To The Mountains I Go

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Alder Trail

Short Hike
Distance: 1.6km Loop
Elevation Gain: 50m
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Very Easy

Access:
Take hwy 1 going West towards Banff. Then take hwy 22 south to Bragg Creek, when you reach the 4 way stop sign in Bragg Creek go straight on to White Avenue (hwy 758). Follow the road and there is a sign that says Bragg Creek Provincial Park turn right. Park in the first parking lot and near the bathrooms there is a sign that says, To Alder Trail.

Experience:
The weather this March has been so warm and wonderful I felt it was time to start finding some hikes. My mom wanted to come so we had to choose an easy one because her knee is a bit injury. So I did some research and found this easy walk through the woods that didn't have much ice or snow.
It is really easy to find and the path is well defined. Bikes, and dogs are permitted there and it has nice outhouses and day use area. The walk was nice, it was nice just to get outside and breathe fresh air.
There comes a point where you will have to walk across a road with cars on it to get to the loop. Once across the road the loop will start and there are many signs on the trail describing the development of the area and its vegetation which was cool.
We had fun together, and I think the whole thing made us happy and silly. We were singing Sugar by Maroon 5 the whole time we were hiking so on the way home we blasted the song and sang to it. We then decided to stop by the new burger place in Crowfoot named Boardwalk Burgers. We got a burger and a milkshake which tasted pretty good.

This is the sign right by the outhouse

This is what the scenery looked like for the most time

Crossing the road

The start of the loop

It has a hidden message saying, Stay Right @ Forks

It is so nice out for March I had to lay out on the soft moss

This was at the first forks, just follow the direction the sign points

The witches hair was covering every tree!

This tree fell over onto a smaller tree and the smaller looks like its getting tried of holding the big tree up.
We ran under this because it looks a bit frreaky!

Mom being silly :P

At the 2nd fork there was labels indicating which path is which

Group photo!

Jacob wanted me to take a dark forest picture so this is what I got

Peek-A-Boo!

Jacob practicing the mysterious man for the In To The Woods play he is in for School

I put the camera on the ground and this is what I got!

Had to do a silly face just for fun

Looking straight up into the trees

Can you guess who has been passing by lately?

Singing like crazies on the way home!

Boardwalk Burgers!

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Troll Falls (Winter)

Short Hike
Distance: 3.2km (there and back)
Elevation: 100m
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Very Easy

Access:
Travel as if you are going to Nakiska Ski Hill or Ribbon Creek but before you pass any of those turn offs you take a right following the "Stoney Trailhead" sign. The parking is right there and the trail head is pass the gate and to the left.

Experience:

This hike is so easy and nice for groups. We had lots of fun talking and walking. It felt like we got to the falls in no time. There wasn't much interesting things that happened on the way to the falls but that is okay.

It took us about 20 min to get to the falls and then we where trying to get pictures right up against the falls but it was a bit of a challenge because it was quite icy. We spent a few minutes here. In the winter I found that I would rather finish the hike to get out of the cold than to eat a snack out at our destination so we got all the pictures we wanted and headed back. This hike is a fairly popular hike and in the summer you can go up and above the falls and take an unofficial trail to other falls.

This hike is wonderful if you are just looking to get outside and get up close and personal with a frozen waterfall. I defiantly want to go back in the summer to see the falls while they are in action.

The parking lot

Jacob is leading the way!

Someone was being funny!

Jacob was trying to hide from us but he doesn't hide very well.

Almost there!

Jacob caught this tree as it was falling! Just kidding

The Troll Falls

I tried to get in right behind the fall but it is very slippery

Jacob got stuck in a hole!

The Group for the day!

Jacob just lounging by the falls

Jacob being the troll of Troll Falls

The scenery

Jacob thought I was awesome in this photo because it looks like I am summoning a ball of light.

Some view

Some more views

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Grassi Lakes (Winter Time)

Half Day Hike
Distance: 3.8km (there and back)
Elevation Gain: 200m
Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Access:
Get into Canmore and follow the signs to the Canmore Nordic Center, but drive pass the turn off to the Nordic Center and the next left has a sign pointing to the Grassi Lakes Parking Lot.

Experience:
So I woke up in the morning with a strong desire to get out into the woods. I wanted to do a hike before the weather started to get really cold. The trouble was that I have no experience with hiking out in the snow. I sat and researched a bit and I found that Grassi Lakes was going to be a safe bet.

I wasn't expecting much from the hike. I was guessing that the lakes would have been frozen over and it would be a very boring scene, but I was definitely surprised. We got to the parking lot just fine and there is bathrooms there which is always nice. So my Dad and I started our adventure up to the lakes. If you do this hike you will reach a point where a sign says easy or difficult. We went the easy way! I did not want to put in a lot of effort especially right after the Christmas season.

We went on our way talking and seeing very chubby squirrels. It was very pleasant and easy, and all of a sudden we were at the lakes! We didn't really see them at first but as we got closer we saw its beauty. The lakes were a bit iced over but we could still see the lovely greens, turquoises, and browns in the water. There was no wind either so the water was completely still so there was perfect reflections in the water. A nice thing about doing this hike in the winter is that it isn't so busy. Usually Grassi Lakes is very popular but this time of year there isn't that many people to ruin the peaceful quiet sanctuary. We took our time and took nice photos. There is also a waterfall in the area but we were unable to see it because the rocks were very slippery, so we decided to be safe and just come back in the summer, hopefully with more family members as well.

All and all it was well worth it!