Bourgeau Lake

We chose Bourgeau Lake for a number of reasons. First, it is near to Banff, so the drive to the trailhead is only about 15 - 20 minutes. Second, tomorrow is Canada Day, and not just any run-of-the-mill Canada Day, but the celebration of Canada's 150 years. We hope to take in the parade, music and maybe some fireworks in Banff, so also going on a hike may be a bit much. Bourgeau Lake is rated Challenging so we wanted to "bank" some exercise to cover tomorrow. Finally, at the majestic amphitheater at Bourgeau Lake the views are great.

The trail descriptions in the guide books we use provide waypoints and here's Wolverine Creek and waterfall. Wolverine Creek is actually the outflow creek from Bourgeau Lake.

The waypoint is at 3.5 miles and calls for crossing Wolverine Creek. There's no bridge, just hopping across on these caged rocks.

Lunch spot at Bourgeau Lake.

Lunch view, the amphitheater at Bourgeau Lake.

A denizen of the lake. I think it looks quite handsome in it's white coat against the orange lichen-covered rock.

Performing along the edge of the lake (center left) I hope you click on the pictures to enlarge them for details!

The beginning of Wolverine Creek flowing out of Bourgeau Lake.

Spectacular wildflowers in the nearby meadow.

Scenes on the way back down.

Click the picture and notice the emerald green lake in the valley floor.

I think the mountain range in the distance is the Sawback Range.

Spruce (Canada) grouse

Today's hike:

Length - 9.67 miles

Duration - 5 hours, 7 minutes (including lunch)

Elevation gain - 2,370 feet (237 floors on the Fitbit)

Castle Lookout

Castle Mountain dominates the Bow Valley between Banff and Lake Louise. Coming from Kootenay, it is the first identifiable mountain in Banff National Park. Today we took a short, steep hike to the site of a former fire lookout and excellent panorama of the Bow Valley.

The trail begins in a dense forest and the first landmark is an old dilapidated cabin. The collapsing structure possibly dates to the short-lived mining boom in this part of the valley circa 1884.

The pine has cluster of red, newly forming cones on the tips of its branches. Very Christmasy. 

All that remains at the site is the foundation of the lookout cabin, which was constructed by laborers from the park's conscientious objector camps in the autumn of 1942.

Lunch spot.

Lunch view across the Bow Valley towards Kootenay.

Using the telephoto lens we could see one of the wildlife crossings on the Trans Canada Highway.

Looking south down the Bow Valley towards Banff.

At the lookout cabin foundation we met this adventurous and friendly family from Atlanta, Georgia. The young man in the middle is a student at Brown University. From left -Jeff (Dad), Daniel, Jonah, Lily and Jennifer (Mom). What fun to be traveling and hiking together!

Trail crossing beautiful meadows on the way down.

View of the cliffs of Castle Mountain.

Closer view. The tallest peak is called Eisenhower Peak.

Today's hike:

Length - 4.89 miles

Duration - 3 hours, 8 minutes (including lunch and visiting)

Elevation gain - 1,780 feet (178 floors on the Fitbit)

To Calgary and Back

There are three Costco locations in Calgary and the one on the west side is 1 hour and 15 minutes from the campground. Today was cloudy and not very warm so, even though Frederick had picked out a hike for us, we decided to drive to Costco in Calgary. We were almost out of apples.

The Winter Olympics were held in Calgary in 1988. Driving into Calgary from the west, on the Trans-Canada Highway, we always pass this landmark from those Winter Games - the Ski Jump venue.

Right next door is the luge run. You just might be able to see the end on the far left.

As we drive back home to Banff, the Rockies spring up from the plains and...

grow bigger and bigger in the windshield.

There's Tunnel Mountain with Banff at it's base. 

Little Beehive & Lake Agnes

Another day, another visit to an old friend. Today it was a trek up Little Beehive which provided an excellent panorama of the Bow River Valley, Lake Louise, the hanging valley containing Lake Agnes, and various glacier-crowned peaks.

The hike begins at beautiful Lake Louise.

Heading up Little Beehive we had a look-back at Lake Louise and...

an encounter with another hiking group. This one was from the UK and Australia.

Lunch spot with...

views across the Bow Valley to the Lake Louise ski runs and...

north, with the road to Jasper in view.

From a rocky viewpoint we could see almost all of Lake Louise.

The end of Lake Louise with the green dot of Mirror Lake.

This picture has all three lakes; Louise on the left, Mirror at the bottom, and Agnes at center right. That's Big Beehive between Mirror and Agnes.

Pink Mountainheather; Red Heather

Western Moss Heather

From our lunch spot on Little Beehive we came down past Lake Agnes.

Today's hike:

Length - 6.41 miles

Duration - 3 hours, 49 minutes (including lunch)

Elevation gain - 1,750 feet

C Level Cirque

Another favorite hike of ours, C Level Cirque is close to the Town of Banff on the east side of the Cascade Mountains. The first part of the trail is a steady walk up through a nice mixed forest of spruce, pine and aspen with quite a few wildflowers along the trail.  As we climbed, we passed a few fenced off ventilation shafts from the old coal mine that  was operational back in the early 1920's. "C-Level" is a reference to the elevation level of the old coal mine.

We reached the first viewpoint at the Cirque amphitheater just in time for lunch.

Lunch spot - don't miss Frederick's head in the lower left of the picture. Did you click to enlarge the pictures?

To the right you might see the trail going up to the second viewpoint.

After lunch we climbed to the second viewpoint.

The trail to the third, and most elevated viewpoint, took us to a ridge above the Cirque. That's the Town of Banff and the Bow Valley.

Two Jack's Lake in the center and...

Lake Minnewanka.

Our picture at the third viewpoint taken by...

Sandip and Nisha, from London, who joined us at the top.

On the way down, the Cirque and...

the Bow Valley.

Crossing a boulder field on the way down.

Alpine Springbeauty

YellowAvalanche-lily; Glacier Lily

Today's hike:

Length - 6.86 miles

Duration - 5 hours, 24 minutes

Elevation gain - 2,726 feet (243 floors on the Fitbit)