Icefields Parkway Bow Lake July 20, 2022

Three hours was the amount of time I had on my side before I could check into my home away from home along the Icefields Parkway.  I knew this so put a plan in place on how to pass that time.  This is my picnic site right on the shore of Bow Lake which is about a 35 minute drive up the Parkway from Lake Louise.  That red spot is Num Ti Jah Lodge which is at the main parking area for the Lake.  When I arrived at the small parking area, before doing anything, I scouted out the site locations then quickly scooted back to my car, grabbed gear and quickly raced back to make my claim.  It was a great spot with sun and shade, by the  water, great views and the sweet thing was....

...it had two trees located far enough apart beside my picnic table where I could hang my hammock! 

My curious audience of one was a Clark's Nutcracker!

In fact, it was monitoring my situation with regards to food offerings! 

Between napping, reading, mountain gazing, lake listening, sky glancing and dining, the three hours here sped by!  After taking down my site, I captured some photos of Bow Lake. The water was crystal clear, colourful and cold.

reflections in Bow Lake

When I was getting ready to leave, the wind picked up and created waves.  

Before hitting the Icefields Parkway west, I stopped off at the main parking location for Bow Lake to get another view of the surroundings.  It was the meadow filled with Paintbrush wildflowers that captured my attention.  

close up view of the glacier and cornice

Paintbrushes and Crowfoot Mountain

Paintbrushes as far as the eye can see

Wind Ridge July 13, 2022

Our hike up to Wind Ridge was originally planned for mid June but with winter hanging on longer than usual in the mountains, it was necessary to postpone the trek.  After a few weeks of just living our lives, we finally found a day that fit our schedules so today was go time!  The forecast was for hot.  Our plan was to start early attacking the hike in a slow and steady manner more so for my sake.   

The first little while was made up of a gentle ascent through a forest with the odd open area that offered a teasing view, and scattered here and there were grassy areas filled with wildflowers.  This butterfly stayed still long enough for me to capture it sitting on the Brown-Eyed Susan.

Once we popped out of the forest, then the steep climb and easy scrambling began.  

At the top of this steep section, where my friend is, is where the views became magnificent.

This is what I am talking about!

The wild Paintbrushes were at their prime!  It took me some time to take this photo so it was how I wanted it.  We were on a steep section yet I wanted to stop and get down to capture this second in time.  Finally I could see through the lens that the Paintbrush stood out and was the centre of attention . 

When we reached the wide open space was when we were thankful for the wind as it kept the bugs and heat away.  Although, along with the wind came high gusts at time.  My friend snapped this shot of me with my head down bracing against the wind as I huffed and puffed my way up. What I like about wind is that it brings with it these beautiful clouds.

photo credit Malcolm

It was at this spot where I had a moment and asked my friend to take a photo of me "just in case".  We were right before the scramble section which is that wall behind me.  I wondered would I be able to get up there with these strong gusts of winds, it felt like my sail was deflating.  

After a rest we carried on and scrambled up the scramble section.  

That is the Bow Valley down below.

We had one last steep section ahead of us and then we would be on top.  If you look close, you can see four people on the trail near the top to the right hugging the tree line.  The wild gusts were strong which made it a bit more work for me but I was still thankful it kept the heat and bugs away.

We finally made it to Wind Ridge. I now felt the wind fill my sail again, I was ready to leave the swear words behind and I was capable of smiling again and participating in pleasant conversation! 

The wildflowers were gorgeous!  

We hiked to the far end before the drop off.  That is a view of the Three Sisters counting from the right.  It was too windy to dine out in the open so we scooted on down slope a tiny bit to where there was a small amount of shelter.

After lunch, we took care of capturing our summit photos.  

Here I am with The Windtower and The Rimwall behind me.  

Here we are!

We formed a "W" for our summit shot.

Today W = 

Wind Ridge

Windy

Wednesday

Wonderful

We began to feel a few sprinkles as we were finishing up our summit business.  We packed up and began the steep descent sticking to the plan of being slow and steady more so for my sake.  We got down the first steep section then down the scramble section where I needed assistance by being told where to place my feet. I was no sooner down that section when the sprinkles turned to very light showers then turned to heavy showers then turned to full on heavy rain accompanied by a thunder storm.  We carried on quicker when I could.  Eventually the thunder storm passed on by, the rain stopped and blue appeared in the sky.  Not long after this photo was taken, it was time to ditch the rain jackets. 

We arrived back to the forest where we could hike side by side again and at a more quicker pace.  I spotted one Wood Lily that still had a few rain drops on it.  A few seconds before we arrived back at the vehicle, the rain began to pour down and did so while we were gearing down and cleaning up.  By the time we pulled out of the parking lot, the sky cleared.  

It was sweltering when I arrived home.  Calgary still had the heat warning in place. Nevertheless, I sat out on my deck in the sun savouring a home-made Sangria!  I did not last long out there nor did the beverage!  

It was a wonderful day hiking Wind Ridge with my friend.  We now go on living our lives again for a few weeks and then it will be time to hit another trail with loads of life's happenings to share!  

Phyllis Lake Kayaking July 11, 2022

It's been a few years since I ventured out in a kayak!  When I was in Spain, I watched kayakers being one with the sea, paddling across crystal clear calm turquoise waters.  For a few split seconds I envisioned myself doing that.  While it was not in Spain and it was not a sea, nor was it turquoise in colour, I did get to paddle on beautiful blue Phyllis Lake just two hours northwest of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.  Our day was what dreams are made of!

Between myself and Adventure Designer, we came up with a day designed to fuel our souls.  She has two kayaks, one is a blow up one and the other is a put the pieces together one.   I borrowed her blow up one which is a home made Packraft (she built it herself from scratch).  The paddle and PFD were loaned to me from my hiking friend M.  We each brought our ENO Nest Hammocks along with a long list of food items, beverages and everything else to create a fabulous picnic.

Phyllis Lake Reccreation Area turned out being much more than we expected.  We arrived early enough to score the best picnic site there was.  We unloaded the majority of the stuff, set up our site, had snacks, geared up and we were off.  I secretly prayed I could get into the kayak without tipping it.  A Packraft is not the kind of kayak I am use to and it has been a few years since I stepped into one.

I settled in and slowly paddled away with Adventure Designer close by just in case. 

We opted to go left to where the water was calm, to where there were lily pads and to where we heard the call of loons coming from.  The temperature of the water was +20C and about three to four feet deep.  It is early season for the lily pads.  The flowers were still closed.

I am savouring every second.

Further along, we were able to see the loons, it appeared to be a family affair.  We saw two adults and my friend was pretty certain she saw a baby on Mom's back.  We thought it best not to go any closer to them, we turned and went back the way we just paddled.  Surprisingly.... 

....the loon family began to follow us and came quite close.  

That was a family of four as you can see!

It was a most incredible sight!

Adventure Designer likes going closer to shore where the sights are much different.  

I was not quite brave enough to venture there.

When we arrived back to the dock, I was ready for a rest.  I secretly prayed I could get out of the kayak without tipping.  Success!  While I went to our sight and settled into my hammock, my friend opted to carry on paddling in the other direction.  As she passed by, she snapped this photo of me sprawled out in my ENO Nest.

photo credit Adventure Designer

She eventually joined me!

We hung out for quite some time, in fact a long time.  All that time hammock hanging makes a person hungry.  For now snacks and an adult beverage in our lawn chairs by the water would be ideal.  The fruit, chips, turkey bacon and cookies paired well with the beverage! 

this was our view while snacking and hammock hanging

The view of that beautiful blue water 

and those fluffy puffy white clouds that I love so much, 

made for a photographers dream

Now feeling full and happy from the snacks and beverage, the hammocks were once again calling us.  About a couple of hours later, we geared up again to hit the waters.  This time we paddled off in the other direction and to our delight, the loons were right there.  Seeing loons is something so very special! To see just one is a gift, we saw a family of four! 

two baby loons

If you look close, you will see the baby on Mom's back at her neck.

The plan was to paddle around the island in the middle and that was where I was aiming for.

I took a little detour to get closer to the lily pads.

She's keeping her eye on me to make sure I am OK!

A tiny bit of wind came and it was enough to turn me around to which I declared some ooohs and ughs and a sh** here and there.  With a little assistance I was back on track!  I decided I preferred closer to the shore where the water was calmer.

Time was getting on, we exited the water, geared down and yes went back to hang in our Nests.  After a few more snacks and lots of lingering, dinner time rolled around.  We rolled out of the hammocks, yet still left them hanging!   We had a feast of burgers with all the fixings and Greek salad.  On the side were more tomatoes and more turkey bacon with cookies and chips a little later.    

a delightfully delicious dinner

So what is a person to do when feeling full, had enough exercise, still more world problems to solve, the hammocks are still hanging there?  We hung out and hung out and hung out!  By now I was thinking maybe it was 6:00pm and asked Adventure Designer to make the confirmation.  Her reply was "it's 8:20pm!  Neither of us wanted to leave!   

Our souls were fed and now full!  It's days like this that dreams are made of.  I knew I was coming away with an experience I will cherish and I have a feeling the same was so for Adventure Designer.  We packed up and drove off knowing we would be back!