Banff Cabin Retreat September 26, 2025

When I woke this morning, I quickly realized I did not turn on the fireplace for heat supply throughout the night.  My cabin was quite cool yet I was snuggly warm in bed.  I had to do it though, I had to get up and get the heat going. Once I was up, I was up to stay so donned cozy clothes then brewed a cup of coffee.  

I still felt fulfilled from yesterday's hike when I carried a full backpack and used hiking poles for the entire distance. That was a great step in the right direction and a good workout for my upper body. 

Eventually, I left my cabin and hit the 1A to see the morning sights. 

The autumn colours were popping. 

The colours called me so I found a few nice stops along the way to walk for awhile.

This is today's panorama!  

I have to make a conscience effort to remember to take one.

While at my cabin, I spent a little time laying shades on paper.   Yesterday at Boom Lake, this view appealed to me. I thought this would be a fun photo to recreate with watercolours.  I captured many photos from different angles, with the sun both shining through and not. This was my favourite of the few. 

This is that view as I see it and feel it! 

It's the two bushes that stand out for me!

The water really was that colour!

Even though it was chilly here,

I felt the warmth of the sun

and the trees brought shelter from the wind!

Banff Cabin Retreat September 25, 2025

For this retreat, I came prepared to hike. I was loving being at my cabin so much that for a fleeting few minutes I said ditch the hiking and enjoy cabin fever.  Then I came to my senses, I can have it all, hike in the morning then embrace cabin fever for the balance of the day. The trailhead for Boom Lake is a mere fifteen minute drive from my cabin. There were two other vehicles in the parking lot when I arrived just before nine. I assumed they belonged to backpackers who spent the night somewhere, both vehicles were frosty looking. It went down to 3C last night.

 I was last here in January of 2023, it was a winter wonderland. It was nice to see the area dressed in autumn shades.  Yes, you need to be able to quickly draw your bear spray.  I practiced! I was very vocal tbe entire way to Boom Lake. I did have one scare, it was my shadow!

beautiful colours along the trail

Dark-eyed Junco

how perfect is nature, this was growing on the side of the trail

Spruce Grouse

the pattern on the side of a rock 

This heart was calling out to me from the middle of the trail.  

I picked it up to transport it.

This was my first view when I arrived at Boom Lake.

Before doing anything, I needed to capture my destination shot!

This is where I transported the heart to.

It measures about two inches in size.  

Time came to settle down for awhile.

After savouring the sights and snacks, I packed up and geared up for the hike back. No one else had arrived while I was at the lake.  I remembered to take a panorama photograph.  And yes, the water was that colour.

I did not take photos on the return.  I did chat with many others who were on their way in.  I stopped counting at twenty-one.  I arrived back at my vehicle feeling very pleased that I accomplished this hike. I was feeling more excited to get back to my cabin to feel that fever on my deck, inside on the sofa, during a nap in the bed, having beer and chips in the sun with my feet up, hearing the birds, squirrels and chipmunks.  I bring a whole new meaning to the term cabin fever!  Now to get on with enjoying the evening!

Banff Cabin Retreat September 24, 2025

It’s just meant to be when the weather looks good, it’s a last minute idea and it just so happens that my little cabin in the woods is available on the nights I need it to be!  It’s meant to be!  After ten hours straight of sleeping, I woke refreshed, ready and raring to go, to go west, to Banff National Park.  My hope was for blue sky with lots of bright cheerful autumn shades.  I got exactly that the entire day along with much warmer temperatures than what was forecasted.  I roamed around a few of my favourite locations such as Two Jack Lake, Lake Minnewanka, Cascade Ponds, along the Bow River and of course along Banff Avenue where I could make some investments. 

These are a few of the sweet sights I saw!

When I looked at this photo, I thought I was loosing my mind.  I swore I wore navy pants.  I changed when I got to my cabin so checked the dirty clothes pile, yes I wore navy pants today.   Not sure how this happened!

I like the names of the streets in Banff and I like the markers even moreso.

Everywhere in Banff was busy. I knew it would be. 

I mentally prepared myself for it and I did fine.  

What a treat it was to find the Farmers Market in full swing at Centennial Park.  

I found a larch tree!  

I enjoyed a slow saunter along The Bow River!

Time came to check into my little cabin in the woods!  

what's new with watercolours

For a scattered bit of time here and there throughout any given day, I have been swiping paint onto paper. It's following a tutorial, replicating one of my photos or creating a piece after an idea pops into my head. The supplies are easily accessible as they permanently sit at the corner of the table.  

Recently, I have been spending more time learning to paint what I call blob people.  Many artists provide online tutorials on how to make these types of figures come alive.  The following two photos are my version of blob people. I am happy with both yet I am not happy with the paper I painted them on.  As time goes on with painting, I am becoming more fussy about the supplies I use.     

After playing with these kinds of people, I found a watercolour lesson on how to paint a bird as if it were a painter itself.  I followed the lesson then painted my own version of a painting bird.  The idea popped into my head to pair the bird with blob people.  This was the outcome, a spread across two pages.  

I had already decided to use the journal, with the not so nice paper, as a practice journal.  How easily I forget!  This painting is a replication of photos I took while out hiking last Saturday at Ford Knoll. I did not include the two reference photos in my blog write up.  I was not ready to let go of the day, so delved back into Saturday by doing this painting (on the paper I do not like). 

Another tutorial I found was by a lady named Kendra, she posted a link on how to paint Horseshoe Bend in Paige, Arizona.  I visited here in April of 2013 and the photo below is my photo from then. After completing Kendra's tutorial, I then recreated a painting from my own photo. Memories came flooding back from that amazing eight day visit to Paige.  

I am calling it my "take away kit"!  It contains a watercolour journal, a pallet of paints, a collapsible water container, two bulldog clips, and five short handle brushes.  I placed all this beside a tomato to give a reference to size.  A few times over the past few years, I took along my painting supplies while hiking or while traveling.  The kit took up space and added too much extra weight.  Finally I think I have something that will work!

everything fits nicely into the bag

everything opened up

I have a couple of opportunities coming up where 

I plan to put my "take away kit" to use!

Ford Knoll : a test September 20, 2025

Stop the clock please so I can catch up! While I have conquered lots since May, there is still so much more to accomplish.  At times lately if feels like life is out of control.  I am constantly playing catch up and it is not a feeling I enjoy. Yet, I am reeling in my patience and focusing on progressing. Even though I have some plans in place to look forward to in coming weeks, I am still focusing on each day as it comes. Today's focus was to try my first real hike since May.  That meant a good distance of a drive, carrying my larger backpack with water, snacks, extra layer, bear spray clipped to pack belt, along with my tripod in the side pocket. Of course too, I had my camera and mini purse around my neck.  I aimed for the Elbow Valley area of Kananaskis, first to see Forgetmenot Pond and then to complete a small hike called Ford Knoll.  It's time for this test, doing something I love!

I left the city long before sunrise so I could arrive at the far end of Route 66 just as the sun began to rise over the foothills.  My focus was to get to the trailhead to hike but I could not pass up pulling out at the pullout to savour this sunrise scene.  

Instead of walking a complete loop around Forgetmenot Pond, 

I did an out & back to where I captured this panorama.  

The alpenglow was still in full swing. 

Now it was time to hit the hiking trail which was 

through this gate and down the pasture a short distance.  

Into the forest I go winding gradually uphill with dirt beneath my feet!

Once I completed most of the elevation gain, the views began to appear. 

My intentions were not to be a birder today but the forest was full of them.  At times I was distracted and forgot the purpose of why I was where I was.   This is one of a few Rod Crossbills in the area.  

a view across to Powderface Ridge with a steep drop in front of me

This was the second heart I saw today, the first being the framed photo at the top.  

Good thing it is important these days to look down paying more attention to my footing.   

a Spruce Grouse

A view of Nihahi Ridge along the way!  For this hike, I wore my hiking shoes rather than my hiking boots and I did not bring my poles.  I will incorporate those in hikes to come. Also, I tried to get a bandana on my head to keep my hair in place and out of my face but I had no success with that.  Once I can get that on my head it will be another graduation day.  

 a small beautiful waterfall

that had such a soothing sound

a Ruby-crowned Kinglet

view along the way

Shades of autumn were scattered here and there. This ground cover was adorned in tiny dew droplets. Speaking of moisture, I cannot remember when we last had rain. Everything is tinder dry, it has been usually hot for an extended period so far this September.   

I enjoyed seeing these shades along this section.

I passed through that gate marking the end of the hike. 

I just had a short stretch along the roadway to 

complete the loop and arrive back at my vehicle.

Now I had the one hour drive home ahead of me.  I was happy to make it home.  I was tired and happy.  Happy to have successfully accomplished what I set out to do. It is only uphill from here on future hikes, incorporating more distance, more elevation gain,  carrying more equipment.  It will all come in time slowly yet surely!