Day 38 Waterton Lakes National Park

The rain clouds, literally and metaphorically, have cleared. Unfortunately the news from yesterday has not disappeared, it has become our new reality, but at least there was no "new" bad news.

The reality of David's shingles separated us today. Jonathan and Jenna set off on an 11km adventure that led them on a hike crossing into BC, that I understand was amazing. Interestingly it led them into a section of BC Mountains where my grandfather started his mining career almost a hundred years ago. David and I decided on 5km of hiking that led to the US border, followed by a slow ramble home with many stops... just because we had to!

I have been reading a book by Jon Mooallem called Wild Ones. It is a book that is essentially an examination of environmental conservation and its history. It's a great book to read on a trip like this because each hike is an opportunity to view the theoretical in action!

Our first hike led us up a mountain-side (that part was in the truck, thank goodness) to examine an alpine forest. It really is striking how diverse an eco-system can be. Everything from the temperature to the wildflowers are different up here, a mere 16km from our hikes yesterday. The landscape up here had been ravished by the wildfires eight years ago, so as we hiked along, for the most part alone in the wilderness, we were able to observe, first-hand, how nature works to regain loss and reestablish itself.

Smart grouse here. They can count! She stood on the road and blocked our way until all of her babies crossed to join her. Some walked, some flew, some seem to take a round-about route, they certainly did not stick together. She didn't budge until the last one was safely on the other side.

Lake Cameron, an alpine lake.

The water was crystal clear

David is in this picture for perspective. Many trees destroyed by the fire are still standing. These fell over with the entire root base and surrounding soil!

Sneezeweed! What a great name.

A square tree base! I've never seen that before.

Some tree that are still standing still have the charred bark still completely attached.

Most trees along the trail are devoid of the burned bark and are just whiteish sticks

Other areas are a mixture. Eight years later and the forest is still evolving

Akamina Lake

Eight-spotted Forester Butterfly

Pearly Everlasting hosting many, many critters!

Even mid-day, on a sunny day, there is still much moisture trapped on the alpine plants

Very big leaves from something

Twinberry Honeysuckle - not like any other honeysuckle I've seen

Wild chives

One of the themes that runs through this book is the influence, intended and unintended, humans play in the evolution of our environment. The book also wanders into the realm of whether or not we really do have the influence we intend. Our interpretations of the natural world around us are significantly influenced by our interests and preferences. We find butterflies desirable and go to great lengths to "save them". Slugs and bugs are not so sexy, yet we pay little heed to the bigger picture of what in our natural environment requires attention, and that assumes we ever understand the "big picture". Our walk today was a front-row seat to the devastating effects of wildfires, and natures incredible ability to do what needs to be done, without our help!

Our second hike, around Cameron Lake, was an interaction with a alpine lake. Surrounded by mountains we hiked through the bowl at the bottom, around the most clear and pristine lake I have ever seen. At one point there was a flock of about 100 pine siskins in the trees next to the trail. As we approached they would rise as one and fly a couple of hundred meters down the trail to gather in a different tree. When we approached this tree, off they flew again! It was quite entertaining to be part of this little cat and mouse game! This went on for some time until they eventually scattered to perches unknown. We also hiked for some time behind a deer! She wandered on the the trail just ahead of us. She would stop occasionally to be sure we were still with her and then calmly amble on again.

This trail abruptly ends just before the end of the lake, with a marker recognizing the next steps would cross the international border into the US. Waterton National Park and Glacier National Park in Montana share a border. It speaks to the arbitrary nature of borders that several hiking trails and lakes weave in and out between the countries. There is also an area designated as Waterton Glacier International Peace Park. Established in 1931 it was intended to promote peace and goodwill between nations, but also to underscore the international nature of wilderness and the cooperation required in its management and protection. Historically, campers in either park could hike freely from one park to the other. In today's political climate that is no longer the case. There is still much cooperation on things like wildlife management, since apparently bears have little respect for international boundaries, political climates, or passports!

Families swimming at the lake!

Small pearly-bordered fritillary

The best shot I could get of our pine siskins

Not sure what's holding this in place - we scurried quickly past!

So many beautiful wild flowers

A look up the lake to Montana.

The plants overgrowing the Canadian platform, are growing in the US

As close as we will come to Glacier National Park. We are standing on the border.

David spotted more of these little guys on the way back and pointed them out as my "conclave of butterflies"

Our hiking buddy needed a drink so we took the chance to hurry past her

Once again in the heat of the day, as more people appeared on the trails we came back to our trailers to share our adventures, deal with a few chores and have supper. A trip into town to enjoy an ice cream while we walked along the water was a great end to the day!

On the way back we stopped at the site of the first oil well in Western Canada. They started drilling in 1901. Interesting fact - bears helped discover oil in the west! Attracted by the smell, bears would roll in oil seeps to rid themselves of insects! Never knew that before today!