FALL 2023 - CANADIAN ROCKIES
I spent 6 days in the Canadian Rockies, continuing my new project of trail running with my camera. It was great to revisit a location that would feel both completely new and familiar to me at the same time.
An April morning along the Icefields Parkway, 04/2018
The last time I visited Banff and Jasper was in April 2018 as part of a cross country road trip to photograph the National Parks. The Icefields Parkway had just lifted its chains requirement. The lakes were still frozen over and the rivers were just beginning to reemerge through the melting snow. Some roads remained unplowed. All of the photo spots I had planned were more easily accessible locations that required little hiking. The Rockies blanketed in white are an incredible sight, and visiting at that time of year was a great way to tour the most popular stops without the crowds, but there was still a lot to be desired. Being able to see the glacial blue lakes and reach some of those previously inaccessible locations was enough reason to want to return, but I also knew that the views I was really after would require some leg work to get to. I knew that a return trip to the Canadian Rockies would not feel successful if I didn’t set out to capture those iconic mountainscapes of Kananaskis.
Most of my planning for this Fall trip was based around the trails that would lead me into the peaks. I was more excited about the journey to reach a vantage point than just simply taking photos, and every image felt more meaningful to me.
Elbow Pass
I spent the first two days of my trip in Kananaskis Country. An unexpected snow storm passed through during my first night, dropping a few inches. I woke up that morning and went out for a run along the Elbow Pass trail. It was a smooth route to get the week started and feel out my equipment. I intended to turn off and head up Piper Pass until being stopped by Elbow River cutting through the route. I might have been able to find a way across, but with the route snow covered and without knowing where I would find an opportunity, I decided to turn back and return to Elbow Lake. The lake was thinly frozen when I first passed by before sunrise, but a few hours later, I was able to grab a pano of the mountain’s still reflection.
Elbow Lake Panorama
Pocaterra Ridge
That afternoon, I began my way up Pocaterra Ridge. This trail is very popular and the parking lot fills up fast. It looked like I was one of the last to arrive for the day, so it took a minute before a spot finally opened up.
Sunset Panorama from Pocaterra Ridge Summit
Twilight along the Pocaterra Ridge Trail
The snow melted away off of the trees throughout the day, revealing the golden Larches and offering a scene that captured the early moments of Fall's transition to Winter. As popular and busy a location as Pocaterra is, I wound up having the summit to myself. It was a cold, but calm evening as I stood and took in the panoramic views.
I began the run back down, hoping to get one more shot while there was still enough light. I passed by a spot on the way up that showed a creek flowing through the snow toward the mountains. It was a potential shot that I kept in mind if time allowed, and with a little last minute rushing around, I was able to catch the lingering twilight color in just enough time.
Smutwood Peak
Day 2 was dedicated to my most anticipated location of the trip: a climb up to Smutwood Peak. The hike up started off with partially clear skies that turned low and heavy as they passed overhead throughout the afternoon. Flurries floated around with shorts bursts of sunlight illuminating the scene. I was hoping for just enough of a clearing on the horizon that the sun could drop below and light up sky, but that wasn't happening this evening. The 360° views from this location were surreal, it was one of those places you never want to leave. With my camera set up, I sat and waited out the next hour, surrounded and mesmerized by the impressiveness around me. Brief moments of subtle light would sneak their way through the clouds just enough to provide a hint of color over Mount Birdwood, as I waited for each moment when the color appeared most vibrant.
Sunset view of Mount Birdwood from Smutwood Peak
I left Kananaskis feeling good about what I accomplished and the images I took. I felt less internal pressure to come away with a shot, and I have been more excited about the journey than just simply taking photos. I don’t always end up with the conditions I was expecting, and this trip helped me to continue being more relaxed and accepting of that. The unpredictability and lack of control is what makes the moments when everything works out all worth it.
I spent the rest of the trip driving through Banff and up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper. I was back in a familiar area, but now able to see these parks in a new way and view them from a new perspective. I spent some down time revisiting Banff's Lake Louise and Peyto Lake, and Jasper's Maligne Lake, while setting out for sunset views from Cirque Peak (Banff) and Lake O'Hara (Yoho).
Lake O’Hara
A reservation is required to take a shuttle up the 11km (6.8 mile) long fire road to Lake O’Hara. I didn’t have one, so that turned a short 3-mile out and back into a 17 mile outing. I set out for sunset along the West Opabin Trail. The trail leads up to a point along the Alpine Circuit, a 7 mile loop overlooking Lake O’Hara and traveling past the small alpine lakes scattered through the backcountry.
My main objective this day was to get one shot overlooking Lake O’Hara, but there is a lot more to this location that definitely deserves more attention. The Circuit is a trail I would love to return for in the future, when I am prepared properly to catch an early morning shuttle and spend the day roaming around.
Sunset view overlooking Mary Lake and Lake O’Hara
Cirque Peak
I finished off my week with a climb up Cirque Peak. This trail was much more strenuous than I had anticipated. I saved Cirque for my final day, and the two rest days prior were definitely needed. The trail started off typically enough, but the final 1 mile ascent suddenly turned very steep with loose rock that easily gave way with the wrong step. I wasn’t expecting such an intense scramble. The summit looked to be so close, which felt like a tease given how long it would take me to slowly complete the climb. Surrounded by 360° mountain views, along with the brightest sunset of the week, I was able to cap off my trip with a panorama overlooking the trail up to the top.
Panorama from Cirque Peak Summit
These mountains really are a hiker's paradise with incredible views that reward you for all of the effort you put in to reach their peaks. It felt great to be back in the Canadian Rockies and to be able to explore the area in a new way. This Fall trip reconfirmed to me what my Summer trip to Washington initially told me: the adventure of running and hiking for my photography is so much more purposeful and rewarding for me, and taking on these longer distances with my camera on my back is the combination I needed to help reinvigorate my passion for photographing grand landscapes.