Hiking Trails - Sawback Trail Day 4

The Sawback Trail follows the rugged Sawback Range from the town of Banff to Lake Louise over a distance of 74km (about 45 miles). There are side trails to be discovered too which would increase the distance.

Note: some of the trails are not well marked except for the main trail and the horse trail. It is recommended that hikers carry a compass and obtain the relevant maps for the areas they will be hiking in from Gem Trek . Topographic maps: 82 O/4, 82 O/5. An excellent preview map from ParksCanada on Banff National Park's backcountry trails, campsites including information on the different users of the trails can be seen here. It will help in planning your outdoor excursions.

Maximum elevation: 2345m (7700 ft)
Minimum elevation: 1615m (5300 ft)


[36- Larry's Campground sign]


Larry's Camp (Jo9) is located in the trees as pictured above next to Johnson Creek. There are several fire pits near the creek.

On Day 4 the hike covers a distance of about 10km after leaving Larry’s Campground at the 29.3km mark (Jo9 on ParksCanada map) to Luellen Lake. The trail is a relatively slow climb in the forest along Johnston Creek.



[37- Block mountain]


At the 33km mark the trail passes the Johnston Creek warden cabin.



[38- Warden cabins]


At 37.9km the trail branches left and crosses over the Johnston Creek bridge to the west bank and campground.



[39- Young black bear - click to enlarge]





[40- Clark's Nutcracker]

This bird is often seen around camp sites and picnic areas where it scavenges for scraps of food. Though its main food source is pine nuts.



At the 38km mark the hiker will arrive at the junction with the Luellen Lake Trail, where anglers can fish. Although the lake has not been stocked with fish for years, there are still enough for anglers and osprey.


[41- Lake Luellen with Helena Ridge behind]







The Luellen Lake campground (Jo19-ParksCanada) is another 1.0km.




[42 -Osprey above]

They build their nests in a tall tree or on a rock pinnacle located near water, often returning to the same nest each year.








[43- Luellen Lake - click to enlarge. The mountain to the left is Helena Ridge that backs onto the rear of Castle Mountain.]


Luellen Lake is long and narrow in a forest of englemann spruce and alpine fir at an elevation of 1,985m.



Sources:
ParksCanada – Banff
ParksCanada Backcountry Overview
ParksCanada Trail Conditions
ParksCanada Backpacking Equipment Checklist
http://waputik.tripod.com/gdt_sawback.htm
Gem Trek maps for Lake Louise and Skoki
Gem Trek maps for Banff and Mount Assiniboine
HI Hostels Intl Survival Guide
A Field Guide to Birds of North America, Michael Vanner, 2006, p. 73, 169.

Photo Credits: [36][38]-Shane Huang CC=nc-sa-flickr, [37]-Kris Griffon CC=nc-sa-flickr, [39]-Kasey Kasey CC=nc-sa-flickr, [40][42] Chris & Lara Pawluk CC=nc-flickr, [41]-meganpru CC=nc-flickr, [43]-lafalott CC=nc-sa-flickr.

One of Those Days (2)

The photographer commented that the larger billy above was about to try to ram the cougar off,and ended up with a paw in the face. It was close but the goats dug in (up), and the lion gave up, disappearing into junipers and mountain laurel.


Photo Credit: eyeinthewild.com CC=nc-nd-flickr.

Hiking Trails - Skyline Trail - Day 5

The Skyline Trail is over the top of the Maligne Range in Jasper National Park in Alberta. Today's hike is over the last 14 km to Jasper townsite. For those hikers who wish to take it slower may stay overnight at the Signal Mountain campground.

From the Tekkara campground the distance is 5km through wildflower alpine meadows past the shoulders of Tekarra and Signal Mountain.


[99-Spruce Grouse]





[100]






[101-Smokey Athabasca Valley]





[102-Pyramid Mountain from Skyline Trail]




[103-Mount Tekarra northern most peak]




[104-On Tekaara looking down - click to enlarge]






[105-Looking back at Mt. Tekarra]




[106-Looking at valley with the Yellowhead Highway - click to enlarge]




[107-Moss Campion]




[108]


The trail drops down to the Signal mountain fire road via numerous switchbacks to the campground.



[109-Fireroad at Signal Mountain]



Descending the trail to the right, the fire road passes the junction to Signal campground before plunging into the forest with a final 9km trudge downhill dropping over 800m in elevation. This is very hard on the knees. At the bottom of Signal Mountain at Annette Lake is a parking lot where the hiker may catch a ride back to Jasper on the Maligne Lake Shuttle or to retrieve your car from another location.





[110]




[111-Bull elk with spring antler velvet]



[112]



[113]



[114]



[115-Coyote near Lake Annette - click to enlarge]



[116-Lake Annette water - click to enlarge]



[117-Annette Lake - click to enlarge]


Source: ParksCanadaPhoto Credits:
Photo Credits:
[99][100][101][102][103][105][107][113][114]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr, [104][106][108][109]-runningclouds CC=nc-sa-flickr, [110]-Karen Hall CC=nc-nd-flickr, [111]-Strange Ones CC=flickr, [112]-wonkanerd CC=sa-flickr, [115]-iFluk CC=nc-nd-flickr, [116]-HBarrison CC=sa-flickr, [117]-Christina T CC=flickr.

Spring Delights

These wildflowers were photographed near Vancouver, British Columbia.

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

Hiking Trails - Tonquin Valley - Day 4

[1-Ramparts and Amethyst Lakes]


This is a continuation of the post from last week where the hike stopped at the Amethyst Lakes campground.

While taking in the beauty of the pristine wilderness of the Tonquin Valley it is important to remember this is home to grizzly bears. Grizzlies tend to be grumpy and will bluff charge hikers if they get too close. Hikers should be in groups and make lots of noise on the trail to avoid surprise encounters. It is recommended to maintain a distance of 100 metres from bears and a minimum of 30 metres from other wildlife species.



[2-Grizzly bear track in Tonquin Valley]


The Tonquin Valley is used by woodland caribou in early June for calving (in side valleys), for feeding all summer and for the rut in October. There is controlled access for hikers to avoid confrontations with the caribou and the bears.



[3-Grizzly sow with cub - click to enlarge]


Other nasty residents to be wary of are the biting insects. To avoid the bears and the blood suckers is to visit later in the season in autumn. During the summer insect repellant and a mesh bug hat and jacket are necessary items to keep comfortable.



[4- Woodland Caribou in Tonquin Valley - click to enlarge]

The Woodland Caribou are considered an endangered species in Canada.

[5- Cotton Grass in Tonquin Valley]


Amethyst Lakes have Rainbow and Brook Trout for fishing enthusiasts.


[6- Lower end of Amethyst Lake with fish fins - click to enlarge]


There is winter access for skiers; however, it is strongly advised to have maps and good route finding skills to follow Portal Creek and the open areas of the valley floor. There are no signs advising the route. Avalanche training is required. Please visit here for information.


[7- Amethyst Lake and Ramparts]



[8-Outlet of Amethyst Lake forming Astoria River - click to enlarge]

At the outlet of the Amethyst Lakes follow the trail to the 1.5km mark downstream on the Astoria River where there is a bridge. This is a good place to refill the water bottles before going on to the Surprise Point Campground.


[9-Crossing Astoria River near Amethyst Lake]



[10-Astoria River in Tonquin Valley]


[11-South end of Tonquin Valley toward Surprise Point campground - click to enlarge]


[12-West over marshy area in Tonquin Valley]


After crossing a very wet meadow, probably teeming with mosquitos...


[13-Hiker in Tonquin Valley]


...at the 2 km point is the Surprise Point campground. This is considered the most popular campground in the Tonquin Valley, but it is in an exposed location. Surprise Point has four tenting sites with tent pads, bear poles with cables and a privy.



[14-Unnamed lake at Surprise Point campground - click to enlarge]





Source: ParksCanada

Photo Credits: [1][5][6][7][8][10][12][13]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr, [2][11]-drpritch CC=nc-sa-flickr, [3]-kiwehowin CC=nc-sa-flickr, [4]-Feffef CC=nc-sa-flickr. [9]-priya biswas CC-nc-flickr.

Endangered Tasmanian Devils Headed to Extinction

The Tasmanian Devil, at one time, covered all of Australia. The size of a small dog, but stocky and muscular, the Tasmanian Devil is now the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world after the extinction of the Thylacine in 1936. It is characterized by its black fur, offensive odour when stressed, extremely loud and disturbing screech, and ferocity when feeding. It is known to both hunt prey and scavenge carrion and although it is usually solitary, it sometimes eats with other devils. Now the animal is limited to the southwest of Tasmania in an endangered status because the farmers saw it as a threat to their livestock and poultry. It was exterminated in Australia from the bounty placed upon it by farmers, being hit by cars, and dingos competing for food.



Tasmanian Devils are widespread and fairly common throughout Tasmania. Found in all habitats on the island, including the outskirts of urban areas, they particularly like dry sclerophyll forests and coastal woodlands. The Tasmanian Devil is a nocturnal and crepuscular hunter, spending the days in dense bush or in a hole. Young devils can climb trees, but this becomes more difficult as they grow larger. Devils can also swim. They are predominantly solitary animals and do not form packs. They occupy territories of 8–20 km², which can overlap considerably amongst different animals.

Tasmanian Devils can take prey up to the size of a small wallaby, but in practice they are opportunistic, and eat carrion more often than they hunt live prey. Although the devil favours wombats, it will eat all small native mammals, domestic mammals (including sheep), birds, fish, insects, frogs and reptiles. Their diet is largely varied and depends on the food available. On average, they eat about 15% of their body weight each day; however, they can eat up to 40% of their body weight in 30 minutes if the opportunity arises. Tasmanian Devils eliminate all traces of a carcass, devouring the bones and fur in addition to the meat and internal organs. In this respect, the devil has earned the gratitude of Tasmanian farmers, as the speed at which they clean a carcass helps prevent the spread of insects that might otherwise harm livestock.

Eating is a social event for the Tasmanian Devil. Much of the noise attributed to the animal is a result of raucous communal eating, at which up to 12 individuals can gather, and can often be heard several kilometers away. A study of feeding devils identified 20 physical postures, including their characteristic vicious yawn, and the 11 different vocal sounds that devils use to communicate as they feed. They usually establish dominance by sound and physical posturing, although fighting does occur. Adult males are the most aggressive, and scarring is common from fighting over food and mates.

Because they were seen as a threat to livestock in Tasmania, devils were hunted until 1941, when they became officially protected. Since the late 1990s Devil Facial Tumour Disease has reduced the Devil population significantly and now threatens the survival of the species, which in May 2008 was declared to be endangered. Programs are currently being undertaken by the Tasmanian government to reduce the impact of the disease.

Some Tasmanian Devils are kept in zoos so humans and other animals cannot kill or hurt them. Now zoos are trying to keep the captive animals safe from the spread of Devil Facial Tumour Disease which produces tumorous growths on the face and muzzle. The disease spreads through biting—a common practice in Devils as they are natural fighters, battling tooth and claw for every morsel of food.

While the Devil numbers are decreasing, fox numbers are increasing. Foxes were introduced, and later they began to hunt and eat Devils. It is believed if the Devil numbers drop too low, then there is little hope the population will ever recover.





Sources: wikinews, wikimedia, Cosmosmagazine.com
Photo Credits: wikipedia

Hiking Trails - Takakkaw Loop - Day 4

Trail is considered moderate
Closest Town: Field, BC

This hike takes place in Yoho National Park in British Columbia in western Canada. Today is the fourth day of a hike that began November 20th at the Takakkaw Falls.

This hike returns to Takakkaw Falls campground with stops at Point Lace Falls and Angel’s Staircase 5.2 km taking 2 plus hours. The hike begins at the Laughing Falls campground.

Just down stream from Laughing Falls is a bridge over the Yoho Valley River which is 4.2 km to Takakkaw Falls.



Fairy Falls are 4 km north of Takakkaw Falls

[1-Fairy Creek Falls]







[2–Trail to Angel’s Staircase Falls]








[3- Western Toad on hike] According to Wikipedia the Western toad or boreal toad (Bufo boreas) is a large toad species, between 5.6 and 13 cm long, of western North America. It has a white or cream dorsal stripe, and is dusky gray or greenish dorsally with skin glands concentrated within the dark blotches.

Breeding occurs between March and July in mountainous areas, and as early as January in lower-elevation regions. The female lays up to 17,000 eggs stuck together in strings that adhere to vegetation and other objects along water edges.

B. boreas is frequently encountered during the wet season on roads, or near water at other times. When handled adults often vocalize, making a sound like a peeping chick while struggling. It eats any type of insect it can catch. It also has a very long jump.



[4- Near end of trail to Angel's Staircase Falls]





Highlights of this trail include Angel's Staircase Falls, a 300 metre cascading creek,

[5-Angel's Staircase]












and Point Lace Falls, 13.5 metre curtain waterfall, which the hiker will find just off the main trail, a mile north of Takakkaw Falls.

[6-Point Lace Falls]



Upon reaching the main trail again, the hiker walks along a gravel track for a few km to complete the hike.

[7-Looking back up trail]








[8- Approaching Takakkaw Falls]







[9- Yoho River near campsite]






[10- Yoho River below Takakkaw Falls]














Source: ParksCanada www.pc.gov.ca
Photo Credits: [1][6]-brilang CC=nc-nd-flickr, [2][3][4][5][7]-cuppojoe CC=nc-sa-flickr, [8][10]-danielebneter CC=nc-flickr, [9]-inottawa CC=flickr,