down there afterwards and this fellow followed me there. 

I had no treats to share.

Waves and whitecaps on Crandell Lake

playing with photo taking 

 

For some reason, I thought the backcountry campground here was closed, so I was surprised to come upon this. There was a tent on another pad beside this one.

lots of Paintbrush along the trail 

Lots of people were hiking up as I was heading down.  I was happy to be finishing and not just starting.  It was time to find some shade and cool off.  On the drive back along the Red Rock Parkway, I spotted brown movement in the bush.  With no vehicles around, I quickly stopped, rolled down the passenger window, snapped this shot then went on my way. This would be a brown Black Bear.

I had an hour or so to pass before checking into my home away from home.  This was the perfect spot to pass the time. I had shade, scenery and could feel a cool breeze off the water.  The picnic area here was busy so I was fortunate to get this spot.  What I learned later was that shortly after I left, a bear came into a picnic sight looking for food.  Supposedly just prior it got access to human food that had been left unattended.  A warning is now in place.

I checked in, unpacked then settled in.  

I like the headboard on my bed!

4 short stories

SHORT STORY #1  Another medal is on the way! I crossed the finish line of  the Camino de Santiago Virtual Challenge on Monday by covering just over eleven kilometres during an early morning walk at Carburn Park.  I was so close to the end, I just wanted to get it done.  With a forecast coming of the hottest day yet paired with a high level of wildfire smoke, I figured it best to get out on the best of the worst days.  Early on I thought this would be an interesting adventure to tackle in real life.  But, as the kilometres passed, I thought otherwise.  Conquering this route virtually worked best for me.  I have not signed up for another challenge. I received a coupon for a discount if I go for another one,  yet, there is a challenge with Pacer that looks appealing. Decisions!  Decisions! 

SHORT STORY #2  Oh what a gift I received on Wednesday morning!  I went to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and ended up in the right spot at the right time.  As I was approaching the area where two Eastern Kingbirds have been hanging out the past couple of weeks, I heard them being very vocal.  I arrived at the location and looked up to see them in the tree, squawking continuously. Then, something fell to the ground.  I thought it to be a large leaf or a piece of branch.  I walked over to where it landed and this is what I saw!  This is a baby Eastern Kingbird, well actually it is now no longer a baby because what I just witnessed was it leaving the nest so it is now called a Fledgling! It could not fully fly, just flap its wings.  It was covered in drops of sap from the leaves on the trees that were infested with aphids. While I have seen babies in nests and Fledglings on the ground, this was the first time I ever saw a Baby actually become a Fledgling!  I have been wanting to see that happen.  Oh what a gift I received today!

SHORT STORY #3  The notebook arrived!  In my July 19th post, I shared with you about the notebook I was having made. I put it to use already, drafting a fjord to paint.  Once I was happy with the draft, I then drew it in my good sketch book.  I used online photos to get an idea of what a fjord in Norway actually looks like seeing as I have never seen one live.  Dreams begin somewhere!  Mine starts with a watercolour painting of a Norwegian Fjord!

SHORT STORY #4  My heart aches for Jasper National Park!  My thoughts and prayers go out to the roughly 25,000 people (residents and tourists) who had to evacuate, not only from  the townsite but from the entire National Park, at three in the morning yesterday when wildfires came within twelve kilometres of the townsite.  There was only one supposedly safe road out and that was to the west into British Columbia that is dealing with their own wildfires. It was then decided evacuees need to loop around and come back to Alberta.  Backcountry hikers/campers have been helicoptered out.  The entire Jasper National Park is closed until the earliest August 6th.  Evacuees are arriving at an evacuee centre in Calgary.  I browsed through my Jasper photos. These photos are from the past four years.  Jasper National Park holds a special place in my heart, even more-so now!

Nose Hill for the Full Buck Moon

When I looked out my window a couple of hours past midnight to see if I could see the Full Buck Moon, it teased me a tiny bit through the trees. My hope was that it would be high up above the trees so I could get a good clear photo.  No luck, I went back to bed, sleep evaded me by now.  It was hot! I was restless! An hour later, I got up, made a cup of coffee, geared up and off I drove to Nose Hill.  

I arrived around 4:00am.  I used my headlamp to find the way up along the trail.  I did not go far before I set up my tripod & camera and began snapping shots.  This photo was taken shortly before 4:30am.  The sky was pitch black and I could only see faint outlines of bushes, trees, boulders and the trail. While I was photographing the Buck Moon, I heard three very loud hisses that were very close by.  It was a sound I never heard before but what came immediately after the hisses was something I was very familiar with, the smell of a skunk!  I grabbed my tripod & camera and was gone like lightning!  The further away I got, the less I could smell it which meant the spray did not reach me.  Whew!  

I ascended the trail to where I felt I was far enough away from where the skunk was.  Once again I set up my tripod and camera.  I watched the moon dip and then captured this photo.  I heard a rustle along the dirt trail and then saw movement. Through the darkness, I saw what was the size and shape of a coyote.  I stomped my feet in the dirt and I saw the shape quickly take off.  Whew!  

I was happy being able to witness the Full Buck Moon and also with the photographs I took.  Since I was up here, I thought I may as well stay for the sunrise.  In the darkness of the very early morning, I followed the trail to another high point where it was best to watch the sun come up.  On the way there in the dull dark, I saw a shape cross the trail in front of me.  The shape, size and the way it moved told me it was a porcupine.  I backed off for a few minutes while it worked its way through the bushes and then I carried on with hopes it would not shoot out its quills at me. I made it!  Whew!   

At 5:47 am the sun began to rise above the horizon.  I expected it would be bright pink due to the wildfire smoke that drifted into the city yesterday.  

the sun well above the horizon

Since I was here, I figured I may as well hike around and see what else I could see.

the blazing sun

I brought along my Amsterdam Virtual Challenge medal which arrived a few days ago. 

I wanted a photo of it while "out & a out".  

By now the sun was fully high in the sky.  The sky was not bright blue due to the smoke and the smell was not bad so I carried on. The trails were lined with the flower of Alberta, the Alberta Wild Rose.   

Bumblebee in a Wild Rose

a beautiful Wild Rose

This is my version of that beautiful Wild Rose which I painted later in the day!  

While putting paint on paper, I had a table fan on my face, while taking sips of an Austrian Ridler, with an ice cold tie around my neck, I was able to feel comfortably cool!  Whew!