Canadian Rockies – Page 4 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Canada (8-2-17)

Part 1 of Day 3 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!

August, yet Banff was quiet and cool. Low clouds hid the mountains. Only a few people were wandering about this early in the normally bustling tourist town. Summer had vanished. It felt a little like fall with winter on the way. Lupe & SPHP left Banff heading W on Trans-Canada Hwy 1. (5:44 AM, 52°F)

Not until Lupe was well N of Lake Louise on Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 did the clouds begin to dissipate. The sky was clear by the time she reached the picnic ground at Bow Lake.

Lupe by a small stream that flows into Bow Lake near the picnic ground along the E shore. Photo looks WNW.

After 2 days spent almost entirely on the road, Lupe needed to get out of the G6 and do something active for a while. The Canadian Rockies are a perfect place for that! One of the most beautiful short day hikes was right here at Bow Lake. With the sun out now, the morning would warm up fast. It was still early enough for Lupe to beat the hordes of tourists certain to appear before too long.

SPHP drove over to the N side of Bow Lake, parking the G6 at Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge (7:16 AM). The big gravel parking lot at the trailhead for Bow Glacier Falls was practically empty, but would be overflowing soon enough on a day like this. Before hitting the trail, Lupe went down to the N shore of Bow Lake. Wisps of fog lingered over the smooth, still waters. Lupe could see Bow Peak (9,318 ft.) and part of the Crowfoot Glacier across the lake.

Before hitting the trail to **Bow Glacier Falls**, Lupe went down to the N shore of **Bow Lake** near Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. She could see **Bow Peak** (L) and part of the **Crowfoot Glacier** (R) beyond the far shore. Photo looks SE.

Bow Glacier Falls, Lupe’s ultimate destination, was already in view to the SW. From a distance like this, Lupe could even see part of the Bow Glacier, an arm of the massive Wapta Icefield, above the falls.

From the shore of **Bow Lake** near the Num-Ti-Jah lodge, Lupe could already see **Bow Glacier Falls** (Center, in shadow) and **Bow Glacier** above it. Photo looks SW.

**Bow Glacier** & **Bow Glacier Falls** with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

On her way to the trail, Lupe passed by Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah lodge with its distinctive red roof.

Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge is located along the N shore of beautiful Bow Lake, just off Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.

Loop near Num-Ti-Jah lodge with its distinctive red roof.

The first part of the trek to Bow Glacier Falls went W right along the N shore of Bow Lake. The easy, level trail gradually turned SW. The views were stunning from the very start.

The **Bow Glacier Falls** trail started out from Num-Ti-Jah lodge with this gorgeous view of **Crowfoot Mountain (10,023 ft.)** (R) across Bow Lake. Part of the **Crowfoot Glacier** is visible on the L. Photo looks SSE.

Lupe sets out on the Bow Glacier Falls trail. The easy hike to spectacular **Bow Glacier Falls** (R) is one of the most popular short day hikes in the **Canadian Rockies**.

Looking SE across Bow Lake. **Bow Peak (9,318 ft.)** (Center) and **Crowfoot Mountain** (R) are in view.

The sharp peak a bit L of Center is **Saint Nicholas Peak (9,639 ft.)**. **Mount Olive (10,256 ft.)** is on the far L. Photo looks SW.

Wildflowers, **Bow Lake**, **Saint Nicholas Peak** & **Mount Olive** from the Bow Glacier Falls trail. Photo looks SW.

Loop a little farther along the trail with **Bow Lake** & **Crowfoot Mountain** in the background. Photo looks SSE.

Getting close to the W end of **Bow Lake**. Photo looks SSW.

By the time Lupe reached the W end of Bow Lake, Bow Glacier Falls had sunk out of sight behind a forested ridge. The trail now went SSW following a swift glacier-fed stream. The stream was braided where it flowed into Bow Lake.

Looking back toward **Bow Lake** from the braided stream. **Cirque Peak (9,820 ft.)** (L) looms high in the distance. Lupe had climbed **Cirque Peak** back on 7-27-14. **Cirque Peak** had been a great adventure, too, with an awesome view of **Bow Lake** and the **Wapta Icefield** above **Bow Glacier Falls**! Photo looks NE.

Following the stream was super easy. The trail stayed close to the W bank, but never crossed the river. In some places cairns marked the way, but they weren’t needed, since it was always obvious where the trail was headed. Other than one short stretch where the stream forced the trail into the forest, the terrain was level the entire way to a set of stairs at the base of a forested ridge.

Lupe heads up the valley. The trail followed the W side of the gorgeous stream, never crossing it or venturing far from it. Photo looks SSW.

Looking downstream back toward **Bow Lake**, a slice of which is now barely visible. Photo looks NNE.

Another look downstream from only slightly farther on. Lupe had gotten an early enough start so she had the whole Bow Glacier Falls trail all to herself. She saw no one else at all the whole way to the falls. Photo looks NNE.

Looking upstream now. The trail eventually climbs over the low forested ridge ahead. In fact, it can be seen starting up the ridge a little L of Center. Photo looks SSW.

Loop getting close to the steps (Center) at the base of the forested ridge where the Bow Glacier Falls trail starts up over it. The stream flows down through a narrow gorge just to the L of the stairs. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe visits the downstream end of the narrow gorge the stream flows through on the way to Bow Lake. Photo looks SW.

The only steep section of the whole Bow Glacier Falls trail began with the stairs at the base of the forested ridge. During this climb, which didn’t take Looper long, the stream was only occasionally in sight. It could always be heard, though, rushing in a roaring torrent through a deep, narrow chasm nearby.

Once up on the forested ridge, Lupe had a panoramic view of what lay ahead from a bare spot along the edge of the far side. Below her, two pale blue glacial streams joined forces to form the larger stream that disappeared immediately into the chasm. One of these smaller streams flowed down from snowfields hidden in an intriguing, mysterious valley to the S. The other stream came from Bow Glacier Falls, which was now in sight again at the far end of a large rocky amphitheater to the SW.

At the end of the climb up the forested ridge, Lupe reached this barren high spot with a view of what lay ahead. Two streams could be seen coming together just before plunging down into the narrow chasm. The stream at Center flows down from snowfields in the mysterious valley to the S. The other stream (R) comes from Bow Glacier Falls. Photo looks S.

From the barren spot on the forested ridge, **Bow Glacier Falls** was in view again at the far end of a rocky amphitheater. Photo looks SW.

**Bow Glacier Falls** from the bare spot on the forested ridge with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

Looking from the bare spot on the forested ridge into the intriguing valley to the S with lots of help from the telephoto lens. A trail could be seen going up this valley, but SPHP didn’t see how Lupe could get over to it. **Mount Olive** is on the R. Photo looks S.

Continuing on, Lupe lost a little elevation as the trail descended the other side of the forested ridge into the lower end of the amphitheater below Bow Glacier Falls. Once in the amphitheater, it was a simple matter to follow the trail up toward the base of the falls.

The Bow Glacial Falls trail became braided and ultimately disintegrated before actually reaching the falls, but the waterfall was always in sight directly ahead. The rest of the way, Loop sniffed and explored her way among rocks and two inch deep streams that trickled everywhere.

Beyond the forested ridge, the Bow Glacier Falls trail winds its way up toward the base of the falls. Photo looks SW.

Looper on her way through the rocky amphitheater to the base of the falls. Even though the trail eventually disintegrated, Bow Glacier Falls was always in sight all the rest of the way. Photo looks SW.

This was Lupe’s 2nd visit to Bow Glacier Falls. She had also come here on her 2013 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies.

Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada 8-2-17

An hour and twenty minutes after leaving Num-Ti-Jah lodge at Bow Lake, Lupe arrived at the base of the falls. Not a soul was around. Due to her early morning start, Looper hadn’t seen anyone else on the whole trail. The coveted solitude wasn’t likely to last long. The Bow Glacier Falls trail is so accessible, easy, and scenic from start to finish that it is one of the most popular short day hikes in the Canadian Rockies.

Due to her early morning start, Lupe arrived in time to enjoy **Bow Glacier Falls** all by herself. She hadn’t seen a soul on the whole trail, and no one had beat her here. Photo looks SW.

Of course, the first thing to do was to climb up next to the falls about as high as seemed reasonably safe.

Lupe next to **Bow Glacier Falls**. The roar of the rushing waters was tremendous!

An American Dingo poses dramatically at the base of **Bow Glacier Falls**.

Another look including the top of the falls.

Bow Glacier Falls was spectacular, but the views back down the valley were amazing, too!

The views back down the valley from **Bow Glacier Falls** were amazing! **Observation Peak** (L) and **Cirque Peak** (Center) are in the distance. Photo looks NE.

Lupe and SPHP scrambled around a bit more to get a little higher. The terrain wasn’t that difficult, but some of the rocks were very slick with water trickling down over them. Loopster did manage to get somewhat higher than before. The difference in elevation was enough so the Carolina Dog could now see the W end of Bow Lake.

By scrambling around a bit, Lupe managed to get a little higher than before. She could have gone even farther, but SPHP decided this was good enough. Most of the rocks higher up were wet and slippery.

Lupe as far up as she went at **Bow Glacier Falls**. She climbed up here a couple of times during her nearly hour long visit. From this high up, she could see the N end of Bow Lake down the valley.

Climbing a little higher had brought the N end of **Bow Lake** (Center) into view. **Observation Peak** (L) and **Cirque Peak** (R) are seen in the distance. Photo looks NE.

Lupe stands on a ledge next to a precariously constructed cairn. Lupe and SPHP took a 30 minute break on this ledge.

Lupe climbed about as far up as the Carolina Dog could reasonably go. Most of rocks above her were wet and slippery. SPHP decided she had gone far enough. Bow Glacier Falls flows down from an unseen upper lake located below Bow Glacier. It would have been great fun to get up above the falls to see the upper lake and the glacier, but a solid line of cliffs ruled out any possibility of doing that.

Amid the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies, Lupe and SPHP took a 30 minute break on the dry parts of a rock ledge. The day had warmed up nicely. Lupe didn’t have a care in the world. SPHP filled 3 water bottles with water from the Bow Glacier which had tumbled over the falls. Lupe munched Taste of the Wild, and enjoyed being petted.

The glorious solitude lasted longer than SPHP expected it would, but inevitably people were seen coming up the trail. The time had arrived to think about moving on.

Lupe perched for a final time back at the high point of her journey to **Bow Glacier Falls**.

All told, Lupe and SPHP enjoyed an incredible 50 minutes of solitude at **Bow Glacier Falls**.

After 50 minutes of glorious solitude at Bow Glacier Falls, Lupe and SPHP started down. Lupe paused along the edge of the falls once or twice for photos, then it was time to hit the trail. People were getting close.

Final moments at gorgeous Bow Glacier Falls.

A hiker in one of the first groups Lupe passed on her way down told SPHP that a side trail existed that went all the way up Mount Jimmy Simpson (9,731 ft.). The side trail left the main trail down at the forested ridge, and wasn’t hard to find. That sounded great! SPHP was interested immediately. Lupe should do that today, right now!

Loop on the way through the rocky amphitheater heading back down to the forested ridge. **Observation Peak (10,413 ft.)** (L) and **Cirque Peak** (R). Photo looks NE.

**Mount Jimmy Simpson** from near the forested ridge. A hiker had told SPHP that a side trail to the top of **Mount Jimmy Simpson** left the Bow Glacier Falls trail at the forested ridge, and that it would be easy to find. Lupe and SPHP spent half an hour looking for it, but managed **not** to find it. All the side trails seemed to dead end in the forest.

Searching for the trail up Mount Jimmy Simpson, Lupe and SPHP tried several side trails on or near the forested ridge. None went far. They all quickly faded away in dense forest on steep slopes. Hmm. The hiker had said the correct side trail was easy to find. Easy perhaps, if one knew exactly where to look.

By now, throngs of hikers were heading up to Bow Glacier Falls. SPHP asked some of them if they knew anything about a trail to Mount Jimmy Simpson? No one, not even experienced professional guides leading large groups, had a clue. Few had even heard of Mount Jimmy Simpson. Disappointed, SPHP gave up on the idea.

Lupe remained cheerful, however. The trek to Bow Glacier Falls had been perfect! The scenery was stunning the entire way, and she’d had a lot of fun sniffing around and getting some exercise. Now on on the way back, she was getting to see and do it all over again.

Loopster back at the bare spot on the forested ridge where she had a great view of the mysterious valley to the S. The lighting was better now than earlier in the day, but she still couldn’t see what was hidden around that tantalizing corner at the far end of the valley. Photo looks S.

Getting close to the stairs leading to the lower valley. Photo looks NNE.

**Cirque Peak (9,820 ft.)** (Center) on the way back to Bow Lake. Photo looks NE.

Before noon, Lupe was back at Num-Ti-Jah lodge. Even with almost an hour spent relaxing near the falls, and the failed search for the side trail to Mount Jimmy Simpson, the whole trek to Bow Glacier Falls and back had taken only a little over 4 hours.

The trail to Bow Glacier Falls had been a grand time. The American Dingo had enjoyed a wonderful needed break from the G6, and seen a favorite part of the glorious Canadian Rockies again. She was now ready to continue the long journey N on the way to her next adventure.

Looking back at **Bow Glacier Falls**, now far in the distance, from **Bow Lake** shortly before reaching Num-Ti-Jah lodge and the G6 again.

Cirque Peak, Banff National Park, Canada (7-27-14)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.

Parker Ridge & the Saskatchewan Glacier, Banff National Park, Canada (9-6-16)

Day 39 of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska

6:20 AM on this beautiful early September morning found Lupe already on the road, heading SE on Yellowhead Highway No. 16. Ever since leaving Alaska, Lupe had made her 450 mile daily quota or a little more. Today she didn’t need to go so far. She could spent part of the day visiting some favorite places in the Canadian Rockies.

Lupe’s first stop came before mid-morning when she reached her favorite picnic ground in Jasper National Park. For some unknown reason, there’s no signage for this great picnic area right along the E bank of the mighty Athabasca River. It’s located 5 or 6 miles S of Athabasca Falls along the W side of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.

The Athabasca River was much lower than Lupe had ever seen it before, but until today she had never been here this late in the season. Previously, the river had always come right up to the bank at the edge of the picnic ground. Now a wide expanse of riverbed was exposed beyond the bank. Lupe went down to the riverbed, and trotted over rounded stones to the water’s edge.

Lupe had never seen the Athabasca River so low before. She went way out across exposed riverbed to this boulder. Photo looks upstream (SE).

Loop at the Athabasca River near her favorite picnic ground.

Every other time Lupe had seen the Athabasca River, it had been a light gray color, running high, and full of silt. Now the river was a beautiful blue.

When the Athabasca River is running higher, it is a light gray color and full of silt. Today the river was running low and a beautiful blue. Photo looks downstream (NW).

Time for a late breakfast. After checking out the river, Lupe returned to the picnic ground. While SPHP heated up soup and Swiss Miss, Lupe had a fine time barking at squirrels in the trees. When breakfast was ready, Lupe helped SPHP devour the soup. She didn’t get any Swiss Miss.

Lupe got to spend nearly 2 hours at the picnic ground. She took short walks through the forest along the river with SPHP, barked at squirrels, and returned to the Athabasca River.

Looking upstream again toward **Mount Christie (10,236 ft.)**. Photo looks S.

Happy times at the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park! Mount Christie in the background. Lupe’s still keeping a sharp eye out for squirrels up in the trees on the riverbank. Photo looks S.

Late in the morning, another vehicle pulled in to the picnic ground. No doubt more would be coming as lunch time approached. Lupe and SPHP hit the road again. Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 through the majestic Canadian Rockies is always a spectacular drive.

Lupe and SPHP enjoyed the scenery, passing by many gorgeous places Lupe had explored on her 2013 and 2014 Dingo Vacations. Lupe didn’t stop again, however, until she reached the trailhead for Parker Ridge (7,612 ft.). By now it was early afternoon, and the trailhead parking lot was packed. SPHP had to wait for a parking spot to open up.

Parker Ridge is Lupe and SPHP’s favorite short day hike in the Canadian Rockies. A well-traveled trail switchbacks up the side of the ridge. On the other side is a tremendous view of the huge U-shaped valley carved long ago by the Saskatchewan Glacier. The glacier can still be seen in the upper part of the valley flowing down from the Columbia Icefield. The trail gains over 800 feet of elevation on its way to the ridgeline.

The Parker Ridge Trail was very busy, but the glorious view of the Saskatchewan Glacier from the other side of the ridge made dealing with the crowd totally worthwhile.

Once over the ridgeline, Lupe had fantastic views of the Saskatchewan Glacier. Photo looks SW.

The Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge. Photo looks SW using the telephoto lens.

The way the terrain is configured, Lupe’s view of the Saskatchewan Glacier actually improved as she followed the trail on the other side of Parker Ridge away from the glacier. More of the toe of the glacier could be seen from here.

The farther Lupe followed the trail away from the Saskatchewan Glacier, the more she could see of the glacier’s toe and the pond below it. Photo looks SW.

Looking W along Parker Ridge. On the other side of these mountains is Jasper National Park and another impressive glacier. The Athabasca Glacier can be seen from Icefields Parkway Hwy 93, but for a truly amazing view of it, Lupe recommends taking the trail to Wilcox Pass.

Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge using the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

An even closer look at the toe of the Saskatchewan Glacier through the telephoto lens.

Across the huge valley carved by the Saskatchewan Glacier, Lupe saw high peaks and impressive snowfields. Photo looks SSW.

Lupe followed the Parker Ridge trail far enough away from the Saskatchewan Glacier to where she could see its entire toe.

Lupe with a view of the entire toe of the Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge.

A close-up showing the entire toe of the glacier.

Several groups of people had gone this far along the trail, too. Everyone was hanging around enjoying the glacier view. After several minutes, Lupe realized people and Carolina Dogs weren’t the only ones interested in being here. A mountain sheep wandered up the steep side of Parker Ridge from the valley below, likely more interested in finding something to eat than the grand view.

After all, mountain sheep are so used to splendid scenery they pretty much take it for granted. A good meal can be harder to come by.

A mountain sheep wandered up to the Parker Ridge trail from the deep valley below. The sheep seemed used to people, but rather alarmed to be confronted with the presence of an American Dingo!

When the mountain sheep saw Lupe, it hesitated before coming any farther up. Lupe and the mountain sheep were both extremely interested in each other, but for different reasons.

For mountain sheep in the Canadian Rockies, spectacular scenery is easy to come by. Photo looks ESE from close to the end of the Parker Ridge trail.

For a few minutes, Lupe and the mountain sheep had a stare down. Lupe was a very good American Dingo. She did not bark or lunge at the sheep. She wouldn’t have gotten anywhere anyway, since she was on her leash.

Lupe and the mountain sheep stared each other down for several minutes before the sheep decided it was safe to come farther on up Parker Ridge.

When Lupe didn’t do anything except stare in rapt attention, the mountain sheep decided maybe it was safe to come farther on up Parker Ridge. It turned out this sheep was an advance scout. Several more mountain sheep suddenly made their appearance.

The first mountain sheep was only a scout. When the scout decided it was OK to advance despite Lupe’s presence, the rest of the flock started appearing. Six sheep ultimately came into view.

A total of six mountain sheep came up onto Parker Ridge from below. Lupe still didn’t bark, but the sight of all these mountain sheep wandering around nearby was almost more than she could bear. The Carolina Dog was trembling with excitement from nose to tail. She kept glancing up at SPHP pleading to be turned loose. She was absolutely 110% certain fresh mutton would taste better than the soup she’d had for breakfast.

This situation wasn’t going to be sustainable. To Lupe’s enormous disappointment, SPHP insisted that she head back away from the mountain sheep. She was most reluctant to comply, but in the end, she had no choice. Parker Ridge had certainly been an exciting adventure, but oh, how much better it might have been!

Lupe on Parker Ridge on the way back to the G6. **Mount Wilcox (9,462 ft.)** is in view at Center. To the R is Wilcox Pass, where there are tremendous views of the nearby Athabasca Glacier. Photo looks NW.

Lupe and SPHP returned to the G6 (3:48 PM, 48°F). Lupe continued S on Icefields Parkway Hwy 93. Her biggest adventure for the day up on Parker Ridge was over, but she still had some fun ahead of her. Overcome with drowsiness from the gorgeous, relaxing drive, SPHP eventually parked the G6 at Lupe’s favorite picnic ground in Banff National Park on the SE side of Bow Lake.

After an hour’s nap, Lupe got to go see wonderful Bow Lake.

Lupe at beautiful Bow Lake. Photo looks W from near the picnic ground.

The red roof of the Num Ti Jah Lodge is in view at the foot of **Mount Jimmy Simpson (9,731 ft.)** across Bow Lake. Photo looks NW.

On a path at the picnic ground. No one else was around. Lupe and SPHP had the whole place to themselves.

The picnic ground was completely deserted, even though it was dinnertime. After a good look at Bow Lake, SPHP prepared dinner at a table near the shore. At this late stage of Lupe’s Summer of 2016 Dingo Vacation, supplies were almost completely exhausted. Lupe and SPHP shared the last of the soup and sardines.

Good thing Lupe was well on her way home! Swiss Miss and tea was all that remained to sustain SPHP, though Lupe still had some Taste of the Wild and Alpo in reserve.

By the time this feast was over it was 7:00 PM, but there was still light in the sky. Lupe and SPHP drove over to the Num Ti Jah Lodge at the N end of the lake. Lupe went down to the shore and saw a curious thing. A piece of wood was swimming around as if it were alive!

Near Num Ti Jah Lodge, Lupe saw a curious sight. A piece of wood was swimming around in Bow Lake as if it were alive!

Lupe had spotted a beaver! The beaver paddled around near the shore completely unconcerned by Lupe’s presence. Lupe wasn’t really certain why that piece of wood seemed so lively, but finally lost interest in it since it never came out of the water where it could be properly sniffed and inspected.

The beaver paid Lupe no attention. Since it never left the lake, Lupe eventually lost interest in it.

The beaver had a short stick it was gnawing the tender thin bark off of.

After a few minutes, the stick didn’t have much bark left. The beaver looked quite satisfied with this treat.

After a few minutes, the lively piece of wood (seen beyond Lupe) swam away. Photo looks SSE across Bow Lake. Part of the Crowfoot Glacier is in view R of Center beyond the opposite shore.

Lupe, the beaver, Bow Lake & the Crowfoot Glacier.

The beaver eventually swam away farther out into the lake. Lupe never did figure out what made that floating piece of wood so much livelier than any other she’d ever encountered.

Off to the SW, part of Bow Glacier and Bow Glacier Falls were in view. A trail that Lupe took once before on her Summer of 2013 Dingo Vacation goes all the way to the base of Bow Glacier Falls. It would be dark long before Lupe could do that again, but there was still time to follow the trail partway along the N shore of Bow Lake.

Beyond Bow Lake, part of the Bow Glacier and Bow Glacier Falls were in view. Photo looks SW.

Bow Glacier & Bow Glacier Falls using the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

Too bad there wasn’t time to take the trail all the way to Bow Glacier Falls again, but it would be dark before Lupe could get there. It’s a great, easy, scenic hike with a good trail and very little elevation gain along the way. Lupe highly recommends it!

Num Ti Jah Lodge is at the N end of Bow Lake. The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts here. Photo looks N.

This hefty, wooden bridge crosses a small creek entering Bow Lake near Num Ti Jah Lodge. Photo looks SSE.

Bow Glacier flows down from the Wapta Icefield. Another small lake exists out of sight below Bow Glacier above the falls. Neither the small upper lake, nor the glacier are visible from the base of Bow Glacier Falls. However, a distant view of both, plus part of the enormous Wapta Icefield can be seen from **Cirque Peak (9,820 ft.)**. Photo looks SW.

Lupe and SPHP only took the trail to Bow Glacier Falls along the N shore of Bow Lake for 20 minutes. Lupe hadn’t even made it to the end of the lake yet when the time came to turn around. Darkness was coming, maybe rain, too. The sky was clouding up.

Lupe on the trail to Bow Glacier Falls. She would have to turn around in another 10 minutes due to oncoming darkness. Crowfoot Mountain is on the L.

Clouds were rolling in and starting to hide the mountains. The sky looked increasingly like rain was a possibility. Photo looks SSW using the telephoto lens toward a peak S of Bow Glacier.

Bow Glacier & Bow Glacier Falls through the telephoto lens from the point of Lupe’s farthest advance along the trail.

The upper portion of Bow Glacier Falls with the telephoto lens cranked up.

On the way back to the Num Ti Jah Lodge, a gentle steady rain did start falling. The lodge was lit up and looked inviting when Lupe returned. The soggy Carolina Dog couldn’t go in, though. She had to return to the G6.

Num Ti Jah Lodge was lit up and looked inviting when Lupe returned in the rain from the Bow Glacier Falls trail. The soggy Carolina Dog couldn’t go in, though. Back to the G6!

Around 8:30 PM, SPHP parked the G6 for the final time. The steady rain was coming down harder. The temperature was only 38°F. Maybe Lupe was going to get snowed in overnight in the Canadian Rockies? It sure seemed like a possibility.

Lupe had only made 250 miles today, but that was OK. She’d spent a lovely day in the Canadian Rockies. Maybe it wasn’t the most spectacular day she’d ever spent here, but she’d seen many beautiful sights, gone to some favorite places, and had several pleasant, relaxing outings.

Lupe’s only regret was that with supplies running desperately low, SPHP hadn’t allowed her to secure a great new supply of fresh mountain sheep mutton!

Sigh … Carolina Dogs try to be man’s best friend. They really do. Humans are hard to understand, though. Sometimes they don’t have any sense at all.Note: The Parker Ridge trailhead is located at a pullout right along the southbound side of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 several miles S of Sunwapta Pass, the border between Banff & Jasper National Parks.

Links :

Next Adventure Prior Adventure

Parker Ridge & the Saskatchewan Glacier, The Icefield Centre & the Athabasca Glacier (7-23-13)

Bow Lake & the Trail to Bow Glacier Falls (7-25-13)

Cirque Peak, Banff National Park, Canada (7-24-14)

Parker Ridge Trail, Banff National Park, Canada (7-29-14)

Want more Lupe adventures? Choose from Lupe’s 2016 Canadian Rockies, Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index. Or subscribe free to New Lupe Adventures.