Canada: Calgary with a boom!

Rockies at Kootenay National Park

We left Radium Hot Springs this morning, stopping for a leisure soak at the hot springs before winding our way through the Kootenay National Park and our first real view of the Canadian Rockies. Just about 330 miles from Spokane, and we are in the midst of real wilderness, rolling hills to breathtaking mountains, covered with gigantic pine forests.

Our first real hike of the trip turned into a hour-long jaunt up Tokumm Creek to the head of Marble Canyon. We walked along a winding trail, noting the glacial blue of the stream.

Hike along Marble Canyon

Marble Canyon Falls

This mountain stream cuts over a hundred feet down through an amazing variety of rock, green limestone, granite, shale, and volcanic rock. I learned that it may snow here as late as June -- when avalanche risk remains high.

Fireweed

Fireweed blooms everywhere. When the blooms appear at the top of Fireweed, the end of summer is near, but the bright purple-red flowers delight the eye. Did I say the temperature hit 52 degrees this afternoon? We're back to the 70s in Calgary now.

We didn't spot any bears, but we did see what Allen calls a ground squirrel and I call a chipmunk. Which is it?

The rest of the trip should have been uneventful, a drive of about 100 miles to Calgary. 

But we ran into the mother of storms as we approached Calgary. Heavy traffic and hail so loud and heavy, everyone pulled over by an underpass -- after 15 minutes no real let up, so we continued, with rainwater sloshing over the freeway in nearly impassable puddles. Tornado warnings continued as we checked in for the next several days here in Calgary. Just now, a few hours later, clear skies and a sweet sunset suggest a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, museums and a quiet library are on the agenda.

Hope your summer travels are a little less eventful.