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.
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