The Trails Around Upper Kananaskis Lake by Philippe Widling

Located a scenic two-hour drive from It's generally a good idea to stop either at The Upper Lake parking lot contains basic Calgary, Kananaskis Lakes provide a the Visitor Information Centre toilets and some picnic tables. Once you have great destination for spending a day or the Peter Lougheed Visitor Information arrived there, you have two hiking options. in the mountains. The drive takes you Centre. The rangers there are always through some of the most beautiful happy to share valuable information about The shortest is a moderate, 6.8-km round- scenery in the region, and an early start the weather, trail conditions, and wildlife trip hike to Rawson Lake. With elevation will virtually guarantee an encounter with reports. This is also where you can gain of about 300 metres, people in average some fascinating wildlife along the way. purchase maps and backcountry camping physical condition can complete it in about Early one spring morning, my wife and permits. three hours, including time for a leisurely I spotted something by the highway. I lakeside picnic. The trail begins circling stopped the car and watched what turned clockwise around the Upper Kananaskis out to be a magnificent grey wolf crossing Lake for about 1.2 km, branches left, and the road less than 20 feet behind us. I love continues until you emerge from the forest Kananaskis for offering such opportunities and reward your feet with a casual dip in for all of us to enjoy. the clear water of Rawson Lake. Listen to the picas in the rocks and remember to To get to the Upper Lake from Calgary, keep an eye out for bears. head west on Highway 1 and turn south on Highway 40. Drive to Peter Lougheed Your second option is to hike the whole Provincial Park, following the main road Upper Kananaskis Lake trail, which can until the signs point you to the Upper be done either clockwise or counter- Lake parking lot. Map of Upper Kananaskis Lake hiking trails. clockwise. This 16-km loop offers a much The red dot indicates The Point campground. easier walking option, with only 60 22 meters of elevation gain on a trail that is maintained in excellent condition, so running shoes should suffice. If you're planning a mid-hike picnic, the loop can be completed in five to six hours, including time for a nice lunch stop. Photographic opportunities abound all along the way: mountains, plants and flowers, waterfalls, and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Deer, coyote, Bighorn Sheep, moose, bear, Red Squirrel, Ground Squirrel, chipmunk, Grey Jay, raven, crow, grouse, woodpecker, osprey, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle ... they are all common in Kananaskis, and especially around the Upper Lake.

If you're like me and often stop for photos, allow plenty of time to return before nightfall. This is especially important in This spread, clockwise from top left: the spring or fall, when the days become Mount Foch and Mount Sarrail after an early much shorter. Bears do tend to frequent snowfall; island trees in brilliant fall colours light up the area, so be sure to make sufficient an otherwise dull day; finishing a fall hike around the noise and to carry bear spray with you. Upper Lake; a campsite at The Point campground. 23 Residential & Commercial 403.932.1216 www.caledonianexteriors.com

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Contact us today to reserve a complimentary Roof Inspection and Consultation Five-year Installation Warranty • Fully Licensed & Insured • Senior & Military Discounts 24 If you're planning to complete the loop For any long hike or backcountry over two days, The Point campground, camping trip where weight is a serious located on the west end of the Upper consideration, a single-lens reflex camera Lake, provides an excellent first-time (SLR) with a travel lens (18-250-mm zoom) backcountry camping experience. This trip is an excellent lightweight solution. Using requires a backcountry camping permit, proper techniques will enable you to get which can be obtained from one of the fabulous shots, from wide landscapes to visitor centres. Pack light, but make sure wildlife portraits. When photographing you have the necessary equipment, food wildlife, resist the temptation of getting and water, sturdy boots, rain gear and too close. First of all, no photo is worth warm layers of clothing because it gets risking your life. Secondly, your chances cold at night, even in the summer. of getting interesting shots are much better if you do not disturb your subject. The Point campground offers basic toilets, Be patient, sit down, wait, and don’t make firewood, level campsites with picnic tables, and metal storage boxes to keep ______food out of reach of bears and other foraging wildlife. The area surrounding This spread, clockwise from top the campground is an excellent place to left: Mount Sarrail from The Point spot wildlife. The last time I was there, campground; Lower Kananaskis Falls; I had just made my way to my campsite a popular waterfall along the Upper when I spotted movement down the hill by Kananaskis Lake trail; map of The Point the water. I had just enough time to grab backcountry campground; Shooting Stars my camera and photograph three moose can be found in Kananaskis in the spring. making their way along the lake. 25 any sudden movements or noise. You will be duly rewarded with Even though the Upper Lake Trail is primarily a summer the wonderful experience of having shared an animal’s company destination, it can also yield interesting images and offer for a while. pleasant hiking experiences until late in the fall. From about mid- September to late October, depending on the weather, some of Early mornings and late afternoons usually offer the best conditions the trees start turning a brilliant yellow. Fog banks forming over for nature photography. The light is warmer, the contrast is more the lake or the mountains can make for strikingly moody images, manageable, and having less wind will capture better reflections while even grey skies and rain can offer their own unique charms. on the water, while also increasing your chances of seeing wildlife. A cloudy sky is actually an ideal occasion for photographing streams and waterfalls because the light is more diffused, so there are less bright spots on the water. As rain saturates the colours of the vegetation and rocks, raindrops collected on leaves can also become interesting subjects. Catch a sunny day after the first snowfall, and you will be duly rewarded with beautiful photos of fresh snow sparkling against blue sky. And always make sure to protect your camera and

A perfect early morning reflection of Mount Indefatigable keep it dry by wrapping it in a plastic bag.

A hike around the Upper Lake provides countless photographic We are very lucky indeed to have a destination that attracts opportunities: mountains reflecting in the lake, beaches with people from around the world right in our backyard. Offering unique rocks and tree stumps, leaves, flowers, buds and insects. beautiful lakes and majestic mountains, with a multitude of well- This fascinating subject matter continually entices you to take marked and maintained hiking trails, Kananaskis is the perfect time to stop and observe. Eventually, you will begin to notice the outdoor playground. I hope to see you there soon! smaller details, like dew drops hanging from a leaf, which can make great images for birthday or Christmas cards. Safety Tips: • Talk to the rangers at the Visitor Information Centres about the Never rush your photos. Force yourself to slow down. Listen to the current weather, wildlife activities, trail conditions and risks. sounds of nature: the trees moving in the wind, the leaves rustling, • Let someone know where you will be and hike with a partner. the lake water lapping against the rocks. Watch the clouds drifting • Never exceed your physical abilities. across the sky, and their shadows moving across the landscape. • No cellphone reception in the park means no emergency calls. Observe the light before pressing the shutter, take time to compose • Make noise and carry bear spray. your image, watch for distracting elements, move a little to avoid • Carry a current trail map. You can purchase one from the Visitor them, and keep the horizon level. I am always surprised at how Centres or a hiking supply store. many otherwise good photos are ruined by a slanted horizon. • One map I highly recommend is Gem Trek Publishing's I usually bring along a light tripod to keep the camera steady, Kananaskis Lakes # 26353. It's a waterproof map with highlighted and having a tripod will also make you slow down and compose descriptions of available hiking paths on the back. images more carefully. Learn to use your camera before going out ______by reviewing all the different modes at home. Eventually, you will gain more control over your photos by using the full manual mode, Philippe is a regular contributor to . which is in fact much easier than it may seem at first. Visit www.pwidling-photography.com to see his latest galleries.

26 Philippe Widling ______Nature & Travel Photographer

Based in Calgary, , Philippe Widling’s photographs have been published in books, magazines, newspapers, calendars, postcards, and web pages around the world.

Philippe photographs nature, landscapes and wildlife, mostly around Calgary, Kananaskis, and the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. Philippe’s location work has taken him as far as Mount Everest’s Base Camp in the Himalayas, Nepal. He also regularly photographs in the United States and Europe. Most recently, Philippe photographed on location in Japan last spring, and the Oregon and California coasts in July.

Stock images available at: www.istockphoto.com and www.designpics.com

WEBSITE www.pwidling-photography.com

C O N T A C T [email protected]

Sunset at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area near the town of Florence, Oregon. Taken in July 2012. Taken Oregon. the town of Florence, near Area Recreation Dunes National the Oregon Sunset at 27