Hewitt Peak

Unless there are low clouds in the valley, when I visit Kootenay National Park, I look for the locally named “Mammoth Peak”, officially called Hewitt Peak. I’m a big fan of things being named after what they look like, a lot easier for me to remember. Like Boulder Pass, back of the Lake Louise ski area, there are all types of boulders at the pass and it's called Boulder Pass. But after the passage you come to Ptarmigan Lake, I have yet to see one in the lake. I have sat beside the lake eating my chocolate flavoured energy bar and not one ptarmigan to be seen in the water. Maybe next time I’ll look for them around the lake. Just a reminder, no need to tell me what I should be called because of what I might look like.

But back to the “Mammoth Peak”, before you even get into B.C. from Alberta, it can be seen in the distance. When driving into Kootenay from Banff NP, about ten minutes in, the peak looks amazing in the morning light. Those of you who are not seeing the mammoth outline in the picture, grab some chocolate ice cream (those of you who are not into chocolate, strange, I have heard there are other flavours) and you’ll see the mammoth is looking to the right, with its trunk reaching out.

Floe Lake

A few weeks ago I was back on the trail to Floe Lake in Kootenay NP. Two months before I had done the same hike with friends, everything was still green and we must have seen several different types of wild berries. With all the berries, we were surprised there were no bear signs. But at least one bear had visited the trail after that summer hike. I saw along the trail old bear scat, it was a good size. With our fast moving seasons, the experience is always different when hiking the same trail more than once. Even more so when two months separated the hikes. In October lot more fall colours and I could see the rock wall covered with snow. A Few hours later I was going up the fun switchbacks, I was happy I had brought my ice cleats, they were needed on the way down. 

Got to the lake, I had it all to myself. I explored looking for a place to take pictures from. The wind had picked up and I was not liking the ripples in the water. So with everything above the lake covered with snow, I thought this was a great opportunity to get a picture from higher up with the snow on the ground and the fall colours coming from the larches. With an ankle deep snow and even more in the gullies, it took some effort to get above the tree line. I was tired, but it was a great hike through the larches, seeing fresh snowshoe hare tracks and even fresher track belonging to a lynx. I got some good pics once above the tree line, but then I thought let’s see what it looks like on Numa Pass. It was beautiful there as I was trying to figure out if the day before six goats had gone over the pass, their tracks were still visible in the wind blown snow. In the end the best picture of the adventure was returning from Numa Pass, just above the tree line with blue sky and our favorite star shining middle of the day.

Wood Lily

I got an early start to the day, getting to watch the sunrise from the road and even stopped to take few pictures. I wanted a head start for a hike before the rain storm that was forecasted for the middle of the day moved in. I had made it to the end of the trail quickly, but the dark clouds moved in quickly as well and were soon followed by  rain and thunder. I located a partial shelter from the rain that was getting heaver and heaver in volume and the clouds were filled with the sound of thunder. With the wind picking up I was still mostly dry as I listened to the lightning ripping  through the sky every few minutes. After about  forty-five minutes the storm had moved on, I was half way back to the trail head when a light rain started coming down. It was light enough for me to walk through, but I decided I wanted to take a picture of  wet wood lilies I had seen on my way into the hike. It was time to take cover again. Ten minutes later the sky opened up and I headed for my car, stopping only when I  came across wet wood lilies.

Brown-eyed Susan

It was raining much of the morning, once it stopped I got out to take pictures of the flowers. It's a good way to relax, picking a flower to take pictures of and then moving around it to get the right background. 

Moon

I was driving in Kootenay National Park, looked to my left and saw the moon setting behind a peak. Pulled over, the road was clear of traffic in both directions. Turned around and went to the location which would give me the best picture. Took the picture and off I went.

Marble Canyon

I had popped into Kootenay National Park to look for Mountain Goats high up on the mountain side. I lucked out, spotting five goats, then I was off to Marble Canyon. There was lots of snow in Kootenay, in some areas hip deep. After looking around I decided I wanted to take picture of the mountains to the East. I did a quick ten meters walk in the deep snow so I could get the water in the foreground and took the picture.

Floe Lake

Around this time all hikes for me have  to do with fall colours, here in the mountains, it's all about the golden yellow colour of the larch tree needles. We had decided to head for Floe Lake in Kootenay National Park. The vegetation along the trail was showing their beautiful fall colours, we kept our fingers crossed that  the clouds we were seeing above the lake from our approach would move on. It was not meant to be, light rain was falling at  the lake, after locating shelter we put on layers and ate. Soon joined by another hiker, we sat and talked as her dog Mena took turns licking our faces as the rain fell around us. I decided I was not leaving before getting one good picture of the larch, the lake and the famous limestone rockwall, few minutes before we headed back to the trail head, I had the picture.

Marble Canyon

I was up early in the morning exploring and taking pictures at the Marble Canyon. Spent about an hour there, enjoyed the quietness of the morning , listening to the fast moving water and the sounds of few birds. The sky was clear, so decided just to focus on the water, rocks and the vegetation. Getting few pictures.

Floe Lake

There are lot of great places in the Rocky Mountains to see the beautiful larch trees in their golden fall colours. This year I visited the beautiful Floe Lake in Kootenay National Park. A few hour hike to the lake, on one side the towering limestone cliffs and on the other surrounded by the larch forest and at this time in their fall colours. Many hikes offer a reward at the end of the trip, in this case any of the elements that make up the landscape would be a great reward. Put the items together, there is no second.

Until next moment,

Amar 

Wood Lily

I was back at it again looking at the wood lilies, along the road in the ditch. Trying to figure out how I was going to take pictures of them this summer, I walked back and forth taking pictures from different angles of different lilies. At the same time I was searching for one or two of the rare yellow ones, no luck. I finally decided I wanted the Sun to be in the picture, I would focus on the flower and not the Sun, better for my eyes. I was on all four, my behind sticking toward the sky and face on the ground to get the images. I'm sure I had the better view then those seeing my picture taking pose that morning. 

Until next moment, 

Amar

Western Wood Lily

The colours of summer are everywhere and the western wood lilies plays a big role in that. But only for about a month for this beauty, well worth stopping for. And for me well worth fighting the mosquitoes to get few good pictures. A quick pictures is not good enough, I have to walk around until I find the right flower with the right background. If you don't have some dirt and or stains on your knees while getting the picture, then you did not get the best picture you are capable for. 

Until next moment.

Amar

Grizzly Bear

It was mid morning, the grizzly was eating peacefully, there was certain calm about it . For me it was all in the eyes, which I watched from a distance.  Even the one eye tells the whole story. 


Until next moment, 

Amar

Ladybird

It was a hot afternoon and I was on the ground taking pictures of flowers. First from a standing position then getting close and personal. I crawled around and took pictures from different angles while getting wild strawberries stains on my knees and elbows. The insects were trying to crawl on to me, so every few minutes I would knock them off, but when I saw one ladybird/ladybug crawling on the flower, it was time to get its picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Black Bear

This one year old cub was hanging out with its sibling and its mom. All doing what bears do best, eat and eat, building up that fat layer for the winter Then all of sudden, it was on the side of the tree, few meters from the ground. Its sibling looked as if it was going to join, but only went as far as the bottom of the tree, as for the mother, she  kept eating. Instead of coming straight down, the cub decided to take its time, it hung out on a branch, looking toward me and then returning to the ground. Once down, it joined the family and was back to eating. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Wood Lily and A Canadian tiger swallowtail

Was taking pictures of wood lilies when this Canadian tiger swallowtail flew in and landed on this flower. Making the image that much better.

Until next moment,

Amar

Marble Canyon

Amar

Every year during the snowmelt, I try make it to Marble Canyon to watch the falls and to take few pictures. I was joined by a friend, as we headed for the canyon in Kootenay NP dark clouds were gathering. Conditions were perfect for long exposures, water in full force, low light and background music provided by dippers. Got the pictures just in time, clouds opened up soon after the car left the parking lot. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Black Bear

A black bear walks along the road during mid morning, eating vegetation as it went its way. The weather is getting warmer and more food can be found through out the mountains. It will not be long before calving season starts, opportunity for this bear and others for meat. Still about 85 percent of diet consist of various type of vegetation.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Dipper

Always amazed how the American Dipper had adapted to survive the winter. No matter how cold it is, its able to dive into the water to catch its food and then pop out all dry. Okay, sometime there's a drop of water on them. This dipper was looking for food on the Vermilion River in Kootenay National Park.

Until next moment,

Amar

Fireweed

Every summer I have to take at least few picture of this beautiful flower, fireweed. In many places the flowers are on the their last few days, so I made my way into Kootenay NP and locate these flowers on the valley floor. The wind was an issue, but between gusts I got few keepers. 

Until next moments,

Amar

Brown-eyed Susan

There never seems to be enough time to take all the pictures of the flowers I want each summer. But few weeks ago the time was on my side as I was not far from the road taking pictures of the brown-eyed susan flowers. It was great way to spend small amount of time on a sunny afternoon. 

Until next moment,

Amar