Elbow River Falls

The Elbow River is gradually cutting it's way down these layers of rock. The water scours and undercuts the harder layer above. At one time the river flowed over the bank on the left. But eventually it found an easier path to the right and left a pocket below the old stream bed as evidence of the past.

Mount Louis

Megan:  This one is for you - the pinnacle in the background is Mount Louis.  The view is from along the trail to Sundance Valley.

The signs are out in Banff right now for bears and there were supposed to be two in this area.  They are feeding on Buffaloberry which is a red or yellowish berry that grows on a shrub. We saw lots of berries, and I saw some that looked like they might have been picked over, but no bears.  To avoid bear problems you are supposed to:

1. make lots of noise so you don't surprise the bears and travel in groups
2. carry bear spray and know how to use it (I carry it and I know how to use it)
3. watch for signs of bears and be especially careful around Buffaloberry patches
4. if you see a bear, back away slowly and leave the area - never run

You are also supposed to "rat the bear out" as Dave says and call Parks Canada.  But as I said, I didn't see any.  Buffaloberries are edible but quite bitter as I found out by trying one berry.  They are also called Soapberry and were whipped into a foam with other berries added for sweetness by native Americans.

Lower Johnston Falls

Another view from Johnston Canyon last Saturday.  The problem with Johnston Canyon in the summer is that it is full of tourists - you literally line up for pictures.  It is too pretty and too easy to get to :-)

Larch Valley

Today was not the best when it comes to weather - you can't tell it from this picture but it was snowy, windy, and cold for early September.  Actually you can tell from this picture - look up in the upper left hand corner and the snow is visible. 

In total we trudged almost 20 km but most of the time we could only see the outline of the mountains due to the overcast and snow.  But it cleared up enough towards the end of the day to take this picture in Larch Valley.  The valley is located above Morraine Lake near Lake Louise in Banff National Park.  The trees in the midground of the photo are Larch and they turn a lovely gold in the fall.  We hope to get back later after they've started to turn....

Bow Lake

Sunday was a beautiful day and the walk to Bow Glacier Falls was nicer than expected.  It is an easy walk without much elevation gain to the waterfall where the Bow River is born.  Unfortunately the waterfall was a bit hard to photograph so you get to see the lake instead.

Johnston Canyon

One of several small waterfalls in Johnston Canyon.

Unnamed Mountain

According to the guide book, the mountain in the background has no name.  The picture was taken from the ink pots above Johnston Creek.

Chairs and Table in an Alley

A scene in front of a coffee shop near Pike Place Market.

Seattle Skyline

It was a beautiful day today...

Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame

There are some funky things in Seattle.  Take the museum at the Space Needle.  It houses a music museum that has a room dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, exhibits on all sorts of rock and roll stuff, and currently an exhibit of costumes from the Supremes.  This particular piece of art is a cyclonic looking assemblage of instruments that spirals a couple of stories high.  It plays music (see the robotic frets and pluckers on the guitars?).  I think this photo would make a good puzzle.

Then there is the science fiction museum.  Which one is the robot?  Which one looks like he has more personality?

Back in Seattle Again

It is a beautiful day in Seattle...

Rawson Lake

This is Rawson Lake from yesterday's hike above Kananaskis.  The trail was a bit crowded (for Kananaskis) but worth it.

Mount Indefatigable and Upper Kananaskis Lake

We hiked up Mount Indefatigable a ways and then came back across the lake where I took this picture.  It was a very nice although cooler today.  Saw pikas, ground squirrels, chipmunks, tree squirrels, and a vole - but no large animals although signs said there were bears in the area.

I like the clouds in this one.

Moon over Rundle

I am back to wondering whether I should post photos in fake frames are just on a plain background.  What do you think?  It is a bit gimmicky but still....

Skoki Lodge

The Skoki Lodge was built in 1931 by ski enthusiasts and added to later.  Accomodation is very pleasant but relatively primitive.  Lighting is by candles, kerosene lanterns, and flashlights.  Winter heating is by wood and propane.  The food is fantastic.  The scenery is amazing.  One little problem....  It is a 12 km hike in.  If you leave something at the car, it is a long way back. 

I've posted some photos here.

Hoary Marmot

We saw a number of hoary marmots on the way to Skoki Lodge.  I did not have a telephoto lens but was lucky enough to get close to this one.

Redoubt Mountain and Ptarmigan Lake

A view from the trail coming down Deception Pass on the way back from Skoki Lodge.

Cascade Amphitheatre

Another view of Cascade Amphitheatre.

Extinct Glacier

The Cascade Amphitheatre is a good long walk from the parking lot at the ski lodge of Mt. Norquay.  And most of it is uphill.  But it is very pretty when you get there.  The wall is massive and very impressive as you approach it.  It was formed by a glacier that once inhabited the top of the mountain but is now long gone.  On the other side of the wall is the face of Cascade Mountain that you can see from Banff.

I saw lots of pikas but didn't get a good picture because I didn't lug a telephoto up.  They were gathering grass to make into hay for the winter.  I also saw chipmunks and ground squirrels and walked right under a hawk in a tree about 25' above me on the way up.  There was a large group of ewes with lambs - maybe 20 or more that I spotted on the way down.

Hot and Crowded

I have decided that August isn't the best time to visit the Canadian Rockies.  It is hot (relatively) and too crowded.  Canmore and Banff are both so busy you can barely park and get something to eat.

The picture shows a marshy stream that you can walk along in Canmore.

Three Sisters

A view of the Three Sisters and a creek that feeds the Bow River.

The Road to Canmore

A pasture along Highway 1...

Yamnuska

I stopped by to see if there were still any wildflowers in Bow Provincial Park - not many left....  The mountain in the background is Yamnuska.

Taste of Calgary

I haven't made a posting without a picture in a while so, just for fun, here is one.  I haven't carried a camera since last weekend.  I've been working and haven't even gone for so much as a good walk.  But this evening I stopped off at the Taste of Calgary which is a food tasting festival held in the square in Eau Claire between the YMCA and the market.  You buy tickets and use them to sample food from various restaurants in the Calgary area who set up stalls.

I tried the following:

• BBQ Slider (good)
• Mixed Sushi Plate (OK)
• Cabbage Rolls (Nice)
• Turkish Donair (Below average)
• Small glass of Daniel Gehr Syrah (excellent)

Not everyone would have picked this mixture, but then not everyone is me.  I found if I stopped and talked to the folks working the stall for a minute and asked where their shop was they would give me a discount ticket and in the case of the BBQ Slider a free dinner at their establishment.  So I may go back tomorrow for more and if I do I'll take a camera.

I couldn't stop myself.  I had to post photographs.  Over in the slideshow are some photos I took a while back of my shadow....

Vermillion Lakes

A view along the Vermillion Lakes back towards the south and the town of Banff with Mount Rundle on the right.  A rain shower had just passed through and can be seen behind Rundle.  The dead trees ringing the lake are near the end of the road and down a little bank.  Along the shore on the right hand side I saw a muskrat swimming and eating aquatic vegetation.

Dinosaur Dig

An exhibit showing dinosaur bones in the ground where they were found.

More from the Badlands

Dinosaur Provincial Park is particularly rich in species of dinosaurs found, as well as quality.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dinosaur Provincial Park

It's in the badlands along the Red Deer River in Southern Alberta on the eastern side of the province....

Kananaskis River Valley

We're back in Alberta again...

Decatur, Illinois

We were in the land of Lincoln over the weekend.  This statue, almost two dimensional, was in in downtown Decatur.