Canadian Rockies (October, 2017)
on a salted, icy highway outside of Calgary
leading in towards Grotto Canyon
another small lake along the way
a pileated woodpecker finding breakfast on a telephone pole
one more small scenic lake covered in a fall snow
industry invades the beauty of nature
magnesium oxide processing plant
Grotto Canyon is a small canyon; the beauty is in and out of it.
Grassi Lakes is a pair of beautifully colored lakes outside of Canmore.
interesting combination of early fall freeze and still running water
Lakes are fed by the Spray River
second of the Grassi Lakes
a little bit of fall color mixed in with the snow
looking away from the lakes
Ptarmigan Cirque Trail near Kananaskis, not far from Calgary; cirque – amphitheater like valley formed by glacial erosion
fresh Grizzly tracks on the trail in front of us
looking behind us away from the cirque
views along the way
Plan was to hike around the entire cirque; grizzly tracks leading in but not leading out changed those plans.
little guy hiding from cold, snowy fall weather
an interesting vision of Lake Louise
a fall hike?
sister lake to Lake Louise
getting ready for winter
Athabasca Falls along Icefields Parkway, on way to Jasper
Athabasca Falls known for turquoise water
Mistaya Canyon, border of Banff and Jasper
fall running water with ice covered rocks
a little fall color looking out from the canyon
a bull protecting his harem
Valley of Five Lakes, known for amazing colors in lakes; lake one
lake two – look for face in lake
lake three
lake four with five in the background
last but not least, lake five
Tangle Creek Falls, right along the road – Icefields Parkway
Medicine Lake in Maligne Valley
Maligne River
Medicine Lake, good spot for sighting moose or so it is said – not this morning!
Elk, on the other hand, were plentiful!
Wilcox Trail, a moderate hike when it is not blizzard conditions!
Wilcox Trail, known for stunning views of Athabasca Glacier, if it is clear!
Foggy view from Wilcox
Overview lookout of Icefields on Icefields Parkway – closed for the season
blue-ish color of snow is a glacier
October in the Canadian Rockies
beautiful roadside views
This guy ran alongside us for quite a distance at an amazing speed!
Bow River, from Tunnel Mountain, right in town of Banff
hoodoos of Tunnel Mountain
glimpse of Banff Castle from Tunnel Mountain, built by Canadian Pacific Railway, 1888, as a grand hotel
Johnston Canyon is a scenic by-way in Banff.
Everything can be seen from short walks or from scenic pullouts.
Tidbits of fall amidst the wintry weather
Sulphur Mountain is the cable car that goes to the Banff visitor center and look-out. We hiked up and rode down for free.
The trail switch backs under the cable car.
Looking down the cable car line with a long way up still to go
much higher view looking down on the cable car
beauty all around us
made it to the top, but not really the top
The real top has a weather station; if we are hiking the mountain, we must get to the real top!
view from the trail
another view from the trail
looking out from the weather station, the true top of the mountain
looking down of the town of Banff
Back at the bottom, a raven spots a closed cooler but knows good things are inside.
The raven gets the cooler open while a magpie waits for its share.
The raven won’t share!
