July 23, 2009 I stopped in Red deer to take a break from driving. On September 22, 1998 I walked this trail. That time I talked it in a clockwise direction. This time I walked it in a generally counter clockwise direction. I believe there are portions of the trail that were gravel in 1998 that are now paved. The trail generally follows the Red Deer River. A portion of the trail is through an off lease dog walking area. The part of the trail that is adjacent to the golf course passes through some mature deciduous trees. It is nice to walk through these trees.
The total hike was about 9.5 km. 2 hours moving time. 6.5 minutes stopped time. total ascent was 256 feet.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Crandell Lake
July 21, 2009 I hiked into Crandell Lake with three granddaughters and one grandson. We started from the Cameron Lake road. The trail is a well maintained and receives a lot of use. We then hiked around Crandell Lake. The total distance was about 4.7 km. Moving time was 1 hour 51 minutes. Stopped time was 41 minutes. Maximum elevation = 5255 ft. total ascent was 603 feet.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Beattie Peaks
June 10 and 11
There are many firsts recorded in history. The first person to the south pole, the first person to ascend Everest, and so on. But few of us will ever get to be first at anything or even associate with someone who has. As it turns out this is not true for me.
The last time Jim had visited the Beattie Peaks was in 1986. When he did he followed a trail that he had cut with the help of a couple of volunteers and some Boy Scouts. In fact the purpose of our trip to this area was to determine if that trail still exists.
In the fall of 1982 Jim took on the task of clearing a trail so that he and his sons and some Boy Scouts could hike up the mountain to the peaks. So he recruited the assistance of a couple of guys and some Boy Scouts. With chainsaws logs and trees were cleared away to make a trail.
On Wednesday June 10, 2009 we found a trail marked with survey ribbon. This trail was clearly on an old cut line. It is straight for about 400 metres and then makes an abrupt turn to the south. At this point Jim was not sure that the trail that we were following was the same as the one that he had scouted decades before. But once we made the turn we began to see old tree cuts. By the time we had hiked the next 3.2 km Jim was convinced that the existing trail did follow his old trail from the cut line on. An observation that he made was when they first cut the trail there was no visible wear on the surface of the ground. Now there is a clear indentation where the foot traffic has wore a path into the forest floor. An indication that many pairs of feet have since traveled this trail.
Our hike was about 3.2 km with a maximum elevation of 4384 ft. Our total ascent was 1544 ft. We camped beside a small pond designated as 'Dry Lake' on the map in the forestry tower further up the trail. Our camp was at 4324 ft.
When Jim organized that work party to clear a path into the Beattie Peaks little did he know that decades later the same trail would still be in use on a regular basis. Certainly to the world at large this is a small first but still it is a first and it was such a pleasant experience to walk that trail.
The next day, Thursday, we continued our hike up the mountain. We had only hiked about 3/4 of a hour when the trail came onto the more open subalpine area. There is now a forestry fire watch tower that had not been there when Jim last hiked the mountain. By the log in the forestry tower the trail gets regular use. From the log it appears that we were the first to hike that trail this year. We were pushing the season a bit as we had to traverse a significant amount of packed snow. There were lots of subapline and alpine flowers to observe and we even got a glimpse of a Ptarmigan. We also came across a nice set of antlers that some caribou had shed. We hiked until 2 pm and then decided to return to camp without reaching the first peak. Our total hike that day was 14.8 km and it took us about 9 and 1/2 hours in total. Maximum elevation was 6016 ft. Our total ascent was 3119 ft.
The next day, Friday, we hiked the 3 km back to the vehicle.
There are many firsts recorded in history. The first person to the south pole, the first person to ascend Everest, and so on. But few of us will ever get to be first at anything or even associate with someone who has. As it turns out this is not true for me.
The last time Jim had visited the Beattie Peaks was in 1986. When he did he followed a trail that he had cut with the help of a couple of volunteers and some Boy Scouts. In fact the purpose of our trip to this area was to determine if that trail still exists.
In the fall of 1982 Jim took on the task of clearing a trail so that he and his sons and some Boy Scouts could hike up the mountain to the peaks. So he recruited the assistance of a couple of guys and some Boy Scouts. With chainsaws logs and trees were cleared away to make a trail.
On Wednesday June 10, 2009 we found a trail marked with survey ribbon. This trail was clearly on an old cut line. It is straight for about 400 metres and then makes an abrupt turn to the south. At this point Jim was not sure that the trail that we were following was the same as the one that he had scouted decades before. But once we made the turn we began to see old tree cuts. By the time we had hiked the next 3.2 km Jim was convinced that the existing trail did follow his old trail from the cut line on. An observation that he made was when they first cut the trail there was no visible wear on the surface of the ground. Now there is a clear indentation where the foot traffic has wore a path into the forest floor. An indication that many pairs of feet have since traveled this trail.
Our hike was about 3.2 km with a maximum elevation of 4384 ft. Our total ascent was 1544 ft. We camped beside a small pond designated as 'Dry Lake' on the map in the forestry tower further up the trail. Our camp was at 4324 ft.
When Jim organized that work party to clear a path into the Beattie Peaks little did he know that decades later the same trail would still be in use on a regular basis. Certainly to the world at large this is a small first but still it is a first and it was such a pleasant experience to walk that trail.
The next day, Thursday, we continued our hike up the mountain. We had only hiked about 3/4 of a hour when the trail came onto the more open subalpine area. There is now a forestry fire watch tower that had not been there when Jim last hiked the mountain. By the log in the forestry tower the trail gets regular use. From the log it appears that we were the first to hike that trail this year. We were pushing the season a bit as we had to traverse a significant amount of packed snow. There were lots of subapline and alpine flowers to observe and we even got a glimpse of a Ptarmigan. We also came across a nice set of antlers that some caribou had shed. We hiked until 2 pm and then decided to return to camp without reaching the first peak. Our total hike that day was 14.8 km and it took us about 9 and 1/2 hours in total. Maximum elevation was 6016 ft. Our total ascent was 3119 ft.
The next day, Friday, we hiked the 3 km back to the vehicle.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Arctic Lake June 2009
The first part of this trip can really not be counted because I and my passenger (Brent's daughter) were being towed up the parsnip river.
The trip started on June 5, 2009 at what we called the first bridge on the Parsnip River. N54 21' 45.7" W121 49' 48.0".
2 hours and 45 min to get to the confluence of Arctic Creek and the Parsnip River. 16 km. Then another 55 min to go 4.7 km up Arctic Creek to the Rocky Point campsite.
June 6, all five of us went for a walk around a small lake near the campsite. There was no trail so the walk involved bush whacking, Devil's Club, rocky slopes and a bit of snow. I have only visited this area in the late summer so I very much enjoyed the area at this time of year. The smell of the emerging ferns was pleasant.
1.44 km, 2 hours total.
In the evening Jim and I paddled to the other side of the lake to check out other possible campsites.
1.67 km about 45 min.
June 7. Took 3 canoes to the end of Arctic Lake. Brent, and the girls in one, towed Jim and I in the second canoe and I towed the third behind us.
We carried two canoes the, more or less, 600m to Portage Lake. Then we paddled down Portage Lake, we picked our way through the log jam and down the short creek to Pacific Lake. The fishing was good. Snow banks are still along the south side of the lake and there were snow bergs in the lake.
The distance canoed down to Pacific Lake and back was 6.66 km. Moving time was about 2 hours 20 minutes.
June 8.
Brent and I went to explore the water fall at the end of Pacific Lake. Again we motored to the end of Arctic Lake and then walked the portage to Portage Lake. As Brent and I canoed toward a snow berg it slowly rolled over. I assume this is very much how an iceberg rolls over but on a much smaller scale. At the end of Portage Lake there is an active Eagles nest. We made our way through the log jam and down the creek into Pacific Lake. At the end of Pacific Lake a Common Loon swam by us under the water. This is something I do not recall ever seeing before. There is a beaver dam between the lake and James Creek. There are lots of rainbow trout visible in this area. When we went around to the southeast shore of Pacific Lake we saw a Black Bear on the shore. The bear soon moved off once it saw us. We put ashore not far from where the bear had been. We then hiked up to the waterfall. The hike took about a hour and a half even though it was only 1.5 KM. These are spectacular falls and they are even better up close so it was worth the steep climb. Canoeing to the end of Pacific Lake and back was a total of about 10 km over a time of a couple of hours.
June 9, 2009
We returned the way we came. The motor was available to tow us but we paddled quite a bit of the way, which I enjoyed.
The most excitement on this paddle was when all three canoes encountered a cow moose coming up the river with her calf. When the mother moose saw us she exited the river. The calf had considerable more difficulty and was not able to exit the river. The mother moose became very agitated which concerned Jim and Brent and me. We were concerned that the cow moose might charge into the river. If she were to charge a canoe there is no telling how much damage she would do. As it turned out she disappeared into the brush and stayed there as we slipped by in the canoes.
Of the 20 odd km traveled I estimate that we paddled 10km.
The trip started on June 5, 2009 at what we called the first bridge on the Parsnip River. N54 21' 45.7" W121 49' 48.0".
2 hours and 45 min to get to the confluence of Arctic Creek and the Parsnip River. 16 km. Then another 55 min to go 4.7 km up Arctic Creek to the Rocky Point campsite.
June 6, all five of us went for a walk around a small lake near the campsite. There was no trail so the walk involved bush whacking, Devil's Club, rocky slopes and a bit of snow. I have only visited this area in the late summer so I very much enjoyed the area at this time of year. The smell of the emerging ferns was pleasant.
1.44 km, 2 hours total.
In the evening Jim and I paddled to the other side of the lake to check out other possible campsites.
1.67 km about 45 min.
June 7. Took 3 canoes to the end of Arctic Lake. Brent, and the girls in one, towed Jim and I in the second canoe and I towed the third behind us.
We carried two canoes the, more or less, 600m to Portage Lake. Then we paddled down Portage Lake, we picked our way through the log jam and down the short creek to Pacific Lake. The fishing was good. Snow banks are still along the south side of the lake and there were snow bergs in the lake.
The distance canoed down to Pacific Lake and back was 6.66 km. Moving time was about 2 hours 20 minutes.
June 8.
Brent and I went to explore the water fall at the end of Pacific Lake. Again we motored to the end of Arctic Lake and then walked the portage to Portage Lake. As Brent and I canoed toward a snow berg it slowly rolled over. I assume this is very much how an iceberg rolls over but on a much smaller scale. At the end of Portage Lake there is an active Eagles nest. We made our way through the log jam and down the creek into Pacific Lake. At the end of Pacific Lake a Common Loon swam by us under the water. This is something I do not recall ever seeing before. There is a beaver dam between the lake and James Creek. There are lots of rainbow trout visible in this area. When we went around to the southeast shore of Pacific Lake we saw a Black Bear on the shore. The bear soon moved off once it saw us. We put ashore not far from where the bear had been. We then hiked up to the waterfall. The hike took about a hour and a half even though it was only 1.5 KM. These are spectacular falls and they are even better up close so it was worth the steep climb. Canoeing to the end of Pacific Lake and back was a total of about 10 km over a time of a couple of hours.
June 9, 2009
We returned the way we came. The motor was available to tow us but we paddled quite a bit of the way, which I enjoyed.
The most excitement on this paddle was when all three canoes encountered a cow moose coming up the river with her calf. When the mother moose saw us she exited the river. The calf had considerable more difficulty and was not able to exit the river. The mother moose became very agitated which concerned Jim and Brent and me. We were concerned that the cow moose might charge into the river. If she were to charge a canoe there is no telling how much damage she would do. As it turned out she disappeared into the brush and stayed there as we slipped by in the canoes.
Of the 20 odd km traveled I estimate that we paddled 10km.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Canoe French Bay on Cold Lake, June 2, 2009
I had not canoed French Bay since about the 29th of October, 2008 so I was happy to have this chance. As you can see from the one photo the Marsh Marigolds were in full bloom. The water was clear enough that I could see the Yellow Water Lily, reddish looking leaves, emerging on the bottom of the lake.
For this paddle I canoed along the west shore of French Bay and then around the point and followed the shoreline past Pelican Rock. I didn't quite make it all the way to the mouth of Long Bay before I turned back. Naturally I had a calm day to do this but I did not want to push my luck. As it turned out a bit of a breeze did pick up but it did not cause me any problems.
I was struck by the amount of refuse that collects along the shoreline of the lake. Plastic garbage of all sorts and aluminum cans. I picked up some of it but there was lots that I couldn't reach. This can not be healthy for the plants and animals that live in the lake. You have to paddle the shoreline to fully appreciated how much garbage there is so I feel that perhaps people in power boats have less of a sense as to the amount of refuse is getting into the lake.
As a rule I do not make many notes about these activities and so I am relying on my memory recall a lot for what I observed. Beavers in the back bays of French Bay. A whole host of waterfowl, Grebes for sure. An Eagle on the first point coming out of the bay.
Total trip 13.1 km
Moving time 3 hours 20 min
Stopped time 24 min
My moving average was 3.9 km/hr
Astotin Lake, Elk Island Park
August 19, 2009 canoed Astotin Lake with Richard. I was surprised by how much the water level has dropped since August 14. Our track file is shown on the map. Heard a coyote barking and yipping to announce our presents. We tried to canoe up the NW bay but found it weed choked so I look forward to exploring this portion of the lake in the spring with higher water levels and before the weeds develop. Observed a number of Great Blue Herons.Distance 9.3 km
Moving time 1 hour 49 minutes
Stopped time 8 min.
Maximum elevation 2335 feet
August 14, 2009. Canoed Astotin Lake. Also explored the picnic site on a point of land on the south shore. Sampled some of the parks Saskatoons and Raspberries. Observed a large number of Gulls floating on the lake.
Distance 6 km
Moving time 1 hour 23 min.
Stopped time 37 min.
May 30/09, Canoed Astotin Lake. Observed a Rednecked Grebe on a nest. I found it curious how the Grebe covered its eggs with vegetation as it left the nest.
There are a number of waterfowl that can be observed on Astotin Lake including 2 Pelicans.
Total distance 3.72 km
Total time moving 1 hour 4 minutes
Moving Average 3.2 km/hr
Friday, June 19, 2009
Upper Kananaskis Lake, May 26, 2009
I drove from Calgary to the Upper Kananaskis Lake and hiked the south shore of the lake.
There was still quite a bit of snow on the trail. Up to the Rawson Creek bridge the trail was not to bad to hike because there had been enough foot traffic to pack the snow down, but beyond that there was more snow, less packed and deeper, so I was breaking through more and floundering. I was able to walk the shoreline for a ways.
Total distance 5.42 km.
Total time 2 hours 45 min
My moving average was 3.1 km/hr
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