Harmony - Live, Love, Laugh: 7/20/14

Conversing around the campfire at Two Jack Main campground, Lake Minnewanka Loop near Banff.

Nik was pretty excited to get out and do some fishin'! Mount Inglismaldie (9,722') is in the background.

Captain Ian at the helm. Cascade Mountain (9,833') is in the clouds in the background.

Hmmmm.....Was it really that cold? Or was it really that warm? Enjoying the Lake Minnewanka cruise :)

A Common Merganser and her chicks.

They followed mama pretty tight.

Very pretty side profile of the mama and a couple of her fuzzy chicks.

Mount Girouard (9,824'). Highest peak in the Fairholme Range, and was named in 1904 after Sir Edouard Girouard a railway builder.

Interesting piece of rock slab that had slid away some time ago. It could possible hold a nice rock climb in the left facing corner on the right of the slab.

Mount Peechee (9,624'). Fantastic topography in these mountains! This mountain is named after the Metis who guided George Simpson through the mountains and along the shores of Peechee Lake, now named Lake Minnewanka. George was the first non-native to visit Banff back in 1841, and after noticing the lake didn't appear on any maps he transferred the name to the mountain and named the Lake Minnewanka meaning "Water of the Spirits" in Nakoda.

Storm brewing behind Mount Peechee.

Looking east through Devils Gap into the Ghost Wilderness area. Banff Park Boundary lies in a straight line between the two furthest rock outcrops.

Mount Costigan (9,771') with an old prescribed burn dating back to 1988 as part of Parks Canada's forest management program.

Male Common Merganser preparing to take flight.

Looking west across Lake Minnewanka from 'the Narrows' at the east end. Lake Minnewanka is the longest lake in BNP at 28km long, 466' (142m) deep, and the only lake in Banff National Park that allows powered boats.

Western Wood Lily

Mountain Deathcamas (Lily family).

The Ghost Lakes. I've been dreaming about standing in this spot for many, many years. These 2 lakes can be dry at times so it's amazing to see the second lake so full! These lakes and the Ghost Wilderness Region can be approached by vehicle from the east through Waiprous and is a rock climbing paradise/destination on high quality limestone. I've spent numerous days in here climbing but have never approached from the west via boat (or foot for that matter) so it was a pretty special day for me to see the mountains from this perspective!

Canada Geese passing through headed west.

Canada Geese overhead.

Out flow from the second Ghost Lake feeding Lake Minnewanka.

Everyone was all smiles :)

Yep, all smiles :)

Fairly recent rock slide on Mount Peechee.

Closer-up of the rock slide.

Young Bighorn Sheep having a drink in Lake Minnewanka.

Looked up to check us out.

Went back to whatever it was digging for in this burrow.

Elk antlers decomposing.

Ya, so?

Winds had picked up a little on Lake Minnewanka but Ian's trusty boat handled the waters well. Cascade Mountain in the background.

Parks Canada had most of the lakeshore trail and back country campgrounds closed due to a high frequency of bears in the area.

Young Grizzly collared and tagged in Kananaskis.

She is being monitored daily by a wildlife conservation company and they actually shot her with rubber bullets to deter her from hanging around in more populated areas such as highways.

Ahhhrrrrgggg.. I'm just gonna take my ball and go home. Wait a minute?........I am home!

Young bucks one rainy morning near Lower Lakes campground, Kananaskis.

Silky Scorpion Weed. This is a cool flower! Looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Unsure. Looks like juicy strawberry! (but it isn't :)

White Sweetvetch (herb). A very important food source for bears who eat the roots.

Wolf Lichen.

Wolf Lichen with an interesting rock fin poking up in the distant background which is part of Tombstone Mountain (9,958') in the Opal Range. Mount Elpoca (9,938') is blurred to the left.

Ian posing alongside Elbow Lake with the false summit of Tombstone Mountain in behind.

Mountain Helitrope

Elbow Lake is the only trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park that allows horses. The trail can be seen through the scree slope along the shore line. Elbow Lake is the headwaters for the Elbow River which runs through nearby Calgary.

Not a bad spot to spend a day! Ian on Upper Kananaskis Lake.

Mount Indefatigable (8,760')

This was a bubbling spring that flowed two different directions.

Quite a wondrous sight!

Hidden Lake on route to Aster Lake. This is nearly dry at some times during the year! Not this year.

Arrow-leaved groundsel with a White Admiral butterfly taking the place of the eighth petal.

Rock Pika

Ian performing the slog up the limestone scree on route to Aster Lake. Hidden Lake is in the foreground, Upper Kananaskis Lake is in behind. Mount Indefatigable picks up the backdrop.

Kimmer selfie showing the snow slope that would have had to be crossed on the rock ledges to access the upper alpine meadows leading to Aster Lake. Needless to say we turned around due to a lack of equipment and deteriorating weather.