Rugged and ragged. Waterfalls. Blue-green glacial lakes. Bears. Columbines. Snow-topped peaks. Avalanches (far away!). Mountain goats. Banff. Jasper. Elk. Glaciers. Hiking. Kayaking. Campground coffee. Pine trees. Aspens. Traveling buddies. Mt. Robson. Indian paintbrush. National Parks.
All of the above enhanced by enormous, stupendous natural beauty, that’s The Canadian Rockies. The country’s branch of the United States’ Rocky Mountain range are just glorious. They’re defined by the glacial activity that formed them. This results in more jagged peaks and broad valleys gouged by moving glaciers. That’s the extent of my geology expertise, but I’ll tell you as I hiked up, around, across and over I knew I was someplace extraordinary. As much as I love California’s Sierra Nevada range, these mountains are nipping at their foothills!
There is no better feeling for me than the view from the top of a mountain. More often than not, nowadays, getting there pushes me to the ragged edges of my endurance. I start strong, but I always reach a point where I wonder, “what made me think this was a good idea?” And then I’m at the top and well, of course, there’s the reward … the 360° panorama, made just a little better by sitting on a ledge eating a sandwich, admiring the unfolding landscape.
Massive clouds, up-close-and-personal. Distant peaks, so much closer … let’s go there next. (OK, that’s the thin air affecting my brain.) Snow fields begging for snow angels. Snow pack on the verge of avalanche. Little tiny people scurrying up the trail. Enormous snow-melt waterfalls cascading down rock faces.
Headed down there’s always time for reflection (it’s so much easier and faster). John Muir said “The mountains are calling and I must go.” And my Dad said, towards the end of a very active outdoor life, “sadly, eventually your legs just give out.” When mine do, it’ll be fine. The call to a viewpoint will still happen. It might just be a knoll or sand dune, or even just the slope up to my front door. I’ll be happy with the view of the 200-year-old oak tree from that spot.