Lake O'Hara

We all have our reasons for hiking, and I certainly have mine. It's important to have more than one reason. If my only goal, for example, were to get the perfect picture, I would likely be disappointed most of the time.

More importantly than getting the picture, I find that being active is key, and I find hiking in nature to be very mentally relaxing. So, before I even captured this image, I already felt accomplished that day. The sky was supposed to be partially cloudy that morning, but as I got closer to Lake O’Hara, the clear sky began to disappear. When I reached the lake, it seemed that the first morning light wouldn't break through the clouds. Still, I continued to the spot I wanted to reach, ready to see what would unfold before me.

Half an hour later, I arrived at my location, put my backpack down, and layered up. I had my first food of the day as I waited patiently. I felt relaxed while I waited for the sky to open up. I became a sort of trail greeter, standing or sometimes sitting by the trail, chatting with other hikers who were now making their way up the same route. Their hikes had started at the lake below me. We exchanged a few words; they might take pictures, and then they continued on. This repeated several times with different hikers.

I think I waited in that general spot for about 90 minutes before I was satisfied with the picture and then made my way down to the lake for a stroll before heading home. For this image, I didn’t have to think outside the box. I was already content with my hike and feeling relaxed. Capturing the photo was just a bonus as I enjoyed the views while the sky slowly opened to reveal the shot I wanted. After that, I made a quick descent to the lake, followed by a walk around it. With the water being calm compared to just a few hours earlier, I was able to capture a few more keepers. Another bonus that morning was seeing a few familiar faces on my way down to the lake and while walking around it.

A picture like this is not just about the view it presents. But also, all the experience before and after that came about one beautiful fall morning.

Herbert Lake

No matter how many sunrises and sunsets I have experienced, they remain one of nature’s wonders to watch. Now, with shorter days, I’m back to looking out for sunrises and sunsets to enjoy, and, when time allows, to take pictures of. Most of the time, I prefer having clouds in the sky, ideally high enough for the sun to light them up. If the picture is taken near any body of water, little to no wind enhances the quality of the image. In the end, when we take a picture, it’s a personal preference, as we try to capture the feelings we experience while watching what is happening in front of us. After taking thousands of pictures of sunrises and sunsets, I still find that images fall short compared to the experience in real time. However, the images I keep provide enough memory of the moments to go out again and again. 

Bow Lake

We are well into the hiking season now. But also, in the warmer part of the summer. One way to avoid the heat is to start the hikes early and be at the highest point before the middle of the day. And when possible, be near an icefield. I met all three requirements last week when hiking near Bow Summit/Pass. Taking off from the new Peyto Lake’s parking lot, which had few vehicles when starting out. Visitors were heading for the lookout for the famous alpine lake as I made my way to the top of the summit trail. With the cooler temperatures in the morning, no marmots were heard or spotted. But few pikas were active and a handful of bird species were spotted. Great views from the top, which got even better when the clouds started to move in. I sat back and ate, while enjoying the views and the single digit temperatures before others would be hiking in my direction.

Mount Ball

I hiked to Shadow Lake, I was greeted by this almost perfect reflection on Mount Ball.

Rockwall

The day before I had done an early morning hike, timed it to make sure I was back at the trail head well before the temperature went over 30 degrees Celsius that day. My preference is always to complete the hard part of the hike before the solar noon during the hot summer days. I was out hiking again the following morning, this time in the neighbouring national park, Kootenay. Half an hour before sunrise, I was on the trail making my way to Floe Lake. Enjoyed the sunrise colours taking place behind me and the nice morning light hitting the Rockwall front of me. It had rained during the night, with the vegetation hanging over some parts of the trail, the water off the plants felt great on a warm morning. Before I hit the fun switchbacks to the lake, I had a quick water break and then up I went. Had some quick chats with campers who were on their way out, but before I knew it, I was past the switchbacks. As I descended toward the lake, I was greeted by other campers who were still having their breakfast. Not one to take landscape pictures two hours after the sunrise, the light quality falls off. But when I saw the lake water was close to calm and part of the Rockwall that was behind the Floe Lake was being mirrored in the lake. A picture was waiting to be taken.

Lake O'Hara

The day started out with low clouds covering the sky, but it started opening up as i was walking along the Yukness Ledges above Lake O’Hara.

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.

Herbert Lake

I knew the sunset was going to take place that was worth waiting for. But would the water calm down enough to get a nice reflection. For few minutes it did just as the light was at its best. After taking handful of pictures, the wind picked up in speed and the small lake was covered with ripples.

Peyto Lake

It was a morning with on and off rain as we enjoyed exploring and taking in the beautiful views above the Peyto Lake area.

Bow Lake

It did not look like there was going to be a bright sunrise, but as I was getting closer to Bow Lake, I could see the colours through my rear view mirror. I decided to pull into the lake’s parking lot and quickly made my way to the shore. It was November, I was able to find some open water, then started taking pictures.

Peyto Lake

I thought I was going to be late for the morning picture of Peyto Lake. I have not been up there as much as I like to this year, so I was looking forward to spending a small amount of time in the morning. After taking the picture, I explored the area for a while before heading out.

Moraine Lake

If one was waiting for a sunny day to hike in this fall, not much hiking would get done. I stopped listening to weather forecaster long time ago, for only so long I could listen to a person in the morning telling me if the temperature and the other elements of weather was just not right it was not a good day. I don't get many days to hike, there's no way I'm going to let a person decide what type of day I will have outdoors. I look up the weather in the morning to help me decide what to wear and then head out to have a great day. The day this picture was taken, we headed out to make the most of the day after snow had fallen and more was on the way and the clouds blanketed most of the mountains. We spend the morning exploring the mountains and got to enjoy great views.

Lake Louise

The beauty of Lake Louise behind the clouds.

Lake Louise

Did a early morning hike to the Plain of the Six Glaciers, on the way back the sky started to open up. As I was taking the picture these two kayakers came along.

Lake Louise

I avoid busy places on my days off, or I'm in early and leaving when the crowds move in. A few weeks ago I had found myself on the shores of the busy Lake Louise during one evening. I was sitting to the side, watching an Osprey flying along the shore when not perched top of the trees. Just a hundred meters from me a large group was singing away, lasted about half an hour. Two guys moved near me and one asked his phone why the lake's water was green. Four hikers stopped after hiking in the back of the lake, some took pictures while one stretched and sang few words. Others moved next to me to take their pictures with the lake behind them, they were amazed how beautiful the lake looked on their phones. I kept waiting, taking my camera out a couple of times when the combination or light and shadows were to my liking.

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.

Herbert Lake

So many times this summer it felt and looked as if rain was going to fall, the clouds moved on with not even a rain drop. For this picture I was at Herbert Lake, liking the clouds, got the camera out quickly. The water was calm, but for how long, you have to take advantage of the situation before the sky changes and before the wind picks up.

Peyto Lake

After watching a beautiful sunset at Peyto lake, I then decided to sit down among the rocks and watch the sky get darker and the stars make an appearance. Only sounds I could hear as the brighter stars were making their appearance, was of the vehicles when they would go over the rumble strips on the road in the distance, the water making its way down from Peyto Glacier and more then likely a pika moving among the rocks near me in the dark. I was still able to see some of the warm colours from the setting sun in the distance, in the clouds and in the fire smoke from the west. In the sky I could also see a glow, just a hint of  northern lights. Once my camera had taken the pictures I had planned, I packed up and and made my way to the car. Half way there, a small owl flew front of me. Nice way to end the trip. 

Peyto Lake

I started out taking picture at Bow Lake when i saw the sky changing toward Peyto Lake. Got into the car and headed in that direction, got there just in time. No one was there, set up the gear and started taking pictures of the sunset. Sometimes it's that easy.

Moraine Lake Area

After dinner I made my way to Moraine Lake area , with the hope of getting a sunset picture form the shore of the lake. But the wind changed that, the water was just not calm enough for a reflective water surface. I was about a km away as I was making my way to the lake, the scenery looked not too bad for a picture. So after reaching the lake I decided to head back to that location and that's where i got this picture from.