October 2020

We went on an early October trip to Canmore this year, which has felt very lacking in vacation time. We took the scenic route via the David Thompson Highway and then down the Icefields parkway. It was a warm and sunny day and the fall colours were still popping. It was also a rare day without wind on Abraham Lake and we got to see mountains and clouds reflecting in its blue waters for probably the first time ever.

The day after we arrived we hiked to Helen Lake, which is a very small alpine lake. The hike was made special much more by the stunning mountain views all along the way as we walked through alpine meadows, than it was by the lake itself. We also got to see quite a few spruce grouse and a deer calmly grazing in the forest just a few meters off the trail. 

The following day we did another hike to Annette Lake, a nice emerald lake surrounded by peaks. This hike was through a beautiful forest dotted with small mossy stress and lichen covered rocks. 

After our last night, which came way to fast, we decided to drive home the long scenic way again, with lots of stops. One of or stops was Herbert Lake, a small pullout on the Icefields Parkway. The pine forest surrounding the lake cast a perfect reflection on the still green waters, and little drops of rain lightly hitting the lakes surface made it appear to be twinkling. 

To finish off our trip we came out of the rain and mist of Banff into the sunshine of Nordegg, and the quintessential David Thompson Country Bighorn Sheep were out too. 

Throwback to this little adventure in a hiking paradise... just to give you a little break from my Peak District photos recently 😉 ::: If you were to name 3 locations in the world best for hiking what would they be? ::: #canada #banff #banffnationalpark #helenlake #alberta #albertacanada #exploremore #stayandwander #outdooradventures #briskoutdoors #travelstoke #lensbible #wildernessculture #mountainstories #explorerockies #canadianrockies #canadianrockies🇨🇦 #travelalberta #kanada #letsgosomewhere #tolivetotravel #mountains #canadanationalparks #hikingadventures #travelphotography📷 #hiking #hikinggirl #hikingtrip #hikingbangers #hikingbuddies (at Helen Lake Trail-Banff Nat'l Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGo5UgRn2H6/?igshid=1f6w55tf6n3kj

201609S_0160 Canada - Helen Lake by ├ Ad DeCort (NL) ┤ Helen Lake is a 6 KM (3¾ mile) hike one-way just south of Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. This popular and scenic trail gains 420 m (1,380 ft) to an elevation of 2,370 m (7,775 ft). The well-signed parking area is nearly full on Canada Day across the Icefields Parkway from the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The Helen Lake trail-head provides access past Helen Lake at 6 KM (3¾ miles), to Katherine Lake (8 KM), Dolomite Pass (9 KM), then north past Isabella Lake at (22.5 KM) to the trail junction at Dolomite Siffleur (26.5 KM) via the Dolomite Pass Trail. Initially, the wide gravel trail, inundated with rocks and large roots, is fairly steep through lush forest before the grade moderates and the trail narrows. The trail, heading up and east, crosses several picturesque snow runoff streams which are easy to ford. source: Wikipedia https://flic.kr/p/SJZW4G

#blackdiamond #helenlake #mountaineering #mtshasta #climbingforkids #summitforsomeone (at Mt Shasta)

#goinghiking #helenlake

The jagged slopes of Mt Shasta as seen from Helene Lake Basecamp. . . . . . #mtshasta #shasta #helenlake #alpine #mountaineering #snow #climbing_is_my_passion #climbing #climbing_pictures_of_instagram #rocks #ice #june #outdoors #pnwexplored #pnwonderland #pnwcollective #california #californiaadventure #wanderer #roadtrip #naturegram #instanature #northerncalifornia #beauty #naturephotography #mountains #wanderlust (at Mount Shasta, California)

#HelenLake Helen, Lake ca #mtshasta

Took our black bear, I mean dog, out for a spin #campbranddog #helenlake #campbrandgoods

Helen Lake base camp (10,500 ft) on Mt Shasta soaking up the last of the afternoon sun. #mtshasta #helenlake #mountaineering #climbing #summitforsomeone #bigcitymountaineers

Base camp views #mtshasta #mountaineering #basecamp #helenlake #cascades #california #climbing #summitforsomeone

Such an amazing setting to wait for our summit attempt! #mtshasta #helenlake #mountaineering #summitforsomeone #bigcitymountaineers #climbingforkids #climbing #basecamp (at Lake Helen)

Our hikes usually revolve around visiting lakes that are great for fly-fishing, so we'd never done the Helen Lake trail before yesterday. Our minds were blown - what a beautiful hike! #helenlake #explorealberta #campbrandgoods