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!

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. 

Wilcox Pass & Ridge Jasper National Park July 21, 2022

For today's hike up to Wilcox Pass and then further up onto the Ridge, I would leave from my home away from home in Banff National Park and enjoy a short drive into Jasper National Park.  It was to be another scorcher of a day so the plan was to hit the Icefields Parkway early to beat the heat.

It was chilly early on as I savoured my coffee and waited for the sun to rise.

As the peaks began to light up, I sipped the last drop of coffee then finished getting ready to head off.

The drive along the Parkway was a slow go. With no traffic, I drove well below the speed limit and enjoyed the beauty.  It was not a slow go though when I arrived at the parking lot for Wilcox Pass.  I was quick to hit the trail once I exited my car.  I got through the ascent along the tree section then slowed down  once there was something to see which was from here on in until I arrived back at the trees a few hours later.   

The "red chairs" are of course in a perfect spot for a photo shot.  

You can see the Icefields Parkway down below at the tip of my hiking boots.

looking back to where the red star is, that is where the "red chairs" are

When I was here on May 31st of last year, I did not make it very far once I got up to the meadows.  On that day there was still too much snow to venture along.  This time around the meadow had pools of water scattered here and there.  In those pools I saw photo ops.  You can see the top of Mount Wilcox reflecting in this little pool.

This was the only creek crossing to contend with.  

I reached Wilcox Pass!  This was the first time I was here since the new sign was placed.  This sign also now shows there is an official trail to Wilcox Ridge.  A number of years ago I haphazardly found my way to a viewpoint.  It was good to see a trail was built and marked.  

This is the first marker.  It's a pile of rocks protected by wire and marked with a yellow square.

Mount Wilcox reflecting in a pond

looking back to the Pass between the mountains and to where there is a trail that leads to Tangle Falls

You can see the trail meandering along the middle and  then going up through the snow slope. 

From here there is some descending to do and then more elevation gain.  

a rock staircase

I made it to the end of the trail and this was the view! You can see it all from here, the Icefields Parkway, the Icefield Centre in the middle bottom, the Athabasca Gacier in the centre, the hotel to the left, the road leading up to Athabasca Glacier and also the tiny parking lot that you can drive to and then walk to the toe of the glacier and that is to the left of the green tarn.  

a close up view of glaciers

the bus driving up the Athabasca Glacier

in the centre are people on the glacier (I am guessing they are learning crevasse rescue)

the bus is that tiny dark spot on the glacier road

My destination shot!  Even though I am up high and out in the open, it was hot.  It was also windy which was appreciated to help keep me somewhat cool and keep bugs away.  To look across and down and see how busy it was, I stood here alone and loved it!  It was early yet but I still worked up a lunch time appetite so sat awhile and just got lost in the beauty of it all. 

Some time later I began the return trip and now I started to see others making their way here.  There is something about being up on Wilcox Pass and the Ridge!  For me it feels like I am so far out there and it has that wild appeal.  A way out there and in the wild, dainty beauty thrives like these Forgetmenot wildflowers.  

It was a "lifer" for me to see this Grey-Crowned Rosy Finch!

Instead of taking the route that is beaten in the snow, I made my own way through the snow.

Bouquets of Moss Campion were everywhere!  

back to that creek crossing

When I arrived back at my car, I felt so fulfilled!  The only business to take care of now was the drive back to my home away from home and get fulfilled in another way, relaxing with my feet up on my deck...

...and sipping a cold beverage!

Mountain Therapy Escape February 16, 2022

Icefield Parkway

Banff National Park & Jasper National Park

There are times in my life when the "stars align" and then there are times when the "Stars Align", and then times when the "STARS ALIGN" ! Well today the STAAARS ALLLIGNED!  As luck would have it, Adventure Designer and I would be enjoying a mountain escape in the same general area over some of the same days.  We were in touch with her stating she was designing an adventure and was I game to go off on this journey with her.  I have been a part of these designs before, I knew what I would be in for so I jumped on board just like that!  

She left her home away from home and dropped by mine to pick me up and off we went for a tour along the Icefield Parkway! I have never been here in the dead of winter and was excited for the day.  It's not a road I would take on at this time of year.  We decided to see how far we get given time and her level of comfort with the road conditions.

Not far along we were stopped by a patrol person who advised us they were cleaning up snow and debris from a controlled avalanche performed over night.  This was the view as we were give the go ahead to move along.  The plow had cleared enough roadway for us to get through.

This is a view from inside the vehicle.  

We drove the big bend and reached high elevation and now approaching Parker Ridge area.

We pulled off in this section to admire the view.  Parker Ridge is to the left and our plan is carry further along and assess as we go.  There was no traffic, we owned the road, so I went for a shot that shows my excitement for being here.  It's the dead of winter, it's remote, it's wild, it's desolate, but I felt so alive! 

This photo was taken from the vehicle.  

We crossed over into Jasper National Park and we are aiming for the Columbia Icefields.  

The road was plowed down to the parking lot for the Columbia Icefields.  We bundled up and went for a walk as far as we felt comfortable with.  This is looking up at the Athabasca Glacier in the centre of the photo.  It was cold here and there was a bit of wind every now and then but that blue sky and the scenery was incredible.  

here we are on a small ridge off the trail

Adventure Designer taking a few minutes to just be in the moment!

There is something so incredibly moving to be out here, right now!  

As we were heading back to the vehicle, we both kept looking back!  I didn't want to leave and I wondered why she kept looking back but we had so much more to experience and it was time to head further west.  We drove to the Tangle Falls parking lot and made this our turn around location.  Before carrying on back, we crossed the road to visit the Falls. How about the colour of those falls!  WOW!  

Tangle Falls

This photo was taken from the car as we drove back towards the Columbia Icefields.

More amazing frozen falls so we stopped again and crossed the road to see them.  There was a beaten path that lead in the direction of the falls that was probably used by ice climbers.  We did not venture any further, we respected the avalanche warning sign.  

This is a view from the vehicle showing how narrow this section of road is and how the ice and snow on the road is melting.  The sun was so intense and worked its magic on the road, at times the road was bone dry.  That was the case with the winding steep big bend section of road further back.

view from the vehicle as we carried along heading for Peyto Lake

The road to the lower parking lot at Peyto Lake was ploughed and the parking lot cleared.  This is the view as the Peyto Lake kiosk.  A few other cars were already here and as we hiked in to the Lake we met the people coming back out, all who were beaming brightly so we knew we were in for a treat. 

This is the pile of snow cleared from the parking lot! 

Of course, I had to climb it!

the trail through the forest heading towards the new viewing platform at Peyto Lake

We arrived at the platform and on this day at this time we owned it!  That never ever happens during other seasons.  This view is looking down onto Peyto Lake with it being snow covered.  Other times of the year this lake is turquoise in colour.  To me it is just as beautiful in winter!  

another view in another direction

Adventure Designer brought her Buffalo Plaid blanket and settled on it for some photo ops.

joining in on the photo opportunity

realizing the colours we choose to wear today were perfect

the biggest marshmallow I ever did see

It was time to continue further back east and stop off at Bow Lake for a walk around.  This is the view of Crowfoot Mountain just after we left the parking lot aiming for the edge of the lake.  The snow is wind sculptured into a perfect drift.

embracing the feeling of being out on Bow Lake in the dead of winter

There was no water anywhere to be seen so no reflections to capture.  

In this location it was all about the shadows!

Adventure Designer designing her shadow shot!

I am not much of a designer, this is mine!

this is our shadow shot

view of Bow Lake and Crowfoot Mountain from the little wood bridge

As we worked our way back to the vehicle, I stopped to admire the Lodge and to see the Canadian Flag waving in the wind. It will be another few months before the Lodge opens again for another season. 

This was our last stop before heading back to Lake Louise.  It was early evening by the time we arrived back at The Village and decided to dine in at The Outpost at the Post Hotel.  Once inside we checked our comfort level for being inside there and with an A.O.K we then picked the comfy sofa in the corner.  Two hours later, it was time to head on home. 

Today was absolutely amazing!  I kind of knew it would be with my friend being the designer of our day!  It was great that Mother Nature came on board and presented us with wonderful weather and parks people worked their magic to give us safe driving conditions.  Like I said early in this story, today in the dead of winter I felt so alive!