Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park – there are 42 National Parks in Canada, it’s vast
Mum and baby Ptarmigan
Alpine meadows 
Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge and below
Rockbound Lake from Helena Ridge
Toe of the retreating glacier at the Columbian Icefield
Descending into Gargoyle Valley – aptly named
No point pretending those mozzies had a taste for our blook
Kitchen and dining room
Blueberry pancakes for breakfast
It’s them friendly critters again – after the trailmix in Rucksack
Sentinel Pass above Lake Louise
The Crowfoot Glacier, like many others retreating rapidly
Mozzie damage to one of our group – no-one escaped, despite the constant application of ‘Eau de Deet’ liberally and frequently
Here he comes again
Our home after an overnight storm, but waterproofs never donned during the day
Climbing Mount Fairview above Lake Louise
View over the glacier from Cirque Peak
Ian and Bill relaxing after an exciting scree run
Campsite warning – locals can be too friendly!
Staggering views on the way to the Akamina Ridge in British Columbia
Lunch en route
Remains of a Cornice on the summit ridge – this is before the mozzies forced a complete cover up!
Another lunch spot, another day – views from Carthew Pass in Waterton Lakes National Park
Sunrise from the tent
Amazing alpine meadows greeted us on many approaches
Awesome two weeks in the Canadian Rockies, great treking, good bunch of fellow ‘Hikers’, great guides. Few snaps of the trip with more to follow.
First night of luxury in hotel suite of International Hotel – view from balcony of Calgary city
Then the reality check of one of four campsites that would become our home for the next two weeks – still the locals were friendly
Local views were unbelievable – Waterton Lakes Naitonal Park
First evening and we saw our first bear from the safety of the minibus
A twitcher is defined in my dictionary as a bird watcher who tries to spot as many rare varieties as possible. Postings on this blog that relate to birds can hardly be categorized as twitching. They are simply the comments of people who have interests in addition to that of running and like to share them with their friends. However, point noted!
I like the new blog heading picture. I imagine it is the work of our transatlantic friends.
It must be wonderful to have Buzzards around. To me, like Curlews, they are evocative of the wild. (EtU would say that I like them because they are big and they kill!) They are ground feeding, taking animals, birds (such as nestlings) and carrion. Whilst they would take a Swallow in this way I don’t think they would be capable of visiting the nest because of their size. A bird that would take them on the wing is the Sparrowhawk and I know that you hill people have them up there. I don’t know if they would be inclined to visit a nest in that restricted area but a bird that would is the Magpie. Other than that, I wonder if an owl could be responsible.
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Magpie
Again, well done T’Y. I have nothing but admiration. I’ll bet you were glad to get to the comfort of Gary Devine’s place. Gary was a highly respected fellrunner during his early days in UK competition and, no doubt, he is equally respected now. It’s good to hear that he and his wife have done so well. Enjoy the easy bit and update when you can.
If it’s not to be abandoned for this year then option 3 does seem to be the one to go for.
My thought for the day was to take it easy in consideration of the re-emergence of my knee injury sustained on the Pike race. I turned up at UP at about 8.45 and TF, also doing her own thing, by coincidence, turned up slightly afterwards. She went off to explore some new paths shown on her map and I went off at a walk/jog pace to go by Ammunition Corner to Spitlers, Great Hill, White Coppice and back to the barn. I struggled far more with the injury than I had last Saturday especially on the down hills and I think that, as before, the only remedy will be rest and the pills.
The weather was cold and wet. You will be able to imagine what Spitlers was like, particularly after all the recent rain. I envied those of you who were at home!
10.31 miles. 1553 /1559 feet climb / descent.
Yes, the weather must have been horrendous in Wasdale. My brother and Margaret stayed at The Wasdale Head Inn on Friday night as Paul, their son, was doing the fell race. Yesterday morning they left the inn to walk across the fields to the start of the race near Brackenclose but had to turn back and go by the road because the fields were flooded. They saw EtU at the start but don’t know how he went on. Paul packed it in, at Pillar I think.
We certainly made the most of the morning given the extremely humid conditions and what I’m sure was a very painful knee affliction on JtE’s part, although he tried to make light of it. Despite being able to see the lakeland fells by the end of the morning from Spitler’s, the weather put paid to Geraldine’s BG attempt and at least one other that we know about. Driving rain and strong winds stopped play. Be interesting to read EtU’s Wasdale race report, as conditions in Wasdale were apparently horrendous according to Joss when Pete placed a phone call on behalf of his wife.
Given the rather unpleasant sultry air, I left Two lades ‘til Tuesday and opted for a run out in the afternoon with Brucie who appreciated greatly the opportunity of a four mile knockabout with a ball launcher!
Out Tuesday UTUP if you can make it SN, TF.
NLN
The depleted team today was NLN, TF and me. TF was going to a posh wedding in the afternoon and only wanted a short run. We went to the Pike where she parted company. NLN and I then went via the direct route to Winter Hill taking advantage of the dry conditions. Here NLN correctly identified a Lapwing! At the mast the road was closed again and will be for the next two months. The usual detour took us to the ramp and from there we wanted access to Catherine Edge so down we went to Belmont Road and as the Belmont Reservoir dam is still closed we took the Amble route as far as a large signpost at a crossing which is a checkpoint on the Amble. Nic’O will know where I mean. We initially turned right as NLN wanted to see the glut of Curlews seen previously in that area but none were seen. We retraced our steps and continued past the sign to Catherine Edge and to Hollinshead Hall. At this point my old knee injury had become a problem and at NLN’s instigation we took the shortest route back to the barn which was along Belmont Road to the track giving access to Spitlers and then by her route to Ammunition Corner and in. After a break I think NLN went on to do some reps of Two Lads.
The weather was initially warm and humid and a cool breeze in the Spitlers area was very welcome. Sorry about the slow progress, particularly in the latter stages NLN.
14.26 miles. Climbing: +2,291 / –2,306.
YJ’s wedding date and Preston North End fixtures reminds me that on our wedding day 50 years ago Bolton Wanderers were playing away at Newcastle United and they won 2 – 0.
Great stuff T’Y and thanks for the info. Keep it going and keep us informed when you can.
Today the team was NLN, Nic’O, TF, EtU and me. As NLN was with us it was not surprising that we went, initially, to the trespass stone. We went, as usual via the ornamental gardens, over Two Lads then along the edge of the quarries and skirting Holden’s Farm. We amazed TF by pointing out to her the two benchmarks on the way. From the stone it was to Winter Hill and then dropping off to Hordern Stoops. At this point a conference was held in order to decide upon the rest of the route, Nic’O saying that pain from the after effects of falling down stairs was causing her some difficulty in breathing properly and that she felt it unwise to go much further. We all carried on towards NLN’s route to Spitlers Edge, Nic’O turning for home at a point near to the ruins of Holden’s Farm. The rest of us carried on to Spitlers Edge and there turning towards Great Hill. It was noted that, unusually, EtU was running on the flags rather than on rough ground. When this was mentioned he asked us not to let his brother know what he had been doing and we all agreed not to. At the base of Great Hill EtU turned for home via Round Loaf and TF, mindful of his poor navigational skills, kept her eye on him until, indeed, he crossed the summit of Round Loaf. NLN and I carried on over the summit of Great Hill but TF, who was feeling a bit leg weary, skirted the hill and met us on the White Coppice side. It was then to White Coppice and via the new bridleway to Waterman’s Cottage and back to the Lower Barn via the reservoirs as usual. NLN spotted a new benchmark on the wall at the bottom of the cascades.
The weather throughout was broken cloud and a lightish breeze. On our return to the Lower Barn we found a note left by Nic’O saying that she hoped that we had had a good run. Thanks Nic’O. Here’s hoping that the pain goes away soon and that you will be in full flight again by next Saturday.
The full round gave 15.53 miles with 2641 feet ascent / 2618 descent.
