Company from California

We are happy that Peter and Vivian are visiting us while we are in Banff. They have brought a little tent that is now set-up adjacent to the Airstream and are looking forward to lots of hiking in this beautiful corner of the world. 

Sunshine Meadows

There were really three described hikes at Sunshine Meadows that we enjoyed today - Rock Isle Lake, Grizzly-Larix Lakes Loop and Twin Cairns-Meadow Park. The Sunshine Meadows region is unique in the Canadian Rockies. Unlike most of the Continental Divide, which has lots of peaks with glaciers, this area (about 38-square miles) is rolling subalpine meadows filled with an incredible variety of wildflowers.

We began by taking a school bus shuttle from the Sunshine Village Ski Area parking lot to the top of the gondola where the trails begin. Here is what followed.

The shuttle bus was almost full with the first, 9 a.m., run up the 4 mile road to the top.

Magnificent views stretch across the vast Sunshine Meadows to the distant peaks of British Columbia's Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.

Viewpoint overlooking Rock Isle Lake with the water reflecting its rocky island and shoreline. It is one of the most photographed lakes in British Columbia.

Continuing beyond Rock Isle Lake, the trail drops into alpine larch and fir and incredibly lush wildflower meadows. 

The trail loops around two more lakes, the first is Grizzly Lake. 

We climbed uphill to a viewpoint of the Simpson River Valley and on to...

Larix Lake. Larix is the botanical name for larch.

As we were circling the lake we saw and hear a loon.

After the Grizzly-Larix Lakes Loop, instead of retracing our steps to the shuttle-bus, we took the lofty trail that loops through the Twin Cairns-Meadow Park area back to the bus. There is a short, steep spur that leads to a viewing platform near the top of Standish Ridge where there is an outstanding panorama of the Sunshine Meadows region. Above is Rock Isle Lake on the left and Larix Lake on the right. 

It is also where we ate our lunch and then took more pictures of the surrounding peaks.

On the ridge is a marker for the Continental Divide which is also the dividing line between Alberta and British Columbia. Frederick is standing with one foot in each province.

Trail through the open meadow to the top of Wawa Ridge from where the descent to...

Sunshine Village leads through forested areas.

Here are some lovely wildflowers from today's hike. The real show in Sunshine Meadows isn't until late July and August.

Blue forget-me-nots

Indian Paintbrush

Different hues of Indian Paintbrush

These cheerful hikers are Dave and Carol from Naperville, Illinois. It was great talking with them!

Bow Glacier Falls

Not to be confused with the Bow Valley Lookout Trail, yesterday's hike, the Bow Glacier Falls begins at Bow Lake which has to be one of the finest places to start a hike along the Icefields Parkway. The hike was incredibly rewarding and offered really fantastic scenery. We particularly enjoyed the beautiful views when passing the turquoise colored Bow Lake with the majestic Crowfoot Mountain as its backdrop. The highlight of the trail is the 400-foot waterfall springing from the Bow Glacier which is not visible at the falls because it has retreated above the headwall.

From the parking lot we could see Bow Glacier Falls and the glacier above the headwall.

From the parking lot the trail skirts along the lakeshore and passes historic Num-Ti-Jah Lodge.

Views over this first stretch of the trail extend across turquoise-colored waters to Crowfoot Mountain and...

the leaning spire of Mount St. Nicholas which rises from the Wapta Glacier. 

View back towards the lodge at the end of the lake.

Just before the falls we reached the edge of a huge moraine field and the glacially-carved basin.

While we were eating our lunch at the base of the falls, this little guy paid us a visit...

hoping to share our lunch.

After lunch we took some pictures of the main falls (Frederick is there for scale) and...

two falls that stream out of holes just to the right of the main falls - perhaps you can see them in the picture above.

The base of the falls and water erosion in action.

As we were poking around the base of the falls we saw these blue rocks.

Since the trail crosses the rocky basin sprinkled with boulders, rocks and stones there is no good way to mark the trail except by following cairns. This one seemed to be artfully arranged with some interesting striped rocks.

On the way back we got this great look at a glacier.

The trail followed the run-off stream from the falls across the rocky moraine and...

flows through a narrow gorge.

Hikers have to use the stairs to...

get to the base of the gorge where the water exits.

The stream then feeds Bow Lake with the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge in the distance.

Selfie at the falls.

Bow Summit Lookout

Short, but steep describes today's hike in the Bow Lake area along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, the first time we have ventured up the Icefields. 

The trail began at the popular viewpoint on Peyto Lake, an incredibly turquoise-colored lake.

The view across the lake better shows the color.

The trail follows an old fire lookout road. Tim says, "the trail meanders up", but it was more like a steep climb and the views of the valley just got better and better as we climbed.

At the top of Bow Summit was this view of Bow Lake and the Icefields Parkway passing by on the northeast side.

From the summit we could look north and see it raining in the next valley.

There was one section of the trail that crossed a small, crystal clear stream and a few times we had to traverse snow on the trail.

There are several different hues of the Indian Paintbrush wildflower, but the ones along the trail today were a vivid fuschia.

It is actually the leaves that are colored with the flowers tucked away at the top.

A grouping of fir trees like this is called a Tree Island. They cluster together in islands to improve their chances of survival. A dense clump offers shelter, support and warmth. Some islands are made up entirely of many offshoots of a single parent. 

Lake Minnewanka

We're beginning to learn how to interpret the various hiking guide books and maps that we have. One of the authors, Tim Jensen, The Best Day Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, from the Netherlands, has some interesting perspectives on the capabilities of the hikers he is writing for. But then, I'll bet he didn't have two grandparent-aged seniors in mind when he was assigning the level of difficulty and précis of his described hikes. For instance, today's hike -

     This trail on the north shore of Lake Minnewanka is perfect for a relaxed and easy-going half day 
    hike in a beautiful setting. This trail is also a great place for a family with young children....

This was our experience. Almost 11 miles in length. Tim says 3 - 4 hrs; it took us 5 hrs and 43 mins. Tim says "Easy"; we say more "moderate". But, both Tim and we think that it was a beautiful hike. Of course the fact that we had perfect weather all day may have influenced our assessment - it was our best day, in terms of the weather, we have experienced in Banff.

Here are the pictures -

This picture, and the next one, is taken from the Stewart Canyon Bridge. This is towards the mountains where the stream originates, and...

this one, down the canyon, toward Lake Minnewanka.

Along the trail, halfway down the lake - looking southeast and...

looking northwest.

At the end of the lake the trail turns north to Aylmer Pass and Lookout, an active grizzly bear habitat.  From mid July till the end of October, the bears are attracted by the many Buffalo- and Grouse berries in the area. Beginning in mid-July we will not disturb the bears or hike up the Aylmer Pass trail.

The end of the lake where we paused for a protein bar or two.

Right behind the beach where we rested. Note the beautiful Aspen trees.

Frederick looks as if he is lounging on a beach chair. In actuality he is sitting on a log. The lake is one of the deepest lakes of the Canadian Rockies. The deep water gives the lake its intense dark blue color. 

If we continued on the Aylmer Pass trail we would cross these meadows (where the grizzles live).

On the trail back. It was a beautiful trail, just as I picture in my mind what a mountain trail should be. 

We passed many of these flowers on the trail. If they were in Rhode Island I would say they were "beach roses", just what they looked and smelled like.

One of Nature's trailside bouquets.

We passed several deer; here are two of them.

And back at the trailhead, there were two goats. Here's one.

We close today's blog post with the view we had this morning at 6:30 - out our bedroom window.