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Published: February 15th 2013
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Big Sky
Wonderful vistas of the mountains and the sky greeted us on our bus ride. With the advent of July the bus leaves ay 7:30, prompting me to bring breakfast to eat on the bus – salmon cakes in a bun with lettuce spears and a banana. The bus was almost full with 47 participants. Our destination was Kananaskis.
Eight of us chose the “C” option, a short walk up to the lake. The other options had 1500 ft in elevation change – too much for me, I think. The initial steep uphill was to the campground (no cars, wilderness permit required for camping). The footing was packed dirt with loose and embedded stones, possibly indicating forestry vehicle access.
We all agreed to walk further beside the river into a beautiful valley affording a 360-degree view of mountain peaks, little snow. After not long we encountered a serious stream tumbling across the pathway, feeding a marsh. A couple of walkers tried out a couple of apparent paths to perhaps a shallower crossing point, but neither effort led to anything but thick low bushes.
Not too far back we found a path for the south side of the lake, a genuine trail suited to single-file walking in the forest. Sooner than desired we found
Kananaskis
I spent many of my teenage years at my uncle's cabin in Kananaskis. ourselves back at the campground. Dappled sun on one camp-site fire-pit drew us into an early lunch, sitting on split logs around the still warm coals. Within our view was a family fishing by the green lake reflecting the valley’s mountains.
After lunch (sausage bun with kolrabi, peanut butter and jam, and berries), we searched for the toilet we thought we saw. Eventually we had to ask some campers, who directed us to the composting outhouse – very clean, bright with a translucent roof, and no smell because of the sawdust that each user adds to the above ground composting container.
Some of the more experienced walkers tried unsuccessfully to find the path to Rae Glacier, where the others had gone, with the idea of walking part way in the two and a half hours we had until the bus would leave. In the end, however, we just walked back to the parking lot to sit at a picnic table or in the bus. Another woman and I tentatively walked into the woods across the highway towards the Pocaterra Creek, which we could hear. After about 20 – 30 metres we gave up in the face of thickening
Elbow Lake
Beautiful scene of the Lake in flood opens from the tree-enclosed path. trees and deadfall. The “ground” underfoot was springy, which made me think we were walking on layers of pine needles and dried vegetation.
Mild and unexpectedly intriguing entertainment consisted of watching from a distance two families prepare for and one return from wilderness camping at the lake. The largest family had about eight people, perhaps two families together. At first we were startled because only one older boy was wearing a large backpack to which his father kept adding more items until it was towering over his head. Over about half an hour, everyone hoisted well-organized packs, even the little girl who looked about six years old. We enjoyed them so much we clapped and waved as they moved towards the trail; fortunately, they waved back! A few minutes later a mother, father and little daughter combination set off, and the little girl waved at us, assuming perhaps that this was a norm. Of course, we waved back. Finally, a family of four returned to a car near us and dismantled their buggy full of gear. They were using a baby-cart that is normally used on a bicycle to carry their sleeping bags and containers. One of our group
Mountain Sheep
Our rather long wait in the parking lot was enlivened by a rare sighting of mountain sheep running at the edge of the forest. asked, and the father said they had spent the last few days camping but that the cooler weather had brought out too many mosquitoes. His family waited in the car with rock music playing while he forced all their goods into the back of their SUV.
Gradually the others in our group returned, all early because of the shortness of the walks. They had broken up into small groups to explore at the level of the Rae Glacier. The ride home was almost meditative, even though I chatted with Jane, who shared my seat. My feeling of time dislocation continued long after grocery shopping and putting things away at home.
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