Back to Canada: Consolation Lakes and a Driving Tour

Joan and I left Moraine Lake on July 28th, but only after we hiked to the Consolation Lakes.

The trail goes as far as the lower lake.

The kicking-off point was the Rockpile Trail,

but the route to the lakes soon split off to the left. After gradually climbing through the woods, we broke into the open, and the lower lake began to present itself.

Being a close destination compared to others at Moraine Lake, multiple groups of hikers were already there. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

The panoramic view invited us to sit and gaze.

A closeup of the glaciers at the head of the valley.

This was the view downstream, where the lake gradually transformed into Babel Creek.

We two-legged creatures were not alone. Who's this?

A young marmot!

Who was not too concerned about us.

Then it was time to snack, return to the lodge, and check out. Then Joan and I faced an extra day, baked into our schedule because when we made our reservations, the US still required a negative COVID test to enter the country by air. Therefore, we had added a day to take the test. But then, the requirement was dropped a week or so before our departure. We had open time -- the latter part of the 28th, and the 29th.

 

We drove to Cochrane, a good two hours away, and marveled at the explosion of development there. Subdivisions are being built so fast that the mapmakers can't keep up! We checked into our hotel, drove into "old" Cochrane, and had a fabulous dinner at the Jaipur restaurant. We consider it one of the best Indian meals we've ever had. Here's a StreetView screenshot:

On the 29th, we took a driving tour. From Cochrane we headed south through Bragg Creek to Diamond Valley (formerly Black Diamond). At Diamond Valley there are clues to this area's petrochemical past: the Oilfields High School, "Home of the Drillers," and the Turner Valley Gas Plant. Joan and I continued south to Longview, then headed west to Route 40 and north to Highwood Pass, the highest paved pass in Canada at 2,206 meters or 7,328', closed from December to mid-June.

There we stopped for a leg-stretch.

There are several informative signs along the boardwalk.

We were not alone, within sight of many humans taking in the sunshine, and of animal life.

On the other side of the highway, there's Ptarmigan Cirque, a popular hiking destination that we've done before, but not today.

We continued north on Highway 40, and made a brief stop at the Mount Lorette Ponds. There's a surprisingly scenic stroll around these remnants -- they were an oxbow on the Kananaskis River but were cut off when Highway 40 was upgraded.

A view down the length of the ponds. They're fed by freshwater springs.

Next Joan and I stopped at the Kananaskis Visitors Center to donate our bear spray, and drove into Canmore to buy chocolate bars and confections at Le Chocolatier, as much as we had room to take home in our carry-on luggage. With a final drive to Calgary, clotted with traffic due to construction, we reached the airport hotel and flew home the following day.

We'll return in 2023 and, in addition to some of our favorites, bag the hikes requiring more training than we had this year.

CR2015: Mount Lorette Ponds and Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

August 9th was our last day of Canadian outings for this year. (Tomorrow will be nothing more than getting on and off of airplanes.) Joan and I started with a visit to Mount Lorette Ponds, adjacent to Highway 40 on our way to the TransCanada Highway, just before the Wasootch Ridge turnoff.

The ponds were once a part of the river, but were cut off with the construction of Highway 40, and now are primarily spring fed. They are a pleasant place to wander, along the shore and crossing bridges.

Looking down the length of a pond.

Down at what I call the 'arrowhead' dock.

Common mergansers; the one on the right is an adult female.

A fierce-looking bald eagle, no doubt looking for a breakfast fish.

What have we here?

It's a Malaise trap!

After a pleasant level stroll around the ponds, Joan and I drove to the recently opened Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, on the way to Calgary.

It was sunny and hot by now, and we put on extra sunscreen before setting out. It's been dry for a while.

The park office sits on top of a knoll with a sweeping view of the Bow River valley, and the mountains beyond.

Calgary is not far away.

This photo, taken later, shows the park office from below. We had a good chat with the warden there, early in our visit.

Glenbow is extensive, but also entwined with private lands and railroad rights-of-way (click on the photo to enlarge).

Joan and I have enough time to explore only a few of the trails in the central area.

Glenbow is a popular park, and there were plenty of other hikers around. Bicycles are permitted on some of the trails.

One pond, close to Bowland Juction, was especially attractive for its wildlife. We saw muskrats,

and flocks of cedar waxwings catching insects on the wing. This was new experience for Joan and me; we'd only seen waxwings mobbing trees and bushes for fruit before.

We spotted another bald eagle, at a distance that strained my camera.

We returned to the park office and went down the Glenbow Trail to take the Yodel Loop. Looking back at the office, we found it hidden in the trees.

Here's a view of an abandoned ranch house. It's seen many hard winters.

Some flowers were blooming along the loop, which I later discovered are considered noxious weeds in Alberta, and must be controlled. First up: Canada thistle.

Yellow toadflax, also called butter-and-eggs.

Eagles weren't the only aviators today. A parade of small planes was circling by the park to practice touch-and-go at a nearby airport.

The high point on the Yodel Loop offered a vista.

Informative signs about the ephemeral town of Glenbow were on hand.

A closer look at the erstwhile Glenbow town site.

This is what remains of the brickworks.

Joan and I returned to the pond for further inspection (and the photo of the cedar waxwing), and then stopped by the park office to leave some compliments, but it was closed.

Then it was time to drive back to Calgary, fill the gas tank of the rental car, and check in at the airport hotel. A very early flight the next day would, via Minneapolis, return us to Columbus. We were already thinking about next year's trip to the Canadian Rockies.