Mount Lorette Ponds, Kananaskis, 2019

            I am adding another five photos from my archives, yet again.  If I wrote a description under a previously posted photo taken on the same outing, I will add it to this morning's uploads.

"Having seen the weather forecast for another snow storm, I made a quick decision to get back to the mountains - I don't drive there when there is snow on the roads.  It was going to be sunny, but unfortunately, it was also very windy, which gave me a lot of not-quite-sharp images.  Also, much of the highway through Kananaskis is closed for the winter months, for the protection of the wildlife.   

There were three or four locations that I wanted to photograph with snow on the peaks.  With scenic shots in my mind, I took the south route, this time avoiding the dusty, gravel back road that I love to drive.  Normally, I would never do a drive like this on a weekend day - more cars and people.

Much of the drive was similar to my trip with friend, Pam, on 5 September.  A little over a month ago already?  The first part of my drive, before turning around and heading home, I had done before, but I had never driven myself the most northerly part.  I really wanted to make sure I did this while I could, rather than have to leave it till next year, as I might have lost courage by then.  Actually, this north stretch had not been in my plans, but as it was not yet noon, I decided to do it, driving further than Pam and I had gone.  A couple of extra stops were added - Barrier Lake and Lorette Ponds.

Keeping a close eye on how much gas was left, it was time to turn around and go back home the same way as I had driven earlier in the morning.  Lots of animals on the road - mainly cattle!  I don't think I have ever seen so many cows on the road before - and, oh, what a mess they were leaving behind them, everywhere!  They were as stubborn about moving off the road as the three groups of Bighorn Sheep I came across during the day.  I guess cows, too, like licking salt and other minerals off the road surface.

So many people were out to go hiking and there were lots of cars parked in many places.  On my return drive, I was not too impressed to see about a dozen cars lined up along the edge of the road - thinking 'hikers' and then suddenly thinking "bear?"  As I drove past, I caught a glimpse of three brown shapes in the long grass.  I did what I don't like doing - a U-turn and adding myself to the end of the line.  My handful of highly zoomed photos were all taken through the windshield, turning them into green-tinted blurs.  I have added three of them, just for the record.  Not sure if I can rescue any others.  I tried to read the blurry number on the pink ear tag, which may have shifted upside down, on her right ear.  She was busy feeding in the long grass with her two cubs, totally oblivious of the audience.  I didn't notice if many people were out of their cars - I know the female idiot (oops, I mean 'driver') of the car in front of me, got out and walked down the road in the direction of the bears, but I couldn't see where she disappeared to.  Eventually, a Park ranger arrived and shooed the beautiful bear family into the trees.  Such an unexpected sighting and thrill - definitely the highlight of my 440 km drive.  If I am right, I think I had only ever seen two Grizzlies in Alberta in all these years - a female with one cub."

Taken on: October 6, 2019

Tags:

Alberta

Canada

Kananaskis

K-Country

Mount Lorette Ponds

scenery

landscape

mountain

peak

trees

forest

pond

lake

water

bridge

wood

wooden

outdoor

fall

6 October 2019

Canon

SX60

Canon SX60

Powershot

annkelliott

Anne Elliott

IMG_3877 « less

Sets appears in: • Long drive in Kananaskis, 6 October 2019 • Canon SX60 more » • Scenery 5 « less

Groups appears in: • PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA • Landscapes 101 (Unlimited) more » • Canada Landscapes • Kananaskis Country No30/60 limit • Hills and Mountains • Love of the Great Outdoors • Landscape Beauty ! • Canon SX30 / SX40 / SX50 / SX60 / SX70 • Canon SX40 to SX70 and other Canon SX Bridge Cameras « less

Camera: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, f/4.0, 1/800 sec, 4.8mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Lens:	3.8-247.0 mm
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Focal Length:	4.8mm
ISO:	125
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 12.0 Windows
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