14. Centennial Ridge

Distance: 7 k
Elevation gain: 1000 m

On Tuesday, July 17, I climbed Centennial Ridge with the senior's hiking group to which Margaret belongs. I was glad to find I was able to keep up. This is the highest trail in the Canadian Rockies built to celebrate our centennial. I did the whole trail 5 years earlier with my kids but this time we only went up to the strange rocks 1 kilometre before the summit of Mt Allan. Coming down the steep slope again was very hard on the knees so if and when I do it again, I hope to go over Mt Allan and down the other slope.

The whole ascent is very steep but mostly above the tree line so the views are beautiful.

 

The flowers were amazing for variety and number. I took a picture of this one to try to identify it later but my photographer husband wasn't with me and my little camera didn't take a clear picture so I still don't know.

The peak in the distance is the summit of Mt Allan above Nakiska Ski slope. It was very enjoyable hiking with the group and chatting about their experiences, travels, hikes and books. Actually a lot of the chatting included grandchildren.

We ate out lunch and went down again, slowly and carefully, marveling at the wonderful creation.

13. Old Baldy

Distance: 16 k return
Elevation gain: 860 m

On a very hot Sunday, July 8, church was finished early thanks to Stampede Breakfast and we headed off to our hike. Our memory from a few years ago was an interesting hike with a short steep part at the end. That was still true but in 28 - 30*C every step took a lot more energy and the hike was more difficult this time.

  

The first half of the hike was along a very musical (loud) stream with waterfalls, fallen logs,and

 welcome cool breezes. Sometimes the trail beside the stream felt like a goat trail and we held on to trees to avoid falling in.

One muddy rock was covered with blues flitting around.Other butterflies also made up for the lack of  wildlife.

There were many varieties of flowers, too many to picture, but this clematis, long finished in Calgary

wound its way over bushes here and there most of the way along the stream.

After a few kilometres, the stream turned direction a little and went underground.We crossed and recrossed on rocks or patches of snow, sometimes hearing the water underground until we came to a tarn at the end of the valley.

We rested and ate lunch beside the tarn, enjoying the barren beauty. Unfortunately the mosquitoes were bad and our repellent was not 100% effective so we continued moving. The next stretch was the real steep part. I rested every 60 steps and made it to the top.

Near the top, we came upon a most beautiful stretch of Western spring beauties. Although we try never to step on flowers, here we were especially careful.

After we got up the steep, steep part, we could see the bald peak in the distance. My strong photographer, companion, and protector whistled as he led the way through the dense trees and successfully scared away all the bears before we saw them. I plodded slowly after him. This next picture is supposed to show how slow and hot I am.

Finally we reached the broad prairie like bald peak and looked over the top at Nakiska and Kananaskis Village.

The weather was still so warm on top that we tried to snooze for a while - unfortunately the flies and mosquitoes irritated me but Herm dozed off. So, we took our pictures to show we completed the hike and then searched for the best way down. A very good hike, with beautiful views and flowers.

12. Johnson Canyon/Ink Pots, (b)Moose Meadow/Ink Pots

Distance: 11 k return
Elevation gain: 243 m

Sunday, July 1, we decided to go to the Inkpots on our way back to Calgary. It was another cloudy, drizzly day but that didn't stop the hordes from visiting this beautiful narrow canyon with seven waterfalls in full volume at this time of year.

                 Lower falls

         






                     Upper falls

The Inkpots had boardwalks built around them to protect the edges but they were also starting to deteriorate. Even here there were many people on the Canada Day.

This picture of an Alpine fir with its cones pointing up is to help me remember some of the identification lessons I get on our hikes.
We continued on past the inkpots to find a quiet place for lunch.
This is a beautiful spot  to visit but it was not a very enjoyable hike since part of our purpose is to enjoy creation peacefully.

 August 26,2016 I went back to the Ink Pots with my sisters. This time we started at Moose Meadow to avoid the crowds along the catwalk in Johnson Canyon. It starts a little ways up the road and is just as far. Doreen is taking a picture of Marg and me eating lunch and Elaine resting.

11. Bow Glacier Falls,(b)

Distance: 6.8 km return
Elevation gain: 91 m

The next day, June 30, Herm and I explored the headwaters of the Bow River, a purportedly beautiful hike which we had never done before, another cloudy day but not cold. 
From the beginning, we could see the glacier and the falls in the distance. Most of the tourists were just taking pictures so the trail wasn't too busy.

After a gentle, floral walk around Bow Lake, we entered the valley and started rock hopping over gravel and shallow streams.
 

       Most of the 91 m climb was
       up these stairs.








A huge boulder across the canyon formed a natural bridge to Bow hut. It was also fun to climb on.

It was a very easy path on top of a moraine and then more rock hopping over glacial meltwater right up to the falls. 

Closer and closer, more and more impressive.

 Until finally, we were almost part of the falls.

August 25, 2016,I went back to Bow Glacier Falls with my sisters. This time Elaine and I climbed to a ledge higher up the falls but we were so far above Doreen that we were not visible on her photo. So sad.

10. Eiffel Lake

Eiffel Lake

Distance: 11 km return
Elevation gain: 384 m

June 29, Herm and I headed out to Eiffel Lake, hopefully less popular than Plain of Six Glaciers. Since there was still a lot of snow we hoped to hear and see  avalanches across the valley. However, perhaps due to the cloudy and cold conditions the mountains were silent. The first highlight of the hike was the running water - along the trail, small water falls, springs.

Looking behind us we saw Moraine Lake below surrounded by snow covered mountains. Most of the day the peaks were in the clouds.

The crocuses were the featured flower, lining the trail for about half a kilometre                                                                                          

                                                                               

and the marmot was our most exciting mammal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Judging by the many snow fields and remaining avalanches, this was still spring in the area.

 As we neared the lake, the wind got colder, more rain and cloud, utter barreness but we put on our ponchos and kept going.

 Finally the snow won and we could go no further so we ate our lunch and were glad we were warmly dressed. It was a beautiful hike even though we were disappointed at the lack of action from the glaciers across the valley.

                                                                                                         

9. Plain of Six Glaciers

Plain of Six Glaciers Trail,(b plus extension)

Distance 11km return
Elevation 471 m

On Thursday, June 28, 2012 Herm and I set out to bag some more hikes. Because it was still early in the season we had to do lower elevation ones. We did 4 hikes this weekend, all short and easy but good to start after a slack spring. 

 The hike starts at Lake Louise chateau and continues down the valley at the end of the lake.

Crossing snow plains and avalanche trails added to the variety and interest of the hike, as did the "weeping wall". Twenty years ago our children cooled off under these showers.

 Flowers and animals were scarce but we appreciated what there was -  many ground squirrels

 
chipmunks

yellow violets
                                                                                                               On we went, observing the glaciers as we neared the end of the trail.

There it was, Victoria Glacier on Victoria mountain. Some of the other six were not visible from the ground.

This trail was very popular and many people were sitting around at the tea house and on the benches enjoying the sunshine. So we did too.

6 Glaciers plus extension
August 23, 2016, Margaret, Doreen, Elaine and I hiked this trail past the tea house to the base of Abbot Hut along the glacial runoff. It was easy and level and beautiful.   This is the overview from Mt. Fairview. On the way back we joined many others to watch a grizzly feeding across the stream.