Day 12, August 24

Day 12, August 24 — Arriving at my primary destination!

Locations: Kanaskis Country; Banff & Jasper National Parks

Miles driven: 288

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A light but steady rain fell through the night and continued as a light drizzle in the morning. I had set the alarm for 5:45, but slept until 7:45 as there was obviously no hurry to get anywhere due to the weather. I thought about trying to find some river scenes to shoot, which overcast skies promote, and possibly head into Jasper today. The clouds had lifted a bit and revealed that the storm had left more than just a dusting of snow which was awesome to see. Still using Darwin Wiggett’s guidebook every step of the way, I made a quick stop at the Widow Maker day use area above the Kananaskis River to see if it was worth any pictures. I just walked to the river and back out before heading out of K-Country.

I arrived at Highway 1 at 8:58 and drove into Canmore where I fueled up ($1.00/liter) and picked up three bags of ice. I passed the Banff exit at 9:55. I finally made it to my destination on this 12th day! I was all smiles returning to the area, and what a feeling it was! I was able to see the tops of some of the peaks, but there remained a light drizzle. At 10:00, the sun was visible at times through the thinner layers of clouds. Shortly thereafter, the clouds had pretty much raised off most of the peaks allowing me to really take in the scenery for the first time. It was incredible, and I was in heaven! I knew right then that I could easily spend four weeks in the area and really enjoy every minute of it. I immediatlely felt at home.

I made a beeline for the site I had most wanted to return to—the incredible Peyto Lake. I arrived at the overlook at 11:02. I couldn’t believe it. I was finally here! YES! The overlook deck was crowded with people, and I didn’t even stop to take pictures there or take in the view. Instead, I got away from all of them and walked seven minutes further up the trail to do some scouting at the main rock pile along the path where I took all kinds of snapshots. One can never have enough pictures of this place! After staying for a bit really soaking up the view I had been longing to see since my last trip up here 11 years ago, I walked back to the main overlook. There were far less people here this time around, so I took a couple snaps from here. I walked back to the parking lot and noticed I was the only one in short sleeves. It was pretty cool out, mid to upper 30s I’d guess, and I received a lot of looks. A light rain began to come and go. Once back at the parking lot, I thought about where I wanted to head next.

I stopped at the Mistaya Canyon parking lot and took the short walk down the hill to the canyon. This was a pretty cool spot and the water was thundering its way though the gorge. I went down to the rock area below the bridge and set up the 4x5. Another guy eventually came over. He had a Canon 1Ds Mark II and he told me that he sold all his Hasselblad stuff. He then asked me how I was metering the scene. I told him being that it was overcast, I was just using incident readings. “No, no, that’s not how you do it. You have to pick the most important spot and meter off that, .” His mouth was a nuisance and just would not shut up spouting about having to do things his way. I eventually told him, point blank, and bluntly, “Look, I’m not going to argue with you.” I did that instead of dropping him into the river below as I would’ve been staying in Canada a lot longer than I originally planned! I do not have the time of day for egos! That’s just not going to fly with me. I’m not sure who he was trying to teach or why he felt he had to. I know metering (light) isn’t my strong point, but I do pretty well when it’s overcast. It’s not like I have just started doing the photography thing. I had a 4x5 setup for crying out loud.

After leaving Mistaya Canyon, I stopped in at the Rampart Creek Campground to check the fee amount. I drove on into Jasper and as far as the Mt. Kitchener and Stutfield Glacier viewpoint just past the Columbia Icefield. I turned back around and stopped to shoot Tangle Falls. I then drove the short road up to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier and headed out and checked out the adjacent Columbia Icefield Campground which was $14/night. I drove back into Banff and made a quick stop at the bridge at the Saskatchewan River Crossing to take a couple of shots. I stopped in the Mosquito Creek Campground between Bow and Hector Lakes which was also $14. I was pricing them all out trying to find the cheapest ones and making notes for my stay.

I drove to the second-most place I was looking forward to returning—Moraine Lake. I walked up to the rock pile overlooking the lake a little before 8:00 and took some snapshots. I just took my point-and-shoot as the sky remained gray, but wouldn’t you know it, at 8:10, some color appeared back across the valley towards Lake Louise. It kept getting a little more intense, and I stood there debating if I’d have time to go back down and get my camera pack or if I should just stay and use what I had so I wouldn’t miss anything. I looked at my watch and knew sunset wasn’t for another 10 to 15 minutes, so I figured the color should remain for awhile longer. I made a mad dash down to the parking lot, grabbed my bag and tripod and ran back up. Okay, now I’m out of breath! I made it in time and the color was now over the lake as well. I had plenty of time to set up the 4x5 while firing off a number of other shots on the Rebel. I sure wasn’t expecting this show at the end of this gray day, but I took it! I headed back down to Lake Louise Village and called my sister and brother-in-law to let them know I made it up here and that I was already having the time of my life!

I left Lake Louise and pulled into the Overflow Campground that I saw earlier in the morning as I passed by. It sits two miles south of Lake Louise Village and found that it was $9 a night. The price settled it. I would definitely camp here a few times! It would make a great base camp for sunrises at Moraine, Lake Louise and even Peyto 25 minutes north. The envelopes had a spot for a credit card number, so I did that as I still had yet to exchange any currency. The campground is just two big dirt lots with a dumpster and an outhouse. That’s all I need. I planned to be at Moraine Lake for sunrise.

7:54 AM — Camp spot at the overnight lot at the Mt. Kidd RV Park