Travelog for: HelgaHH

Hi mum,
after so many rainy days we have the sun again! Lady and I decided to go out for a long walk and we had a very nice time!
Love,
HelgaHH

Hi mum,
I spent the week end to the Lake of Como with my friend Lady. The place looked really nice and we enjoyed it so much!
Love,
HelgaHH

When we started feeling a bit tired we sat down in a bar for a cappuccino and a fresh bitter orange...

After a refreshing drink we could go on with our visit of Varenna, hope you like the pictures!
Bye,
HelgaHH

Hi mum,
I'm going to leave, a new host is waiting for me!
I'll write you from Canada, bye
HelgaHH

Hi Mum,

I arrived in Calgary .



When I crawled out of my envelope I found two TVs welcoming me : Fiete, a nice cow from Germany like me and sammino, a stay-at-home TV, but since I was a bit jet-lagged we saved telling our travel stories for later .

Hi Mum,

Today I took my first trip to the mountains. The car park was very quiet, but it was a nice morning .



The first part of the trail was in the middle of a forest, until we reached Baldy Pass, where the view was very nice.




Here we also got a glimpse of our destination for the day...which looked still quite far .



But, somehow, smaug’s legs managed to propel us to the top where we were greeted by a great view . We could see Baldy Pass below us...



...the prairies in the East...



...the Rockies extending in the North...



...and a very concerning storm over Nakiska ski area which seemed to head straight for us .



And it actually hit us very quickly, but it also went away very quickly, giving us a chance to take a photo with this nice rainbow .



Before starting the trip back we all signed the summit register .



And back at the car we had a final look at Midnight Peak which by now, of course, was shining in the sun .

Hi Mum,

This week smaug left us all alone all week but when he came back last night we were very pleased to hear that the weather was going to be gorgeous and that he was going to take us to the mountains today . After spending, as usual, a lot of time under the shadow of the trees we had our first glimpse of the mountains encircling Hidden Lake, which, true to its name, was hidden from our eyes the whole day .



Moving on we reached Boulder Pass, from where we could see better the same mountains...



...and where we saw for the first time our destination of the day....which seemed awfully steep .



Later we reached Deception Pass from where we could see back Boulder Pass, Mount Redoubt and Ptarmigan Lake...



...and Skoki Valley.



From here Fossil Mountain appeared a touch less inaccessible, but still a bit far up above us.



But somehow smaugs’ legs managed to propel us up to the top, from where the view was great . We could see Skoki lakes with the Wall of Jericho (don’t even think of asking me who and how came up with the names around here )...



...again Boulder Pass with Mt Temple and Mt Victoria far in the background...



...and more beautiful mountains and small lakes in all directions.





On the way back we stopped for lunch . While smaug was retrieving the supplies we checked our daily progresses.



Then we focused on the food: the energy bar and drink were far from appealing...



...but luckily smaug packed some chocolate too , German chocolate !



With a full belly we had a look around: our lunch spot had a lovely view over Skoki lakes...



...and valley.



Eventually it was time to head back, but still we took a photo with Ptarmigan Lake and Mount Redoubt...



...and some more photos from the lake shore.




After that we dived back in the rucksack and helped ourselves with what was left of that lovely chocolate .

Hi Mum,

Today it was a holiday, so we had another chance to spend some time outdoor. This time we stayed close to Calgary in Kananaskis Country. And we were lucky with the weather again , and had a nice view right from the car park.



Later we dived into the trees, and came out of them already up on a ridge, from where we could see the Elbow River flowing east to Calgary...



...and the Rockies over to the west.



Looking down to the valley we could see that the car park was still completely empty...other than for our lonely car .



Once we approached the summit we had to follow a nice and gentle grassy ridge.



Until we reached the top, from where we could see both the prairies and the Rockies .





On the way back the wind suddenly became a bit uncomfortable, which sent us back hiding into the backpack .

Hi Mum,

Today Fiete got ready to leave, so first we helped him with one of his missions by letting him sit on a Canadian note....sammino was planning to use something fancy like a $100 note , but $20 was all we could find inside smaug’s wallet .



Then it was farewell time and we wished him a safe journey before he jumped into his envelope .

Hi Mum,

Today it was another nice day , so off we went to the mountains again. We drove over to Lake Louise and walked up to one of the peaks near the lake. Halfway up we reached the saddleback, from where we had our first look at the summit...



...and we even saw Mt Temple, clad in ice .



Once at the top we braved the freezing wind and had a look around. We had Mt Victoria in front of us...



...and we could see Lake Louise down there.



We had again a great view of Mt Temple...



...and of the Bow valley heading north towards Jasper .



On the opposite site of the mountain we saw the Lake Louise Ski Area (sammino told me that he was skiing there last winter...which means just over 3 months ago )...



...and the Bow Valley heading south.



Eventually I decided that it was a touch too cold for gentle ladybird , so I hid back in smaug’s backpack.

Hi Mum,

Today was another lovely and warm (for Canadian standards, of course ) weekend summer day and smaug took us out for an easy scramble. After walking a bit in the trees we found this lovely waterfall .



Later we reached Bourgeau Lake still clad in shadow.



From here we saw Mount Bourgeau looming over the lake.



Moving up we found this lovely unnamed lake .



Eventually we reached Harvey Pass with Harvey Lake.



On the other side of the pass we could see Mount Assiniboine towering in the distance...



...and the mountains disappearing west in British Columbia .



At this point sammino suggested to walk up the gentle ridge to the top Mount Bourgeau , so off we went.



The summit at first was a bit of a disappointment as it was cluttered with all sort of stuff .




But once we looked around we changed mind . We could see Banff down in the valley...



...Mount Assiniboine again,...



...Sunshine Village ski area below us...



...and generally the view was incredible .







On the way down the ridge we leaned over the edge of the ridge to look at the valley that we walked up in the morning...



...and at Bourgeau Lake.



For lunch we chose a spot below Harvey Pass from where we could see both the pass...



...and the little unnamed lake .



Before diving back into the trees we took a last view of Bourgeau Lake...



...and Mount Bourgeau, from where we just came down.



What a day !

Hi Mum,

Today smaug brought back home a parcel which got us very excited as we have been expecting a new guest for a few days...



...and yes, a new guest it was : Sofia, a nice hover-fly from Finland . And she brought over some lovely presents...no need to say that the chocolate soon disappeared in our mouths .



And actually it was a day full of arrivals . Late at night smaug disappeared and when he came back he had three more toys with him: two more of his TVs, Krystal and Landroval, and Sigfrido who looks after smaug's guest who don't stay here in Calgary...and they will be here for the whole weekend .

Hi Mum,

Today we went for a quick walk around Calgary downtown. We saw some of the skyscrapers ..



...a C-Train station...



...and these strange structures .



Of course, we stopped for food ...



...before taking a final look around and head home.

Hi Mum,

Today we went for a short visit to Banff. On the way we had privileged seats to enjoy the view of the mountains ...




...and just as we were parking, we met this big group of horseriders .



We had a look at our surroundings...



...and off we went in the middle of the Bow Valley.




It was very hot, so the river was really inviting us for a skinny dive ...




...but smaug said that the water was too cold , so we moved on and passed by this lovely wetland.



Later we stopped at Sundance Canyon, with it’s narrow gorge .



In the evening we took a ride on the Sulphur Mountain Gondola. Although the sun was setting, the view from the top was great . We could see the Banff down in the valley...



...the summit station of the gondola...



...and the whole Mount Rundle ridge .