25. Mount Baldy

Elevation: 800 m
Distance: 5 km return

July 27, 2 months  after Ha Ling, we finally found opportunity to hike again. Mount Baldy is an 'easy' scramble, close to Calgary and has one area of exposure. We looked forward to a great day.

The weather was cool, great for climbing. The cloud ceiling was low, not great for views.



After an hour of steep climbing, we came to the scramble. Hands and feet up the rocks and then down a 3- metre drop onto that narrow ridge pictured here for a few metres, then more rock and boulder climbing. We are thankful for the experience but not sure how much of that type of scramble we want to do again.
Maybe I can cross it off my bucket list.

It was not scary as long as I watched where I was going and didn't imagine falling.

The rest on the rock sofa and chair were a fun break after the exposed part was finished.
We still had to scramble up to the peak but there was less exposure and we could follow a group ahead of us. Although we entered the cloud, visibility was adequate to find our way and it wasn't too cold when we stayed on the sheltered side of the mountain. The other groups on the top continued on to make a circle but we retraced our route except we took a detour to avoid the rocky exposed ridge. It was a great experience but we were happy to return safely.

24. Ha Ling Peak, (b,2019)

Distance: 5.4 k return
Elevation gain: 741 m

HaLing Peak is a prominent peak above the town of Canmore, very popular because it is so close. 

Since it was May 18, we needed to look for a hike without snow.

     

The steadily uphill trail was mostly green, a treat after winter, and a little snow on the trail was just interesting.

In the scree, above the tree line, we found several patches of bright purple saxifrage, the only flowers on the trail.

A short snow squall passed over while we were in the trees and now for the final ascent the weather was clearing again. We were glad to have our poles with us. Slow and steady was my motto as we climbed up and it worked.

On the other side of the peak, we looked down on Canmore - in the mist - but still able to identify various landmarks like the Quarry pond I swam in last summer.

What a treat to be serenaded by this young gentleman and enjoy the clear sweet music from his guitar on the mountain top!

Yes, my photographer came to the top with me. We suffered no ill effects of the climb on Saturday but Sunday my legs were very tight. An inspiration to exercise a little more.



B. distance:7.6 km
    elevation gain 810 m - recalculated height

 August 29, 2019, we climbed to Ha Ling for a second time. It had been closed for trail reconstruction but was open again in time to take Naylis and Skyler for a hike before school started again.
I took my phone for pictures to save my photographer lugging his camera up the long, steep slope.
Hence, this lop-sided group selfie at the beginning of the trail in Goat Creek parking lot.

The trail was re-routed somehow, wider, level, good walking, some stone benches or seats and stone steps,
                                                            
                      and wooden stairs.
                                                                              
  When the new trail ended at the saddle, we had to scramble up to the peak. this gave Skyler new energy and he beat us to the top.                                                                               
                                           

         What a beautiful view in every direction.                                 
A friendly hiker took a picture of all of us from the other direction. She gave back the phone, I put it down, forgot it and left it there. Someone else found it and I got back these hike pictures. Moving them from the phone to the blog is obviously difficult for me.

23. Taylor lake

Distance: 18 km
Elevation gain: 750 m

Saturday, September 29, a good weather forecast, maybe a little rain in the morning, probably our last chance to go hiking this year so off we went on a recommended easy hike to enjoy the last of the larches. Taylor Lake parking lot looks across at Castle Mountain and what a beautiful sunny view we had before we left.

The trail to Taylor lake was an easy steady climb for our group.

Along the way we enjoyed seeing mushrooms,

and bunch berries. They are more beautiful than delicious.

Soon we came to Taylor Lake which was lovely even without sunshine.
There were 8 other groups eating lunch with us, probably overflow from the crowded, popular Larch Valley.

We continued on up in the drizzle to Panorama Meadow.

The hike through the meadow along side a singing creek was the best part. We enjoyed watching a couple American dippers but they don't show up well on pictures.

We crossed the meadow to extend the hike and hopped over very boggy patches. We decided to look over a distant pass in hopes of finding an un-named lake to personalize.

View looking back from the hill just before the soon to be named Grace's lake. Probably more larches than Larch Valley and very beautiful but without the sunshine and past their peak the total effect was not as glorious.

Herm and I personalized this lake but you are all welcome to come and visit. We left a duck behind to greet you.

22. Sentinel Pass

Distance: 20 k
Elevation gain: 726 m

Saturday, September 15 the forecast was warm, sunny weather in the mountains so we excitedly prepared to hike from Moraine Lake over Sentinel Pass down Paradise Valley. Not even the thought of the crowds milling around Larch Valley held us back. We went with a group so we could leave one car at the Paradise valley trail head.

After the switchbacks, the trail opened up into sunshine, blue skies, almost yellow larches and wonderful views of mountains including these ten peaks. I had totally forgotten how beautiful this was, last time was about 20 years ago with the kids.

Maybe I am more mature now and can appreciate the beauty better.
The trees were not quite at their peak for colour but the variety of yellows, greens and red plants made this as good as anything Ontario brags about.

Too soon we came to a small lake at the base of Sentinel Pass which with its gentle switchbacks invited hikers to climb up and look over the other side.

We hadn't expected this crowd on top of the pass but with sun and little wind we shouldn't have been surprised. The large rock wind shelter was evidence that this day was exceptional.

After lunch, we prepared to descend. Unfortunately this picture can't show the steepness of the rock and scree
we had to negotiate.

But others had done it safely before so who was I to chicken out. Besides, I could see a little bit of a trail at the bottom.  There was some snow on the rocks making them slippery but slowly and carefully we make our way safely down. Actually, it was fun.

Looking back, Herm got a good picture of some of the sentinels guarding the pass.



Down below we detoured to visit the Giant Steps - worth a trip in themselves.

As on other fall hikes, the woods
were full of a variety of colourful
mushrooms of all shapes and textures.

During the course of the hike, we kind of walked around three sides of Mount Temple. From Annette Lake we saw the crown of snow on top and reaffirmed our intention not to climb it.

One of the highlights of our day greeted us near the end of the trail - a large porcupine with all his quills on alert. After staring at us for awhile, he walked away.

This was such a glorious hike, I look forward to doing it again. We'll see.

21. James Walker Creek

Distance: 17 k
Elevation: 510 m

Labour Day weekend, Saturday looked like decent weather, so we decided to go hiking and try this new hike, recommended by a friend. Not too much elevation gain, good for tired people. The pictures in this blog were sent via email rather than downloaded as previous ones because that was taking too long. I need to find a better way.
At the end of Guinn's Pass hike we met some people interested in hiking with us so this was our first hike together.

James Walker Creek hike starts off the Smith Dorien road at the Saw Mill picnic area. The first stretch was very sociable, walking on old logging roads. Although it was in the forest, there were views, flowers and many mushrooms at this time of year.

One very interesting mushroom was this cauliflower textured one. We read that cauliflower mushrooms were edible but was this the same variety? We didn't check.










The trail became narrow but still good. Soon we arrived at this tarn, saw bear tracks in the mud but they were not very fresh. From here, we could see our destination ahead, the basins around James Walker mountain.

As we climbed out of the forest, we looked over a moraine into the basins between the mountains, What a beautiful sight and what a unique experience. This time we were IN the mountains, not on top of them. We tied a yellow ribbon to some trees to relocate the trail.

Three large rams welcomed us and stood to watch us hike by. I could have stayed to chat but a cold wind was blowing.

Although there was a little vegetation at the entrance to the basins, they were mostly stark inhospitable rock with a few tarns.

We hiked carefully from one basin to the other, where we found another tarn and more rock.

Here is our proof that we visited the second basin also. The tarn shows a little in the background. It was cold, cloudy and windy and snow pellets were starting to come down so we didn't hang around too long.

We turned around and tried to find our yellow ribbon but our navigator was disoriented and couldn't locate it so he led us cross-country. We couldn't get lost because we could see the tarn, our destination, below us.






 A good time was had by all.

20. Guinn's Pass via Ribbon Creek

Distance: 20 k
Elevation: 850 m

On Saturday, August  18. the weather was great, and we were ready to go again. One beautiful, strenuous day in the mountains is like several days of holidays and the city and work are forgotten.

This hike started beside Ribbon Creek on a wide fairly level trail, good for beginners.

Twisted stalk has a very inconspicuous flower but becomes more beautiful with maturity. I'm assuming this is a life lesson.

Although the trail has not climbed much, there are still mountain views, making this a great hike for beginners.

Ribbon Falls is the treat at the end of the Ribbon Creek Trail and a perfect place for lunch - on a rock in the spray if it's a hot day like we had.

After the falls, beginners turn back! It was a steep climb up to Ribbon Lake. The chain was a necessary safety device up the rocks, and fun to use.

Mildred's Tortoiseshells followed us all along the trail all day: ahead, behind, on the flowers beside.
Actually, it's safer to  see butterflies than bears.

Ribbon Lake was cold but the day was hot. It felt so good to take off my boots.
At the other end of the lake, by the campground, people were jumping into the cold water. Two guys explained to me later that it was a good way to get the lactic acid out of the muscles because the blood vessels constricted so drastically. Herm didn't want to wait for me to try it and I didn't push too hard.

 There were beautiful creeks to follow much of the way on this hike.

From this valley, we could look up to see Buller Pass which we had done 2 weeks prior. I don't pay much attention to where we are, just enjoy the environment but all the same it was nice to put the hikes together in my mind.

A steep, hot, barren switch back trail
up Guinn's Pass.We stopped at almost every cairn to look back and admire the view. (and catch our breath).

The other side of the pass was equally steep but much greener and more interesting. Another creek tumbled down beside us part of the way till it went underground. At the bottom of the pass we linked up to the Galatea trail

and followed another beautiful creek to the parking lot.

We ended the day with a picnic at Sibbald Flats. What a wonderful holiday!