On the 3rd Day of Hiking (Bow Summit)

Our third day of hiking was also a transit day. Joan and I departed Canmore and Canadian Artisans for Yoho National Park, to overnight at Cathedral Mountain Lodge. Here are Val and Joan as we say goodbye.

Also before leaving I took this snapshot of a small fabric bonsai with an origami crane. Clever and very effective. And low maintenance.

Our mid-day hike was to the Bow Summit Lookout. We had trod this path three years ago, but been frustrated with the views (and photography) due to the onset of showers. Today there were some light sprinkles in the morning, but the day remained dry.

At a few minutes past noon we searched for a place to park among the throngs at Peyto Lake, and of course paid a visit to its viewpoint. We must have heard a dozen languages today, because Peyto Lake has become a must-see destination.

The color, from glacial silt, never ceases to please.

Continuing on the paved path, Joan and I arrived at the point of departure for Bow Summit Lookout. 99% of the crowd didn't go this far.

Much of the trail was unremarkable, a moderate climb with one pair of switchbacks. There was a big dip close to the end, however, so we had a downhill/uphill combination both coming and going.

The valley and the rock formations made this a good place to spot pikas and marmots.

This marmot was enjoying a burst of sunshine. It was the only marmot we saw during our entire trip; many were already hibernating, or preparing to do so.

Beyond the location of the old fire lookout the trail becomes unofficial, a boot-beaten track that took us higher and to a southern view.

Joan and I continued to what we considered a good vantage point. Before sitting down for lunch I accidentally dislodged a rock that spun halfway down the mountainside before coming to a stop, hopping like a skipping stone. Watch your step!

It was a great place to munch and spend time. To the south the Icefields Parkway ran past the drive for Num-Ti-Ja lodge, on the shores of Bow Lake.

A zoom-in on the overflow parking there. Beyond the lake are trails to Bow Falls and even the Bow Hut.

Bow Summit acquired its name from being the highest point on the Icefields Parkway, and the highest for "a major highway" in Canada. This high point of the road was visible in the view to the north.

Above us, two young women had clambered up as far as the cliff face.

Photo taken with zoom.

Then it was time to hike back to the car and check in at Cathedral Mountain. The dip-and-climb looked like this on the return:

Our next day would see us returning to Lake O'Hara.

On the 2nd Day of Hiking (Windy Point)

Our next day's hike was also off the Bow Valley, in the Wind Ridge drainage, and like the previous day's hike a new trail for us. Parking was at the Mt. Lougheed Viewpoint. Joan and I were headed for Windy Point, on the dark ridge at right.

More aggressive hikes also begin here, such as Skogan Pass (17.6 km/10.9 mi round trip, 670 m/2200 ft height gain) and Centennial Ridge/Mt. Allan (11.1 km/6.9 mi one-way, 1441 m/4729 ft height gain).

The lower stretches of the trail were gently rolling, with several re-routes and replacement bridges due to the 2013 floods.

Some temporary signs. Joan enjoyed the artwork.

The equestrian route diverges for a while.

Don't go the old way.

This valley has a reputation for hosting grizzlies, so Joan and I were periodically calling "Yo Bear!" to warn any possible ursus arctos of our presence.

This new bridge had curiously offset boards forming the approach,

because it rests on a large downed tree trunk, 

an ingenious conservation of material.

After this bridge (one of a close-by pair) the uphill work began.

For a long time we were walking through the woods, keeping an eye out for wildlife, flora, and trail damage. After the sharp turn at the bottom center of this image, it was uphill all the way.

Some trail repairs were minimal, but good enough for the purpose.

Picture taken looking back, downhill.

After a couple of switchbacks and a short flat stretch the trail, littered with loose stones, lurched straight up the side of an open area. Joan and I were very glad to have our hiking poles, as the stones preferred to pretend they were ball bearings.

We neared the ridgeline, walking past a path beaten in the grass that departed from the main trail, and continued on. Wonderful views into the valley and the peaks beyond opened up, even with the wildfire haze. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

The trail ascended with the ridgeline, headed towards the high point of Wind Ridge.

That might have been our destination, but we'd read this in Gillean Daffern's Kananaskis Country Trail Guide, Vol. 3, regarding the first of several sandstone rockbands ahead: "This is the crux scramble. Starting is hard if you can't put your left foot where your left ear is. Get someone to give you a shove ..."

We decided that the beaten-grass path must have been the way to Windy Point, and turned around. It wasn't far to the viewpoint. Here we lunched.

The trip back down the main trail began with a hair-raising descent on the steep path to the bottom of the open area. I'm glad it wasn't any longer than it was.

Our return was largely uneventful until we were back in the rolling, creek-threaded country. I saw a spruce grouse emerge into the wide path.

Then another one!

They were fearless, slowly walking up the trail in our direction, bobbing and pecking for edibles. They didn't veer away from us until only a meter away.

Love those eyebrows.

Joan and I were well satisfied with the Windy Point hike, a good workout for our second day in the Rockies. That sandstone rockband on Wind Ridge ... another time? Maybe! Maybe.