Wild Rose of Alberta
When I took a guided hiking trip a few weeks ago, a ranger told me the tiny wild rose on the trail side is Alberta’s provincial flower. I thought, then, who would pick something so unappealing to represent a province that big. Having a chance to hike up to Bow Lake summit today I finally realized why.
The interpretive signs along the trail explained the life cycle of wildflowers growing along the road side. Many colorful flowers, like wild rose, might not return to the alpine next year after a harsh winter. The chance a flower seed buried deep into the snow survives the winter is very slim. Only the fittest few survive after many thousands died. Next time when I take a step on the wilderness I will be very careful and aware that I may be stepping on a “life form” that does not come to its being easily.
My salute to the wild rose of Alberta!
When I took a guided hiking trip a few weeks ago, a ranger told me the tiny wild rose on the trail side is Alberta’s provincial flower. I thought, then, who would pick something so unappealing to represent a province that big. Having a chance to hike up to Bow Lake summit today I finally realized why.
The interpretive signs along the trail explained the life cycle of wildflowers growing along the road side. Many colorful flowers, like wild rose, might not return to the alpine next year after a harsh winter. The chance a flower seed buried deep into the snow survives the winter is very slim. Only the fittest few survive after many thousands died. Next time when I take a step on the wilderness I will be very careful and aware that I may be stepping on a “life form” that does not come to its being easily.
My salute to the wild rose of Alberta!
Since entering Jasper yesterday, I begin to feel I am in a different world now. The crowds, the modern structures and the heavy traffic ... I am back to the civilized world. Past 5 weeks feel unreal and this is the beginning of the end ...
Traveling southbound Icefields Parkway, Athabasca Falls is my first stop on my way to Banff National Park
The Powerful Athabasca Falls ...
Take a short walk of steps and passage way to see the source river of the Falls
This quiet Athabasca River pours intoa narrow canyon becomes the thundering Falls.
The interpretive sign says it takes thousand years to form this pothole.
Sunwapta Falls is a few miles south of Athabasca Falls also on the Icefields Parkway.
It is smaller but still powerful...
It is a beautiful sunny day. I enjoy driving and watching this beautiful scenic route.
Icefield Center offers various tour services to Athabasca Glacier which is part of the much larger Columbia Icefield.
A good view of Athabasca Glacier from Icefield Center
Pass Icefield Center and enter Banff National Park. Beautiful Bow Lake is a popular stop.
I almost envy this young man canoeing alone on this beautiful lake. Chat with him after he comes ashore. This is his second summer working in a restaurant here. He said he loves here so much he may come back this winter and next summer...
Take a short hike to Bow Summit.
From Bow Summit look down to the Peyto Lake of turquoise color glacier water. I hike the trial at the summit to see wildflowers and trees.
I have great respect to these seemingly insignificant flowers. Interpretive signs describe how they struggle to survive the snowy winter to return next summer.
The surviving struggle can be seen in these trees too - The higher the elevation the smaller the trees are.
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