Ice and Snow!

What a few days we have had: Friday saw the forecasters predicting snow flurries early afternoon but they didn't predict rain, followed by a temperature drop followed by the snow flurries. It all led to slippery roads - not just slippery but ice and black ice covered. A 'baptism of fire' or should that be 'ice'. I left after 8 pm to pick up Bill from work, 17th Avenue was backed up way past 69th Street SW. I had been told to use a route behind Westhills Recreation Centre, only problem - I wasn't told just how steep the road was and that there would be ice, not just ice but sheer black ice. I couldn't hear the road so I put the vehicle into low four wheel drive, I must have looked good as someone took a photo of me coming down! At the time I thought get out of the road I've got enough to contend with.

Never been so worried about crashing the vehicle, hitting another vehicle and hurting myself. !7th Avenue was backed up due to an accident involving five vehicles. We returned home by 11 pm!

Sunday: Grey Cup day and a Chinook to raise temperatures. We ventured to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park to Hogarth Lakes. Lots of snow and an opportunity to try out our new snowshoes. There was a chill wind but once we started moving we were warm and toastie. The Lakes were frozen but the mountains provided splendid backdrops, some more snow covered than others and others were hidden from view by cloud and snow flurries. The area is open to skiers and snow shoers and a lot of fun was had by us all. The five kilometre trail had its ups and downs and provided ample opportunity for us to see how our snow shoes would cope. Snow shoeing here in western Canada is an emerging pastime and the parks have ensured that there are routes at various levels. It is fun but you do expend lots of energy! Once out of the chill wind we were too warm at times but didn't remove any layers until we were back in the car park.

We decided to continue our journey towards Canmore rather than returning via Kananaskis, we were met with stunning views. Canmore had much less snow and the temperatures were noticeably higher.

What views! mother nature always rewards us after a day out!

Looking for snow in Canmore!

Monday was Bills day off and so we drove to Canmore in search of snow and some cross country skiing. However, the warm weather of late has melted a lot of snow at ground level although the high mountains still look majestic in their winter cloaks of white. The Nordic centre was making snow and there was only a short 1.3 kms stretch available for skiing. The Canadian biathlon team was taking a break in the day centre, clad in red, smiling and joking. Soon enough their thoughts will be more serious as they seek to win an Olympic medal.

We asked at the information centre about possible walks and were shown on a map the closest. Many of the paths are multi use so hikers will share paths with mountain bikers and horse riders. We found the car park and the footpaths leading to quarry lake but opted to take a different route, we were heading towards the 'Highline Trail' and what a pleasant hike: lots of ups and downs, ice and snow - if this was a mountain bikers route you certainly had to be fit! As usual Bill found a lovely spot for a light lunch which included a view towards Canmore. There was snow in the distance which only added to the view of the high mountains, Mount Lady MacDonald (2605 m), Mount Fable (2702 m) and Grotto Mountain (2706 m). Behind were the Three Sisters (2,936 m + 2,736 m + 2,694 m), Mount Lawrence Grassi (2545 m) and Ha Ling Peak (2,407 m), some of these peaks are accessible to hikers in the summer and we were busily planning what we could do next summer!

Loops from Elbow Station, Elbow Recreation Park

We set off a little later than we expected today, glued to the TV watching Man Utd lose by a solitary goal from a free kick mistakenly given by the ref.

We parked at Elbow Station car park, just three cars in the car park, despite being nearly midday the temperature was cool and it didn't help being in the shade. Our first loop was the Diamond T Loop, not long quite short actually at 4.2 kms. The forest provided cover from the chill breeze but also provided slippery conditions underfoot in places as the sun had melted snow which had now frozen solid and was covered by fresh snow. The route was pleasant enough with the usual uphill 'pull' which ultimately led us to the look out. There was a simple bench bathed in sunshine, a perfect place for some lunch before descending.

On the trail maps the route was meant to be circular, which it was of a fashion, however once we had descended we turned right to meet the Sulphur Springs Trail (4.6 kms). On this trail we were joined by four hardy mountain bikers who certainly had to be fit to get up some of the uphills. Our route took us through forestry towards another lookout. We crossed Moose Mountain Road and finally saw Moose Mountain; there is a fire lookout on top and a place we would like to hike up to - it will be next year though as the winter gate closes the road at the start of December. The top was covered in snow and looked quite exposed. The lookout was not an exact place but because we had left the forest and were in the open the views were stunning. The sun played on the leaf free aspens and distant snow clad mountain tops became visible.

Our return trail - Elbow Valley Trail (4.3 kms) - took us back to the start of this second loop. We were gifted with a sighting of a Northern Pygmy Owl. It allowed Bill to take some photographs before flying off to a higher perch to search for food. We were very fortunate, the sun was setting and this is a key time for these small owls to hunt as they are often mobbed by groups of songbirds. The trail went uphill and various little birds danced in front of us including a very cheeky Hairy Woodpecker! When we reached the trail head, the sun had gone down, the wind had picked up and we still had .8 kms left.

Another glorious hike in the Elbow Recreation Area. We felt exhilarated what else could you wish for on a hike but sun, snow, stunning scenery and wildlife. Our return drive to Calgary along Highway 1 was pleasant enough as the light played on the clouds coming from the Rocky Mountains.

Little Elbow Recreation Area

It was Sunday, the sun was shining and the temperature was slowly rising and we headed towards Highway 1 and the Bragg Creek exit onto Hwy 22 and then onto Hwy 66 the Elbow Falls Trail. We were heading for an area we hadn't been to before and which we wanted to visit before the road was closed for the winter. As we headed southwest towards the Little Elbow Recreation Area the temperature dropped a little and the road conditions became decidedly a little more icey - the car went into 4 wheel drive mode and a couple of bends were given due care and attention. We found the trailhead parking almost by accident as the road in front of us was already closed for the winter. The car park was busy; several horse boxes took up a lot of space - outfitters taking paying customers out for a little upmarket camping!

There were a number of walks starting from this trailhead, some following the river with information boards ours was a little different as it was up rather than along the river. The camp site, now closed for the winter months, looked comfrotable with picnic tables and BBQ pits. The compost toilets, were clean and well maintained, just as you would expect on any hikes in the mountains.

We were heading for the Nihahi Ridge, we were not quite sure of the the conditions which might await us. There had been snow during the week and the path might be too icey or treacherous to navigate ... we would see. The Nihahi ridge is a product of the McConnell Thrust and the start of the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains themselves. Its stark cliffs contrast with the more gentle slopes of the foothills to the east.

Our route would take us along the Little Elbow Trail by the Elbow River, along narrow root filled trail through the forest. The switch backs here are well graded and before long we found ourselves in the open meadows with the snow covered balding Nihahi Ridge opening out in front of us and with it views of snow covered mountains. The sky was blue and the sun shone, off came the gloves and the hats and we even unzipped our jackets!

We found the ridge afforded more views of high mountains as the route gave us gentle sections in betweeen steeper climbs. For once we had the camera.

We left the last 300metres for another time as it was a scramble and we decided that snow and ice were best left.

We enjoyed our hike and as we decended we enjoyed the views of the mountains on the other side of the river Mount Glasgow, Mount Cornwall amongst them all reminding us of the hikes we enjoyed in the U.K. Our return journey towards Hwy 1 was in glorious sunshine, the ice and snow which had greeted us in the morning were gone. We were afforded views of other hikes we wanted to do, but they depended on the weather and whether we would be able to ascend them before the winter road closures!