Hiking Trails - Saddleback Trail

[1-Boathouse below Mt Fairview - click to enlarge]

The Saddleback Trail is located at Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta.

Distance 3.7 km one way to Saddleback Pass
Difficult, strenuous
Elevation gain: 595m
Time: 2 – 5 hours or longer depending on level of fitness

The trailhead starts at the south-east side of Lake Louise near the boathouse.



[2- Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]


Hazards to watch out for on the trail are bears. Hikers should be in groups of 6 or more before venturing out.



[3- Larch trees on Mt. Fairview - click to enlarge]


Begins with an asphalt trail that soon turns to dirt where it begins to climb through the larch forest. Larches are the only pine needle bearing tree to lose them in the fall. Unlike pine needles from other pines, the larch needles are soft to the touch and change colour in the autumn before they fall off.




[4-Bow Valley from the Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]







[5-click to enlarge]







[6-Lake Louise resort from the Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]



If any hiker decides to climb the trail to Fairview Mountain they are advised to return by the trail. There have been a few hikers who have taken the scree down the northeast side only to learn they needed to be rescued.



[7-Hikers on the Saddleback Pass Trail]



Waypoints #131-133 are all intersections with other trails. Waypoint #132 is the trail to Fairview Lookout. To continue on the Saddleback Trail remain on trail headed straight.



[8-Larch trees on Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]



In 1km the hiker will emerge from the forest with a view of the valley and the Lake Louise ski area.



[9-Bow Valley from Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]




[10- Looking down from Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]





[11-Saddleback Pass in sight - click to enlarge]





[12-Mt Temple from Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]




[13-Looking through the Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]





[14 - Larch tress - click to enlarge]





[15 - Mt. Temple from Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]





[16-Looking north from Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]




[17-Looking SE from Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]





[18-South-east from Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]




[19 - Larch Trees on southern side of Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]





[20- View south-west from Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]





[21 - Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]








[22-Heading back down to Bow Valley - click to enlarge]





[23 - Village of Lake Louise and ski resort - click to enlarge]




[24 - Looking south-east down the Bow Valley toward Banff - click to enlarge]




[25-Mushroom and fresh snow on Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]




[26-Chateau Lake Louise from the Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]




[27 - Chateau Lake Louise from the Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]



Photo Credits: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr.


Source:
ParksCanada - Banff
Map of Saddleback Trail

Weekend Reflections (3) - Fortress Lake

This is Fortress Lake with Mt. Sadlier in the background. Fortress Lake is located in Hamber Provincial Park in British Columbia. A previous post I did on this lake covers one of three methods of reaching this lake: hiking; the others are to fly in or to ski.


James at Newtown Area Photo has started a meme called Weekend Reflections. Post a reflection during the week-end, then log on at his site.


Photo Credit: Mr Hermit CC=nc-nd-flickr. Click to enlarge.

Bench of the Week (28) - Old Montreal

This bench is located in Old Montreal in Quebec.

RuneE of Visual Norway has an informal meme on Bench of the Week where you can find other participants.

Photo Credit: Humanoide CC=nc-flickr. Click to enlarge.

Like Mayflies in a Stream by Shauna Roberts (Book Review)

This is a fictionalized story about Gilgamesh in ancient Mesopotamia where Ms Roberts has developed an in-depth detailed description of Sumarian life in 2800 BC in the city of Uruk. From what I know of the story of King Gilgamesh, Ms Roberts has not deviated much from the tale to portray the characters in a manner she feels would be appropriate for their stature in the community.

The story is seen through multiple points of view from Enkidu, the wild man who lives with the gazelles in the desert; Gilgamesh, the cruel tyrant king of Uruk, and Shamhat, a temple priestess of the Goddess Ianna, who fears the wrath of the gods over Gilgamesh’s behaviour.

There are two dream prophecies: one from the temple priest, Nanna-Ur-Sag, of a man from the wild who will humble Gilgamesh to restore peace and order to the city; and one from the King, Gilgamesh, of meeting a man who will become a companion to him, his second self.

When word comes to Uruk of a wild man from the desert, Gilgamesh thinks this is the person to relieve his boredom. He arranges for Shamhat to ‘tame’ the wild man Enkidu and bring him back. Little does Gilgamesh know that Shamhat has her own plans for Enkidu to restore favour with the gods.

Once begun this book was difficult to put down as there were always new questions that needed to be answered. The background information and interaction between the characters is richly described and believable. I recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in ancient Sumarian civilization to have a look at what life may have been like. This would also be a good young adult book.


Book format: paperback, 195 pages
Publisher: Hadley Rille Books
Author website: Shauna Roberts

Available at:
amazon.com

chapters.indigo.ca

amazon.co.uk

Hiking Trails - Fryatt Valley (Day 2)

[20 - From Headwall campground]


This is a continuation of Day 1 of the hike through lower Fryatt Valley. Fryatt Valley is in Jasper National Park, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. This is considered a difficult hike and any hiker should consider making this a 4 to 5 day excursion.






[21 - Headwall Falls]


The headwall portion of the trail gains 200m in less than a kilometre.














[22- Looking down lower Fryatt Valley from the trail up the headwall]





[23 - climbing the headwall]





[24 - Part of the Headwall Falls - click to enlarge]














[25 - Nearing top of the Headwall]




[26 - Mossy waterfall in Fryatt Valley - click to enlarge]

Near the top of the headwall is a small waterfall with a pool – good place to stop and rest.





[27 - near the top of the headwall overlooking Fryatt Valley toward Athabasca Valley]





[28 - Upper Fryatt Creek above the headwall - click to enlarge]



100m farther along is the Sydney Vallance Hut run by the Alpine Club of Canada at approximately the 22km mark. The hut accommodates 12 hikers and is the only place to stay overnight in the upper valley.



[29 - Sydney Vallance Hut in upper Fryatt Valley]




[30 - Sydney Vallance Hut - click to enlarge]


From the ACC hut after a night's rest plan on exploring the upper Fryatt Valley with a light pack.



[31 - Upper Fryatt Valley - click to enlarge]


Above the headwall the upper Fryatt Valley opens up to reveal ice-clad peaks and subalpine meadows.

The trail here is often wet and covered in a carpet of wildflowers in July. The route climbs a rocky moraine then descends thru stands of alpine fir to the shore of a small lake fed by the meltwaters of the nearby Belanger Glacier. From here there is an unobstructed view of rugged peaks and glaciers.




[32 - Harlequin ducks on Fryatt Creek]







[33 - Harlequin ducks on Fryatt Creek - click to enlarge]





[34 - Upper Fryatt Valley]





[35 - White speck is Mountain Goat - click to enlarge]









[36 - Mountain goats shedding winter coats - click to enlarge]





[37 - Upper Fryatt valley toward the glaciers - click to enlarge]











[38 - Butterfly on wildflowers - click to enlarge]







[39 - Upper Fryatt Valley - click to enlarge]




Source: ParksCanada - Jasper
Photo Credits: [20][25][37][38][39]-HandsLive CC=flickr, [21][22][23][24][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr, [27]-wikipedia, [36]-filo1000 CC=nc-nd-flickr.

An Illustrated Guide to Mythical Creatures by Anita Ganeri and David West (Book Review)

If you are looking for a book for a young fantasy lover in the 9 to 12 years of age group, or those still young at heart, this may be just the one to keep them interested for repeat reading. It’s a slim hardcover with 3D photos accompanied by a paragraph or two of concise descriptions of where each of the legends originated. There are the usual creatures of myth and legend combined with their modern counterparts with separate sections: Dragons, Serpents & Worms; Flying Creatures; Chimera; Half-human, half-beast; Water Beasts; Giants; Shape-Shifters; Demons, Ghouls & Ghosts and a Glossary that provides a brief explanation of terms used within the book.

Within the Shape-Shifter section there are the familiar vampires and werewolves, selkies and swan maidens, skinwalkers and wendigos of North American First Nation lore, the Japanese Kitsune: a fox-like creature with many tails, and others.

Even adults will be kept mesmerized, as I was while reading through each of the descriptions.


Book format: hardcover: 48 pages
Authors: Anita Ganeri and David West
Publisher: Hammond World Atlas
Published: September 2009


Available:

Amazon.com

Chapters.Indigo.ca

Available in January 2010 at Amazon.co.uk

A special thank you to Kristel Kempin for sending this book out to me.

Pyramid Mountain Reflection

Pyramid Mountain and Lake Patricia are near Jasper in Jasper National Park, Alberta.

James at Newtown Area Photo has started a meme called Weekend Reflections. Post a reflection during the week-end, then log on at his site.


Photo Credit: Dr Strange Ones CC=nc-nd-flickr. CLICK TO ENLARGE

Bench of the Week (27) - Lake Agnes

[1]

These benches are located on the south-east side of the Lake Agnes Tea House above Lake Louise, behind Beehive Mountain, in Banff National Park.


On the opposite side of the Tea House is Lake Agnes with another bench to sit and contemplate nature while watching the remaining ice melt.



[2]


Please visit RuneE of Visual Norway, who has begun an informal meme of Bench of the Week, for other participants.



Photo Credits: [1][2]-dangingnomad3 CC=nd-flickr. CLICK TO ENLARGE

Hiking Trails - Fryatt Valley (Day 1)

[1-Upper Fryatt Valley near glaciers - click to enlarge]









Fryatt Valley is in Jasper National Park, Alberta. This hike is best completed over 3 to 4 days or longer, because once you’re up there you won’t want to leave. The distance, one way, is 23.2km (14.4 miles). Fryatt Valley is a hanging valley, the remnant after the glacier retreated.

Elevation gain 800m (2,700ft)
Max elevation 2,040m (6,700ft)

Map: Athabasca Falls 83C/12

The trailhead can be reached by going to the Highway 93 junction at Athabasca Falls 31 km (19 miles) south of the Jasper townsite.

Follow hwy 93A north to the Geraldine Fire road slightly over 1km. this is a gravel road, where there is a small parking area and sign at the trailhead. This is also the trailhead to go to the Geraldine Lakes.

Hikers will need a ParksCanada wilderness pass.





[2-Mt Kerkeslin near Athabasca Falls]






The trail follows a relatively flat, old roadbed through the forest.




[3-Forest Arch]


At about 7km the trail comes alongside the Athabasca River.





[4-Athabasca River]




Here the hiker can see the Icefields Parkway 200m across to the other side.




[5-Icefields Parkway - click to enlarge]







[6-Bull elk]



Now the trail climbs away from the river, veering south to begin the climb into the Fryatt Valley.

It's a good idea to make noise while walking to alert any bears that may be nearby.

Viewpoint is at 8.6km.



[7- Looking up Fryatt Valley]






[8-Looking up toward Fryatt Valley]







[9-Looking down Fryatt Valley]






[10-Crossing Fryatt Creek]



Fryatt Creek is crossed to go to the east bank. Here the Lower Fryatt campground is located at a distance of about 12km, which is entered through a narrow gorge between Mt Fryatt and Mt. Christie.

At 15.9 km the trail crosses the creek and goes past gravel flats where views of the glaciated peaks can be seen at the head of the valley.



[11- Peaks across Athabasca Valley]






[12 - Looking down the lower Fryatt Valley]






[13 - Fryatt Lake and Headwall Falls]


The trail goes over a large rockslide for a kilometre.




[14-Fryatt Lake and Headwall Falls]






[15-Silt in Fryatt Lake]






The trail follows the west side of Fryatt Lake.




[16 - Fryatt Lake]






Beyond the lake, the hiker climbs through forest to the headwall and Brussels Campground.



[17 - Fryatt Lake rainforest - click to enlarge]









[18-Near Brussels campground in Fryatt Valley - click to enlarge]



At about 18km is the Brussels campground where it is warm and sunny throughout the day.








[19- Peaks visible from campground]


TO BE CONTINUED

Sources: ParksCanada - Jasper


Photo Credits: [1][18]-HandsLive CC=flickr, [2][2][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][19]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr, [6]-sabindle CC=nc-nd-flickr.