a Bearmageddon while Day Tripping July 30, 2026

Today was the day to go road tripping! I’ve been feeling a tad lazy lately so getting a mountain fix by sitting for a few hours was exactly what was needed. The route I picked was to drive out and back along “Highway 40 where life begins” in Kananaskis.  As I drove along the route, seeing +6C on the dash thermostat was refreshing. The air was mountain fresh for a couple of hours but that did go downhill eventually.

the tailend of the early morning alpenglow as I entered Kananaskis

After having much fun playing “Hiking Bingo” while hiking Forum Lake in Waterton a couple of weeks ago, I prepared one for today’s road trip. During many stops, that’s when I checked off what I had seen so far. That's my bear spray holding up my Bingo Card.  While "out & about" in these regions, I never step out of my vehicle without the spray in hand.  

reflection in Mount Lorette Pond

I believe this is a Mom Common Merganser with her two babies beside her.

The next stop was at the Wedge Pond picnic spot. It was too early for snacks. A trail leads to the back side of the Pond, that's where I captured this reflection of Mount Kidd. The trail around Wedge Pond is closed due to washouts from the recent rain and flooding.  

After admiring those beautiful reflections, it was time to continue road tripping down Highway 40.  When no traffic was coming behind me, I drove slower than the speed limit with my eyes to the sides. YES! How sweet it was to see this very healthy collared Black Bear from the safety of my vehicle.  I was on the opposite side of the road yet I could here it squashing the dry brush as it walked along.

A mere few minutes after seeing the Black Bear, I came upon these four male Mountain Sheep. I took this photo through my windshield. I stopped to let them go about their business. The one at the front walked  towards me and passed by very close to my vehicle. The other three.....   

.....crossed the road then walked single file along the edge.

A mere few minutes after seeing the Mountain Sheep, I spotted a male and female White Tail Deer.  

They were watching me and did until I drove away.  

Time came to find a place to have a snack and enjoy some scenery. The Canyon Day Use area is a nice place to stay a little while.  As I pulled up beside a picnic table, a commotion in the bushes caught my attention.  The commotion was a collared Grizzly Bear munching on berries. You can see her tooth and tongue. I did not take time to enjoy a snack here while the Bear enjoyed her snack.  I did not stay awhile nor did the Bear.  I did enjoy this scenery until when a few minutes later the Bear disappeared into the bushes then I drove on down the road.  

The tag on the Bear says 175. This is a female Grizzly Bear born in 2018.  She is the daughter of Bear 139.  Bear 175 has a sister Bear 169.  Bear 175 has had no cubs to date.  

The Upper Kananaskis Lake would be the ideal place for a snack.  I always enjoy sitting at a picnic table down by water so made that my next destination.  I arrived to this view with an empty parking lot.  The first thing I noticed was the sign seen at bottom right in photo.

While the picnic area was open, the trail leading to the right was not. Beside the sign was very fresh scat. I did have my bear spray in hand.  The coast looked clear but I knew this was not the place for me to be right now.  I went back up the hill to my vehicle where I had a snack from the safety of being inside it. 

After snack time, I stepped out of my vehicle to snap this panorama with my iPhone.

Out of no where came a Bald Eagle!  By this time I had my camera in hand. I watched it fish but it had no luck.  I was able to capture a few seconds of action which I included below this photo.  Time came to continue road tripping deeper into Kananaskis.  

I drove as far as Highwood Pass and made that my turn around point. By now I could smell the wildfire smoke which was blowing in. The views were somewhat obscured by it. On the return trip I stopped at the Rock Glacier Trail which I had never done before.  I strolled around for a little while. 

I was feeling  ready to hit the road to home but not before 

stopping to capture a few more shots of the beautiful scenery.  

What I saw next during the drive along Highway 40 assured me I could now call today's road tripping a Bearmageddon experience.  When I saw three Grizzly Bears crossing the road, I pulled over to let them cross and with hopes they would be visible once they got into the bush.  I was able to get two Bears in the shot, the third darted into the bushes. The Mom is the one you can partially see heading into the bushes.  This young one (not born this year) sauntered along while the other young one was quick to dash off.  

This is Mom!

This is one of the young ones.  

I was not able to capture a photo of the other young Grizzly Bear.

By now I was feeling so fulfilled. 

I was content with no other stops for the ninety minute drive home from here. 

BINGO!