Picklejar Lakes trail, Kananaskis

Another photo from my archives, taken from the trail on an absolutely brutal hike in Kananaskis, on 6 August 2010. I still remember that two tough guys who do/did a lot of walking/hiking also used the word "brutal" to describe this day's hike : ) I can't do this kind of hike any more - my body likes "flat" not "steep"! The description of the botany hike that the leader had sent us, was so different from what it actually was. No shortage of beautiful valleys and peaks in Alberta, that's for sure. Apparently, this valley is very popular with Grizzly Bears, but fortunately we didn't come across any. Lots of wildflowers, but the walk was too fast-paced and I wasn't able to get many photos, which was so disappointing. However, we saw a number of new species, which was great. Location on my map is only very approximate.

Gillean Daffern writes about the last bit of the trail in her book, "Kananaskis: Country trail guide":

".... Shortly, the trail turns due north and you drag yourself up a hot, dry, shaley hillside to the pass". All was true (except, thankfully the "hot") and "drag" was a most appropriate word. I've also read on some website a young guy's comment that this is a "short, easy hike". A good job I didn't read his comment before doing this hike : ) He must have been tremendously fit! It's definitely one of those days that I will never forget, ha.