The foothills of the Canadian Rockies are similar to the foothills of the Colorado Rockies: mountains in the distance, blue skies, cold wind, water flowing in streams and rivers, and flat plains in the distance.
After leaving Canmore and heading for Calgary, we headed south to the Kananaskis Valley and ski area. Once again we warned not to hike anywhere without bear spray and it was expense and bulky to pack.
“ But the land you are about to cross the river and take for your own is a land of mountains and valleys; it drinks water that rains from the sky. It’s a land that God, your God, personally tends—he’s the gardener—he alone keeps his eye on it all year long.” Deuteronomy 11:11-12 Message
There is a well-known Nordic spa that was busy in Kananaskis, but the rest of the area was completely devoid of humans in the in-between seasons. There were so many white Ford pick-ups in the parking lot; I had to record this oddity. The walkway around the ski area was above the river valley and offered amazing views and blue skies. At least for a short while.
We wanted to hike and found a small area off the road with beautiful pathways built around the Mount Lorette Ponds. Not very long or challenging, but safe. Man-made for fishing, the plants showed the beauty of late fall colors around the path.
Barrier Lake was a large glacier fed man made lake along the road. It had become cold and windy and the whitecaps were crashing the shoreline. The weather was changing and the snow we had fled that day had followed us into the foothills.
What do you do when you cannot hike where you want to go? How does this change your view of success that day?