This time of year is called the 'Spring Shoulder Season' due to the varying nature of trails following the winter, which hasn't quite left us! Today the sun shone and temperatures rose to a giddy plus 18C.
Our aim for the day was to complete a circular route starting and finishing not far from the winter closure gate on the Elbow Falls Trail commonly known as Highway 66. We parked up at the Elbow Falls Recreation Area and passed through the gate across the road. The sun shone brightly although we
carried an array of clothing just in case the forecasters got it wrong and we found ourselves in a blizzard. We found the sign for the Prairie Creek Trail and found ourselves beside the frozen Creek although at times we could hear water running beneath the ice. The path was clear but where we were closer to the Creek it became a little icy in places. The conifers were a fresh shade of green as they received their dose of sunshine whilst the high mountain tops were snow covered. Our return route was along the Prairie Link Trail which brought us to the Powderface Creek Trail for the final leg of the walk. It was along these two trails that we understood the term 'shoulder season' hikes; the path in places was covered in thick ice, thank goodness the sun was out and temperatures were rising as it made traverse of sheet ice a little more easier in places. Along the trail, where the sun had not reached, trees were our friends as we held onto them to prevent ourselves from sliding away. It was pretty tiring concentrating on keeping our balance but the
views and constant fluttering of butterflies helped to keep us from flagging. Needless to say once we returned to the car park we grabbed the flask of tea and biscuits and headed for the Elbow River where we managed to find a space beside the river. The place was packed; every picnic table and fire pit were taken by families enjoying the warmth and sun.
carried an array of clothing just in case the forecasters got it wrong and we found ourselves in a blizzard. We found the sign for the Prairie Creek Trail and found ourselves beside the frozen Creek although at times we could hear water running beneath the ice. The path was clear but where we were closer to the Creek it became a little icy in places. The conifers were a fresh shade of green as they received their dose of sunshine whilst the high mountain tops were snow covered. Our return route was along the Prairie Link Trail which brought us to the Powderface Creek Trail for the final leg of the walk. It was along these two trails that we understood the term 'shoulder season' hikes; the path in places was covered in thick ice, thank goodness the sun was out and temperatures were rising as it made traverse of sheet ice a little more easier in places. Along the trail, where the sun had not reached, trees were our friends as we held onto them to prevent ourselves from sliding away. It was pretty tiring concentrating on keeping our balance but theviews and constant fluttering of butterflies helped to keep us from flagging. Needless to say once we returned to the car park we grabbed the flask of tea and biscuits and headed for the Elbow River where we managed to find a space beside the river. The place was packed; every picnic table and fire pit were taken by families enjoying the warmth and sun.We returned via Bragg Creek where we stopped for an early evening meal in a bar, along with a tasty beer, and treated ourselves to a tasty ice cream for pudding! The journey back to Calgary took us along Highway 8 and those rather large properties where there are no fences between them.
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