Upper Kananaskis Lake - Winter Ice & Wolves
Date Walked: 27st January 2014
Distance: 4.4 miles (7.1km)
Actual Ascent: 203ft (62m)
Time Taken: 2 hours
After finding those wonderful methane bubbles frozen in Upper Kananaskis Lake last week I thought I'd return there and take the wide angle lens to get some cool shots of the bubbles and surrounding mountains together. It was a much clearer day this time with beautiful blue skies and a cool -5 temperature showing as I arrived at the isthmus car park once again.
It was immediately apparent that I wasn't going to be seeing the bubbles today, it had snowed about a foot and covered the ice once more, I did think about that but thought the wind would keep the ice clear.....unfortunately it didn't.
I decided to wander the shoreline and see what I could see.
It was immediately apparent that I wasn't going to be seeing the bubbles today, it had snowed about a foot and covered the ice once more, I did think about that but thought the wind would keep the ice clear.....unfortunately it didn't.
I decided to wander the shoreline and see what I could see.
There was a little ice showing here but being in the shade it lacked that wonderful colour and sparkle I was hoping for, though it was still great to be out at such a stunning location with only one other vehicle in the car park.
The lake levels had fallen considerably since last week and caused the ice along the edges to recede and break up, I was hoping to get down onto the lake but decided to stick to the shore for a little while longer.
a little further on I find a fantastic slice of ice right on the edge of the lake that has lifted almost two feet, with the sun behind it the sparkle was there, I couldn't quite get the angle for the colour but the clarity is sublime.
Further along the shore where the sun has yet to burn the heavy hoar frost from the tree branches along the shaded forest, the temperature in the sun is a 'top coat warmer' as the saying goes
I scurry along a little further to grab a shot of the hoar frost before turning my attention toward the lake access, I can see a couple of ice fishermen wandering back on the lake and drop down to join them for a chat
I wander out onto the ice and share a good 10 minute chat with the father and son who had been ice fishing. After a haul of 9 trout (6 of which were over 8lbs) they were very happy. They shared some of their photos and video and a few tips before heading off to the car park leaving me as the sole human occupant of the entire area.
On the rear of the small island I see some hanging ice and go over to grab a few shots, you can see how far the water level has dropped so far and the beautiful blue ice clinging to the rock face.
I turn my attention to the far side of the lake and decide to hike across it just because I can. Though this may seem like madness to UK residents, the ice here is well over 18 inch think so as long as I don't step in a fishing hole it's fine.
It is initially still a little disconcerting when your foot breaks through the snow cover and drops down to the ice with a crunch, but you get used to that pretty quickly
The lake seems endless as I plod on and on, it's only a couple of miles or so but seems like more. Eventually I reach the shallows at the far side where the ice has been broken away in several pieces and where people have broken up the pieces leaving 'ice jewels' scattered around the surface.
It's great fun exploring the different breaks and good exercise maneuvering myself around to find the best position to illuminate the ice, though laying on the surface is a little chilly after a while.
occasionally I can't get the right position because my own shadow gets in the way, but still the ice demands a photo, I'm sure it would taste of mint if I lick it.....
higher up on an island section the ice has been stranded for a few weeks and is softened by the warm winds and sunshine, the snow on the surface has a layer of ice crystals on top of it that make it coarse and incredibly cold to the touch, in the shadows I can see ice crystals falling and fluttering around.
Then it happens, as I crouch to capture another sculpture I hear a series of beautiful long howls in varying tones. One of the three known wolf packs that live in Kananaskis has found something to sing about at the south end of the upper lake (close to where I hiked last week) the song reverberates around the steep sided mountains and echos back to the wolves.
When all the howling has subsided I can't resist having a go myself as wolves are known to respond on occasion, so I give my very best wolf impression and listen intently as it bounces around the mountains, it is not the melodic wonder of the local pack but it's enough and they strike up again, we take turns to howl at each other for a short while and it is unbelievable , I feel a connection with the natural world around me and and I sit there enjoying the moment as the sun begins to dip.
Suddenly the temperature drops dramatically as the shadows cover the southern end of the lake and the difference is very quickly noticeable, I decide to get going and see if I can get back into the sun. It is a shame to stop my singing competition with the wolves (which I was losing badly) but it did occur to me that they might take umbrage and decide to hunt me down.
Setting off back across the lake I get a stride on to try and catch up with the sun, my face is freezing and I actually have to put my gloved hands over it to stop it from stinging, maybe that serves me right for wandering off unprepared.
I'm almost back at the north shore before I manage to get some heat from the sun again and I stand to face it for a while just soaking up the warmth on my icey cheeks.
I step off the ice at the car park as the shadows cover the entire area again, I've not heard anything from the wolf pack since I started back so I try one more good long howl..................nothing, I guess they moved on
My hike today might well have been a bit of an unplanned wander but it was still incredibly enjoyable and howling at/with the wolf pack is something I will always remember.