Travelog for: Fiete

Hi Mum,

This week we never saw smaug so we were getting a bit worried....because we were running short of sweets . When we asked sammino where our host was he said that he was probably just trying not to be eaten alive by bugs on some horrible site in northern Canada....so there was nothing to worry about .
Anyway, today was Kirin’s birthday and, despite the food shortage , we managed to organize a little party for her .

Hi Mum,

sammino told us that this week some of us will leave Calgary, so today smaug took a few detours on a site visit to show us some nice view of the Rockies . First we stopped looking at the Bow valley.



Later on we took a look at one of the most famous views in this part of the Rockies, Peyto Lake .



On the way back home we stopped at an even more famous view: Moraine Lake and the Valley of Ten Peaks (no, we couldn’t get all ten of them in the photo ), which apparently used to feature on the old $20 notes.



I am sure those notes would have looked lovely if I had been on them too .

Hi Mum,

Today we said goodbye and wished a safe trip to Dottie Mouse who will be travelling to USA tomorrow .

Hi Mum,

This week Calgary looks like a departure lounge . Today we gathered to say goodbye to another guest, Clifford, who will travel home to the UK tomorrow.

Hi Mum,

No wonder we don’t see smaug often these days....he’s always at the post office ! Today it was time to say goodbye to Frankie_Blue who will travel tomorrow to his new host on the WTVT in Hong Kong .

Hi Mum,

It might be the almost the middle of July, but today we were reminded that we are still in Canada .



Today smaug decided that the weather forecast looked good so we went for a walk on the mountains....but obviously the forecast wasn’t that accurate....or maybe smaug was a bit sleepy when he checked it . It was ridiculously windy and we got hit a by a few little blizzards too. Anyway,  by the time we reached the highest point of our walk, it was still windy but the clouds had lifted a bit so we could take some pictures.
Dark in the East we could see Kananaskis Valley and further away the foothills and the prairies.



These rocky peaks looked a bit grim.



The weather farther West over the Bow valley wasn’t much better.



But this little valley seemed very nice .



On the way back to the car some blue patches appeared in the sky, so we took a final look at the Bow Valley before taking shelter from the wind in smaug’s backpack.

Hi Mum,

Today we all said goodbye and wished a safe trip to Pitzelpatz who tomorrow will start travelling to his new host .

Hi Mum,
Today we had a day of proper summer weather , so smaug took us to the mountains on one of the most popular scrambles in the Rockies...the fact that we met less than twenty people in the all day makes me wonder how quiet the less-popular ones must be .
Anyway, we started hiking in very shadowy forest so we spent most of the time in the backpack. We stuck our nose out of it when we thought we could have a look at our destination, but smaug said that we could see only part way up the mountain from this gully.



Eventually the view improved .



We could see Sulphur Mountain with the summit station of the gondola.



Later on we finally came out of the forest and the view was even better.




We even had our first glimpse of our destination...which seemed to be still quite far away, not to mention a very unusual place for a cow like me .



But when we reached the summit it was definitely worth the effort . The slope on the opposite side was a bit scary, but the sightseeing was amazing.



We could see the Bow Valley more than a mile below us...



...Cascade Mountain in front of us...



...Lake Minnewanka in the distance...



...the east side of the Bow Valley with Canmore...



...more mountains in the south...



...and again the Bow Valley heading north towards Lake Louise.



What a day !

Hi Mum,

Today we said goodbye to Kirin who tomorrow will leave Calgary and start travelling to her next host in Finland .

Hi Mum,

Today a new guest arrived in Calgary .



HelgaHH, a nice ladybird travelling on the WTVT . She was a bit tired, so we saved all our questions for later .

Hi Mum,

Today we went out on the mountains again. 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 I got ready to leave Canada, but before jumping in my travelling quarters I worked on one of my missions by sitting 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 time to say farewell to HelgaHH and sammino...



...who gave me a big hug and wished me a safe journey .

Hello !

I arrived in Essen today. I will update with photos later, just wanted to let you know that I am here now.

Love,
Fiete