Viewpoint Sally Quon Your Seasonal Perspective of Bragg Creek and Kananaskis In the wild, sometimes a simple change in perspective is all that’s required to make one appreciate the magnitude and variety of our surroundings. Even for the seasoned hiker on a well-trodden trail, a glance up can often bring to light a wondrous vista previously unseen. Of course you don’t want to look skyward the whole time: closer to the ground, curious critters are found everywhere. Meissa Fitzmorris 7 Randy Pohl Every lake is fed by countless tributaries of varying sizes. Next time you’re hiking around a lake and cross a stream running into it, take a few minutes to explore a Sarah Love little upstream and see what is revealed. A good many of these streams expand into small bodies of water due to natural dams. This small pool that runs into Upper Kananaskis Lake (above) provides the opportunity to enjoy and explore the incredible colour of the lake via a unique viewpoint. Examples of this visual priority interchange of a lake and its tributaries are limitless and accessible by any level of hiker, just by exploring a few steps up or 8 downstream of the beaten path. Jim Campbell This spread, clockwise from bottom left: yes, this is what you think it is; a unique view, (top left) contrasting with a more traditional view, (top right) of the spectacular Upper Kananaskis Lake; Mount Kidd above its pristine reflection; a family day out for some Canadian Geese. Rudy Germain Victor Liu 9 Rob Berdan This page: the early sun evaporates the top layer of Upper Kananaskis Lake. Opposite page, clockwise from top right: Trembling Aspen are instantly recognizable up close, (top right) and from afar, (middle right); this old oil barrel has quite a history; one of the most famous raptors stares into the distance. A ESCAPE RdiningESTAURANT & PATIO Open Wednesday through Sunday ESTATE HOTEL Reservations 403-931-0100 I azuridge.ca I Priddis, AB 10 Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides), right, is a deciduous tree native to the cooler areas of North America. The northern limit is determined by its intolerance for permafrost. The bark is relatively smooth greenish- white to gray, and is marked by thick black horizontal scars and prominent black knots. It propagates itself primarily through root sprouts, and extensive clonal colonies are commonplace. Each colony is its own clone, and all trees in the clone have identical characteristics and share a single root structure. As all trees in a given clonal colony Mary Armstrong are considered part of the same organism, one clonal colony located in Utah, known as The Trembling Giant, is considered the heaviest and oldest living organism on earth, estimated as 80,000 years old and weighing six million kilograms. Devin Featherstone Mackenzie Walker We recently received a wonderful glimpse into K-Country’s past from one of our contributors who regularly spends her summer vacations at Little Elbow campground with her husband. During one of their daily hikes, they stumbled on a strange- looking old barrel. They took this photo (right) Heather Rogers not really knowing what it was until much later, when by chance they came across a similar barrel displayed at Glenbow museum. That’s when they realized that this old barrel was used to transport oil on wagons back in the early 1900’s. What a fascinating find! Unfortunately, when they returned the next year the barrel had been destroyed and used as a makeshift crossing over a small creek. 11 12 Christine Robertson Mary Armstrong Paul Manning-Hunter Elaine Pauls Laura Bentley Rob Berdan This page: since it is further afield and harder to access than some of its counterparts, Elbow Lake is generally not as popular a destination as some other lakes – at least among the human species. Even the stillness of a lake or pond belies the frenetic movements of the minnows or other hatchlings frantically swimming beneath the surface. The shallowest bodies of water are teeming with active, vibrant life no matter how still the surface looks. Elbow Lake (above) is located in the Elbow Pass at an elevation of 2,120 metres, and is the headwater of the Elbow River. Elbow Lake Trail is the steep trail to Elbow Lake and the Elbow Lake Backcountry Campground. It provides excellent access to biking trails located in eastern Kananaskis Country, and it is the only trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park that allows equestrian use ... so keep an eye out for horses! ______________________________________________ Opposite page from top left: looking down from Mount Yamnuska summit; it’s a long hike to the Rockies; hiking up Ribbon Lake; stopping along Fullerton Loop to take in the view; even canines get to appreciate the view atop Prairie Mountain. 13 Northern Hawk Owls (right) are non- migratory, stay within their breeding range, and are one of the few non- nocturnal owls. They are recognizable Justin Howse by their dark brown plumage and off white spotting on the dorsal parts of the body. The exception is the back of the neck, which boasts a black V-shaped pattern. Its underbelly is white or off-white, which runs to its talons, with brown bands on the breast, stomach and long tail. Other main characteristics of the Northern Hawk Owl are a black border around its smoky white face, with bright yellow eyes and beak. The Boreal Cobweb Spider (far right, bottom) is common to Alberta. It appears in summer, lays an egg sack and dies come autumn. Because it tends to look blackish, and builds a web of tangled lines, it is often mistaken for a Black Widow. However, it can be distinguished from the Black Widow by its smaller size and the light coloured ‘T’ mark on the front of its abdomen. The Boreal Cobweb Spider is not dangerous to humans and while they can be seen gracing flowers, they often venture inside homes, particularly basements. Andrew Kulin Connie Singer Gerry Ambury 14 Opposite page, clockwise from top: a serene pond near Bragg Creek; a fishfly catches the last rays of the day; so Debby Schultz much to eat, so little time; a bunch of red baneberries. _____________________________________________________ This page, clockwise from bottom right: the tiny Boreal Cobweb Spider is dwarfed by a daisy; bees and flying insects of all species are critical to the widespread distribution of pollen; a Northern Hawk Owl looks down on a passerby on Fullerton Loop. Jennifer Behrens Kailie Sykes Devin Featherstone 15 Anyone can find mushrooms in a supermarket, but what about in the wild? A closer look in the damp undergrowth of the forest can literally reveal tens of thousands of fascinating specimens, some of which are quite stunning visually. In K-Country, keep an eye out for the spectacular Clitocybe gibba (top right), which has gills that extend down into the stalk, as well as the uniquely-textured Macrolepiota rachodes (bottom right) with its scaly cap. Series of five butterflies and moths by Connie Singer Kailie Sykes However, unless you are a mushroom afficionado we strongly recommend that you heed the warning of ‘look but don’t touch,’ as some of them can cause very bad stomach pains if ingested and, in extreme cases, even death. Simply enjoy the view of them as part of the natural cycle of life, and then walk on by. If you happen to get a taste for mushrooms in the meantime, stick to the varieties in your local supermarket – you’ll be safe with those! ______________________________________________ This page: the markings on butterflies and moths all serve a purpose. Some use them as camouflage against predators, while others do the opposite and resemble brightly coloured, foul-tasting insects, to repel predators. Opposite page: wild mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes, and look good enough to eat ... but we wouldn’t recommend it. 16 Sarah Love Connie Singer 17 Kaitlyn Pearson Ken Johnson This page, from top: a Mule deer fawn hoofs through the tall grass; a cow and calf moose enjoy a leisurely dip in Spray Lakes; the quintessential three bears of the Grizzly variety having a quick floss. Paul Manning-Hunter Rob Mueller Don Surphlis 18 Early summer is a good time to get a This page: a shallow waterfall near joyful glimpse of one, two, or three of Allen Bill Pond – simply beautiful; our year-round neighbours out educating a pondering Grey Jay near their young on the ways of the land, Chester Lake. basking in the sunshine, and enjoying a casual dip. Now fully released from winter’s grasp, the water flows freely throughout K-Country: filling the ponds and rivers to capacity and cascading over waterfalls such as this serene one (right) near the popular Allen Bill Pond. Debby Schultz For those who don’t know, Allen Bill Pond is one of the most-visited and popular recreational sites in the region. Located about 15 kilometres along Highway 66 just west of Bragg Creek, Allen Bill Pond was named after Allan Bill, the managing editor of The Calgary Herald who retired in 1957. Measuring approximately two football fields, the pond was created in 1983, when gravel dug from the riverbed was used to pave the highway. Stocked yearly with trout, it is a mecca for fishermen from all over, and its popularity has ensured that it has excellent facilities, including BBQ stations, picnic tables, Paul Manning-Hunter washrooms and a large parking lot. 19 Andrew Kulin Darren Leibham Darren Leibham This page top: a Great Grey Owl contemplates what’s on the menu for breakfast ... a tiny pica perhaps, or maybe a squirrel; flying over the Victor Liu magnificent Spray Lakes.