Beaver Lodge & Route 66 February 13, 2026

The sun was up for a short while by the time I arrived at Beaver Lodge off Route 66 out in the Elbow Valley. I was a bit surprised at the lack of snow.  That meant spikes were not needed so stayed in my backpack, nor was it necessary to be wearing winter hiking boots. It's pretty out here when it is white, yet I embraced what I was presented with, after all beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I was seeing lots already. 

A very thin layer of ice covered one of the beaver ponds.  

Even though the sun was up, it was not up high enough to brighten up the treed sections along the trail.  I heard birds but I could not see them.  I also heard a scuffle in the bushes which turned out being this deer.  Just after capturing this photo, the deer darted away with its white tail in the air.  

reflection in a pond of open water

While hiking along the Beaver Ponds Trail that was mostly surrounded by trees, I could see it looked lovely out in the open.  I decided to find my way out to Route 66, hike along there, then return to the Ponds Trail on the way back. Gosh, I definitely could have donned my regular hiking shoes or hiking boots.  These winter boots were too much!  This eight kilometre stretch of road is closed for the winter months so no snow plowing is necessary by the Parks People.  During a typical winter, the snow would be ankle to knee deep along here.  I know because I have been here many times when it was!  

view behind me

View ahead of me!

I found snow on the road!  

I hiked up to the high point on the road across from the Timber Harvesting Lot.  As you can see behind me, the road is clear of snow.  Another three kilometres and I would be at Forgetmenot Pond.  I did not come prepared to hike there so made this my destination. 

view from the rock I settled down on to sip and snack

a short video enjoying my hot beverage

I found a small slice of ice which became my muse!

It measured about two inches in height. 

During the hike back, I met two people with two dogs heading up to the high point.  I also met a guy and gal hiking there too.  As I was nearing the entrance back to Beaver Lodge, I met a lady starting her way up Route 66 on the clear dry road.  It was much bright now along the Beaver Lodge Trail.  

I heard lots of birds and saw some of the ones I heard.  This American Dipper is standing on the very edge of the ice with its reflection in the water.  It bobbed up and down and even went for a swim or maybe it was a bath as it splashed about.  

This is a Boreal Chickadee, one of many that were flitting about.  

I also saw Mountain Chickadees and Black-Capped Chickadees. 

All species of Chickadees were plentiful.

I heard a very familiar sound, a sound I had not heard yet this year!  This was my first sighting of a Robin this winter and this year. There were a few but I focused on this one as it stayed still.

Time came to leave then head on home!