It was only a few days ago that I went for an early morning hike. I wanted to be back in the parking lot before the temperature rose too high. The forecast called for clear weather with temperatures reaching up to 31 degrees Celsius. I’m a fan of cooler weather hiking but need to keep my legs in shape for fall weather hikes. Being a morning person, it was pretty easy to start the hike just before sunrise. I was looking forward to seeing the glacier lilies and perhaps coming back with a few good images. This past winter, we did not get our normal snowpack, but during spring, it snowed a number of times at higher elevations. Snow was still lingering in shaded areas, including at the Healy Pass I was hiking to. With cooler temperatures, bugs were not a problem. It was still cool in the open, and I ended up spending about 45 minutes taking pictures of the wildflowers, going up and down the trail looking for opportunities. Being up there early, I wasn't getting in anyone’s way. I had the whole beautiful place to myself until I made my way down. I think I missed the prime time for the glacier lilies by a few days; I would have rated what I saw six out of ten chocolate bars. That's still a lot of chocolate. When I got back to my car, the temperature had just reached 24 degrees Celsius. I spent the rest of the day taking it easy and going over the flower pictures while eating chocolate ice cream.
Glacier Lily
With the hiking season going full on, I need at least one good hike each week to keep my legs strong. Healy Pass is a fun morning hike. Staying in shape is always a great reason for hiking, along with the chance of seeing amazing views and summer flora in the form of wildflowers. My visit was about a week late to the prime glacier lilies show. The signs were there before I even got close to the main stage. It just made it more challenging to get a few good pictures of this beautiful yellow flower. I had hiked this trail several times, so I was on autopilot as I scouted for possible pictures on my return to the trail head. At the top of the pass, it was good to feel the cool air coming from the west. Another reason to like early morning hikes during hot weather. I had a quick snack as I pondered if I was going to pop up there to see the fall colours. I probably will during my favorite hiking season.
On my way down from the pass, I had several possible spots to stop and take a picture of the remaining lilies. The plants’ leaves were still showing their rich green colour, even on an overcast morning. Helped the few remaining lilies pop from their surroundings.
Glacier Lily
Anytime I’m thinking or taking pictures of flowers, paintings of the amazing Georgia O’Keefe comes to mind. Her large close up of the flower paintings, with her dreamy use of colours have left a permanent mark in my head. Before this year is over, I’ll have to find a copy of the book “One Hundred Flowers”. It came out in 1987, a year after she passed away, to honour her work.
Now, back to Banff. Last week I headed up to Healy Pass on a cool morning. With an early start, I was standing on the pass still seeing my long shadow on the ground. I was up there to enjoy the glacier lilies. I took my time heading down, always stopping to take pictures of the lilies that I thought would look good. Once I had taken last picture, I was making good time. It was a perfect hike, early start, got lots of pictures, no inclines on the way down and met a lot of friends who were making their way up.
In the end, I kept about 8 pictures from the hike, the one I’m sharing had more of the surrounding area, smooth and out of focus. But decided to pay homage to O’Keeffe, cropped it to the essence of the glacier lily.
Glacier Lily
Went for an early morning hike to beat the mosquitoes and a chance to see the beautiful glacier lilies all around. After reaching Healy Pass, had a break and then took pictures of the flowers, had lot of opportunities before heading back.
Glacier Lilies
The glacier lilies were out in abundance, these perennial wildflowers are small but beautiful to look at and fun to take pictures of. Located them near a subalpine mountain meadows, I just needed to decide which one to take pictures of. I was looking for one or two that stood out from their surroundings. Once I located a pair, got low to the ground, on all four and took the pictures. Happy with the pictures I stood up, not knowing I had startled nearby hikers. They thought I was a bear, who was eating one of its favorite food, the glacier lilies. Once recognizing me, they laughed and kept walking.
Until next moment,
Amar
Glacier Lily
Flowers, flowers and more flowers, there everywhere. With the help from all the rain we received and sunshine we're getting now, hope to see lot of them this summer. My focus has been on landscape and birds most of the year so far, taken very few pictures of the beautiful flowers found in the mountains. The last few times I been out there, I made sure to stop and take pictures of the flowers. The day I took the attached picture, I was exploring a area that was part of a old road near Peyto Lake. My eyes were attracted to the flowers in the forest, and mosquitoes there were attracted to me. I had forgotten my spray, so I was dong lot of hand waving as I went around taking pictures. It was fun spending hour and half in the forest, got pictures I was happy with and gave blood at the same time. I have agive and take relationship with nature.
Until next moment,
Amar