Bow Lake & Bow Glacier Trail

On 10 August 2013, I went with friend Sandy to Bow Lake, in Banff National Park. It is located along Highway 93, the Icefields Parkway, said to be the most beautiful, scenic road in the world. She had seen a tiny Liverwort (non-vascular plant) maybe a week earlier on a different trip and wanted to go back to check it at a later stage, and asked if I'd like to go with her. How lucky I am! She had hoped that it might be a particular rare species, but as it turned out, it wasn't. Still an interesting species to add to the list of flora and fauna for the area. We walked very slowly along the Bow Glacier Trail, which runs along the right hand edge of the lake, searching for anything of interest and beauty. We went as far as the second rock fall, but didn't hike up to the Bow Glacier Falls. At the first rock fall, we were entertained, while having lunch, by several of these small Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels. They look rather similar to a Chipmunk and are very fast-moving animals, ha. They love a rocky mountain slope for their habitat. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-mantled_ground_squirrel

Another photo from a wonderful day along the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) west of Banff and Lake Louise, on 10 August 2013. Our destination was beautiful Bow Lake, so that friend Sandy could check on a Liverwort (non-vascular plant) that she had seen there recently. There were a few people out taking photos in this area, so it was a bit of a challenge to try and photograph in between them : ) We were so lucky to have this beautiful cloud formation that morning! The plant in the foreground is Shrubby Cinquefoil. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Lake_ (Alberta) www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9571598706

On 10 August 2013, I went with friend Sandy to Bow Lake, in Banff National Park. It is located along Highway 93, the Icefields Parkway, said to be the most beautiful, scenic highway in the world. She had seen a tiny Liverwort (non-vascular plant) maybe a week earlier on a different trip and wanted to go back to check it at a later stage, and asked if I'd like to go with her. How lucky I am! She had hoped that it might be a particular rare species, but as it turned out, it wasn't. Still an interesting species to add to the list of flora and fauna for the area. Just before turning off into the parking lot for Bow Lake, we had stopped to look over the lake and to view the Crowfoot Glacier, seen in the photo above. It's located 32 km (20 mi) northwest of Lake Louise. After that, we walked very slowly along the Bow Glacier Trail, which runs along the right hand edge of Bow Lake, but didn't continue as far as the Falls. I had only ever once been to Bow Lake and that was 30+ years ago, but I had always longed to go back. "Named because in the early 1900s it had three “toes” resembling the foot of a crow. In the 1930s, the lower “toe” broke off and has since melted away. Crowfoot Glacier is on the south end of Bow Lake, nestled into Crowfoot Mountain." www.icefieldsparkway.ca/Travel_Cards.pdf

On 10 August 2013, I went with friend Sandy to Bow Lake, in Banff National Park. It is located along Highway 93, the Icefields Parkway, said to be the most beautiful, scenic highway in the world. She had seen a tiny Liverwort (non-vascular plant) maybe a week earlier on a different trip and wanted to go back to check it at a later stage, and asked if I'd like to go with her. How lucky I am! She had hoped that it might be a particular rare species, but as it turned out, it wasn't. Still an interesting species to add to the list of flora and fauna for the area. Just before turning off into the parking lot for Bow Lake, we had stopped to look over the lake and to view the Crowfoot Glacier. It's located 32 km (20 mi) northwest of Lake Louise. After that, we walked very slowly along the Bow Glacier Trail, which runs along the right hand edge of Bow Lake, but didn't continue as far as the Falls. You can just make out the Falls below the glacier in the far distance. I had only ever once been to Bow Lake and that was 30+ years ago, but I had always longed to go back. This lake is the source of the Bow River, which is the main river that runs through Calgary. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Lake_ (Alberta) www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9598236793

I had the wonderful chance to return to the mountains again today, with friend Sandy, to see what we could find that was new that could be added to various lists, including Alberta-wide records. A tremendously time-consuming thing, but we are also able to enjoy the spectacular scenery and all species of flora and fauna at the same time : ) We set off early this morning and drove westwards, out past Banff, Lake Louise, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake and a little further. It was great to call in at Bow Lake again and, of course, the lighting was completely different. Really, no reflections in the lakes, though I did seize the opportunity to position myself in a good place (by a big puddle, ha!) to photograph this young couple visiting from Austria. They had asked if one of us would take a photo of them together, and I left this to Sandy, as I can't use a camera without a viewfinder : ) I asked them if I could take a shot with my own camera - if anyone on ipernity or Flickr happens to recognize them, please feel free to pass on this photo to them. Normally, I never post photos of people (or take them) and I wasn't sure whether to post this shot or a similar one without the couple. Any opinions?? Must admit I kind of love their reflections. Got home around 10:00 p.m., tired out, but so "renewed" and happy! We even saw two rare fungi - I had seen both before, but what a treat! It was strange to notice small, broken branches when I was driving along my street, and I could see that there must have been some strong winds blowing in the city, at least in my area. When I turned on my computer, I found two photos on Flickr from a friend, showing that an enormous tree had fallen and crashed right down on top of his truck! Such a great shame - and he and his wife were all packed up ready to go camping for this long weekend : (

I used a special effect on my camera to take this photo of the friend with whom I went to the Rocky Mountains, on 29 August 2013. Just a spur of the moment thing, but it makes a different kind of shot, for fun. Taken at Bow Lake, along the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

I'm not sure what kind of baby Frog this is, but they were everywhere, in one spot not far from the edge of Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta. They looked like small insects on land and in the water. In another area, we found large tadpoles. Friend Sandy held this little one to see if we could get a better idea of what it was. "In Alberta, there are three true frogs: Northern Leopard Frog, Spotted Frog and Wood Frog. In addition to Alberta’s three true frog species, there is one tree frog, the Boreal (or Striped) Chorus Frog. The Boreal Chorus Frog looks very "froglike", but it lacks the dorsolateral folds along its back and webbing between its toes found in true frogs." I can't see any webbing, but I guess that could develop later? Our thinking is that these are most likely Boreal Chorus Frogs. Please feel free to correct or confirm, if you happen to know - thanks! srd.alberta.ca/FishWildlife/WildSpecies/Amphibians/Frogs/Default.aspx Corrected later, thanks to Kerri and Mark on Flickr - more likely to be a baby Toad. In Alberta, there are three true toads: Canadian toad, Great Plains toad, and Western (Boreal) toad. In addition to Alberta's three true toad species, there is one member of the Spadefoot family, the plains spadefoot. Spadefoots lack the enlarged parotoid gland and they are less warty than true toads. So, "mine" is most likely to be a Canadian or a Western Toad.

The colours were just magnificent around Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, on 29 August 2013. Thought I'd post this one, even though you can only see a tiny splash of turquoise of the lake through the trees. The wonderful mix of greens and the brilliant red of the Fireweed leaves were breathtaking. Definitely feels like Fall is beginning.

Another shot taken on 29 August 2013, on my second recent visit to Bow Lake, Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The turquoise, glacially-fed lake lies at the foot of the mountains, behind the patch of coniferous trees, The Crowfoot Glacier is seen in the centre of the image. Crowfoot Mountain lies at 3050m (10007ft.). The Bow Glacier and Bow Lake Falls lie further round the lake, off to the right of my photo. This is the source of the Bow River that is the main river that runs through Calgary. The river that flooded and devastated so many places in June during our Alberta Flood of the Century. In the fall, we don't get the magnificent red Maples that you see in Eastern Canada, but I reckon Fireweed does a pretty good job of making sure we still get some vibrant colour with its glorious leaves! They positively glowed.