I left Elk Island National Park just before the big storm hit last night. I wanted to see if it was anything like the torrential downpour that I got at home so headed out to spend a couple of hours exploring. 

The ditches were full of water and it was still sprinkling. All was quiet at the park. It seems that people are not as likely to go out for a walk in the rain. That made my excursion even better. I love walking in the rain.

I was the only person on the Living Waters Boardwalk this morning. Just me and Mother Nature and she greeted me with an abundance of creatures.

A baby squirrel sat on a wooden rail and stared me down as I walked by. The red winged blackbirds were singing from the tops of a couple of cat tails. The male flew down and landed on the boardwalk in front of me. The grebes and their chicks were swimming in the pond. Mama coot and her babes were foraging in the rushes for food. As I rounded the bend and came toward the dock, a blue heron flew across the lake. A loon popped up through the water just north of the dock. The pelicans flew in formation overhead. 

I couldn't believe my luck. The number of creatures that I got up close and personal with today was outstanding.

More photos at https://www.facebook.com/Ramblings-of-an-Outdoor-Girl-1015659961820012/

I love when I am at the right place at the right time. When I go to Elk Island, the first place that I stop is Astotin Lake to see if I can spot a Great Blue Heron.

I didn't have to look very far today. It was along the beach hunting for food beside the pelicans and the Canada geese.

As I watched it stalked its prey. I witnessed the attack. Down the hatch went a fish. 

The heron made its way to a reedy spot so when I lost sight of it, I walked toward the boardwalk. Just as I got to an open area to see the water again, the heron flew up from the reeds, across the lake and landed on the branch of a spruce tree!

Elk Island National Park never disappoints no matter what time of day I travel there however, the light and quiet of an early morning visit enhances the experience.

A visit at 7:30am found nobody else around; not even the park staff were out that early. There were no humans but there were definitely many creatures big and small; beginning with the bison along the roadside. They paid no mind to me as I stopped to watch them graze in the tall grass. 

An elk bolted out of the forest as if being chased. In a blink of an eye it was gone into the forest on the opposite side of the road.

Ponds were alive with waterfowl in search of food. Each has families of Canada geese in them. The goslings are now big enough to search for food on their own, under the watchful eye of their parents.

As I wandered the beach at Astotin Lake, the avocets and gulls were harvesting the blood suckers close to shore. The water was calm and the warm light of the morning helped to create a very memorable scene.

A great blue heron flew across the lake. The pelicans were gathering. Once they were all together, they swam in unison in search of food. The cormorants and red neck grebes were near the boardwalk. 

I parked myself in a Parks Canada red chair and watched and listened to the sights and sounds of the early morning. What a great way to begin the day.

More photos at https://www.facebook.com/Ramblings-of-an-Outdoor-Girl-1015659961820012/

The four inches of fresh snow that fell a week ago is long gone.  The ski trails at the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area have bare patches where it is not icy.  The conditions for skiing are not good but they are ideal for the kicksled.

When I went to the trails yesterday, there was one other vehicle in the parking lot.  That is my favorite type of outing; when I'm alone in the woods.

I packed up my backpack and attached it to the handlebars on the sled and put the ice cleats on my boots.

The trails were perfect for the kicksled.  With the icy surface, I got more glide for the stride.  I moved forward further with each kick.  It was a fantastic day to be outside.  The sky was blue and the sun was shining.

Just before getting back to the parking lot, I met up with two ladies.  They were just heading out for a hike but they stopped for a chat.  Their first question was ' What is that thing?'  I get that a lot.  I got to show them how everything worked and they agreed that it was another fun activity to do in winter.  We finished our chat and both said they were going to watch as I headed back to the parking lot so they could see how the sled worked.  I was just hoping that I wouldn't wipe out!

Back in the parking lot, a couple of park staff were replenishing the firewood.  They watched as I removed my backpack, folded the sled down and stored it inside my vehicle.  I could tell that they too had never seen a kicksled before.

I wasn't ready to go home just yet so I drove to Elk Island National Park to check out the skating oval.  It had been cleaned off but was pretty rutted.  That didn't stop me from taking the sled onto the ice to give it a try.  I figured it would take even less effort to move forward on the ice than it did on the icy ski trails.

What fun it was!  It was safer to go out with the sled than with skates on.  I left the plastic runners on.  I had read that they should be removed to move across the ice but keeping them on worked great.  That could have been due to the rutted surface.  

The sun reflected off the smoother sections of ice.  I was the only person out on the lake.  The loop goes around Archer Island and back.  I could see a few dog-walkers stop to watch me glide along.

I love using the kicksled.  I can hold onto the handles and walk behind it, giving me some extra stability on the hard crusted, uphill surfaces.  I can kick and glide on the straight sections and ride on the runners where the trail goes downhill.  If there are no spots to sit to enjoy a view or take a rest break, there is a seat that travels with me.

I saw a newscast a couple of years ago about some family activities that the City of Edmonton was promoting.  During the report, a video of someone using a kicksled caught my eye.  That made me search the internet to try to find out more information on it.  When I found out that they were available locally, I had to have one.  There's been no turning back since then; just a lot of kicking and gliding.

The sled is great for all ages and abilities.  It provides another means of enjoying the winter season.  Some people harness their dogs to the sleds.  I don't have one and prefer to kick and glide by my own power.  

If anyone wants to try them out before making a purchase, they can be rented from the company that sells them in this area.  Check it out.  It's another fun way to spend a beautiful winter day!

http://www.kicksledalberta.com/

 

There was a lot of packing up to do after Christmas but I couldn't help but push it all aside and take advantage of the beautiful weather.  The tree and the ornaments could stay up another couple of days.  That decision allowed me the time to make two trips to Elk Island National Park.

The first was on New Year's Day.  What a great way to celebrate a new year.  I drove to the Amisk Wuche trail.  It is my favorite short hike, just 2.5km.  It winds through the forest, up hill and down.  It's a good work out if you are limited for time and a great snowshoe trail when there is lots of snow.  There was no need for the snowshoes this time as the few centimeters of snow on the trail was hard-packed. I did wear my hiking cleats to provide better traction. I love using them in winter and summer to provide more secure footing.

The parking lot is usually empty but I found five other vehicles there when I arrived.  It was nice to see others enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine. 

The sky was clear and the sun shone between the bare tree trunks, casting long shadows across the trail.  A light breeze rustled the dead leaves on the cat tails as I crossed the boardwalk.  Tracks in the snow criss-crossed the surface of the pond.  That open expanse of snow was telling me to bring snowshoes or skis on the next outing.

My hike was quieter than usual.  Most times I hear the chickadees or the blue jays.  I often hear the woodpeckers tapping at the snags in the forest but today was silent.  There was not a bird call to be heard.  When I stopped walking and stood to listen there was only silence.  It was pure bliss.

I chose a different trail for my second day out.  To get to the trail head, I had to drive past the parking lot at Astotin Lake.  A number of deer were grazing in the area of the beaver pond.  The bucks sported some nice looking antlers.  I had to shake my head as vehicles drove past; totally oblivious to the fact that these beautiful creatures were there.  Most passengers had their eyes glued to their mobile devices; missing what they probably wanted to see in the first place.

The Lakeview Trail winds through the forest on the north side of Astotin Lake for 3.5km.  Part of the trail runs along the shoreline.  Two people on their x-country skis were making their way across the lake surface.  It was another clear day with the sun shining brightly.  It was hard to believe that the temperature was +4C on January 2.


The snow on this trail was hard packed.  The hike was not as quiet as the previous day.  Squirrels chased each other up and down tree trunks; chattering back and forth.  A boreal chickadee called from a tall spruce.  Magpies squawked as I walked beneath the branch that they were perched on.  This trail offers three different locations where one can sit and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds along the way.  My favorite is the last one where three benches are situated beneath some towering spruce.

When I left the trail head I watched for the deer.  They were still in the same area but all were resting in the tall grass and the vehicles were still driving right on by.  On the drive out of the park I saw two coyotes loping across a snow-covered pond.  There were no bison or elk in sight. 

It was another glorious day and I was glad to be on the trails for two days in a row. I better pack up Christmas 2015 while it is dark out so when the next opportunity presents itself to enjoy the fresh air, I'll be ready.

(A new Facebook page has been created for this blog.  Additional photos willl be posted there.  Check out https://www.facebook.com/Ramblings-of-an-Outdoor-Girl-1015659961820012/)

Elk Island National Park and my backyard were the places to be today for watching birds and wildlife.  The bison were stopping traffic on the parkway.  It's not often that the entire herd is in the Bison Loop area but it appeared that they were all there today.

An adult coyote lopped across the road in front of us.  We slowed to see if it was still in the trees.  It stopped long enough to glance back at us and then continued on its way.

A female grouse gave us a good laugh.  It was crossing from one side of the road to the other moving very slowly and stealthily as if we could not see her if she moved slowly.  As soon as she reached the tall grass in the ditch, she was gone.

We hiked the Lakeview Trail that borders Astotin Lake.  It's a short scenic trail that passes by the lake and some beaver ponds.  It continues through the forest where you can see very large spruce trees that have toppled, almost in a domino effect.  It was on one of those trees that we saw a black-backed woodpecker.  What a treat!  They are not a common bird in this area.

My favorite area on the trail is a boggy spot where numerous trees lie on the ground.  Each is covered in many different species of moss.  The variety of green textures adds color to the forest floor.

When we got back home, the birds were busy in the backyard; flying from branches to feeders.  It was close to being dark when I noticed the deer coming into the yard.  A doe and two fawns came in first.  Something scared them off.  As they were jumping the fence, I saw another large one coming straight to the feed dish.  It took me a while to realize that it was sporting some antlers!  This was the first male I noticed this year.  I went outside onto the deck to get a better look.  He glanced up at me but didn't run.  It was like he knew who filled that dish.  What a beauty!

I've been cooped up in the house for the past two days.  I needed some fresh air headed to Elk Island National Park.  There are many trails to choose from for hiking and lots of picnic tables by the lake to just sit and enjoy the view.  I tried to do both.

I started at Astotin Lake.  The sun was just beginning to break through the clouds.  The warm rays began to burn off the fog that hung over the lake.  I could hear the gulls and the geese on the water.  

A south east wind was blowing.  I was not dressed warm enough to sit at the lake shore so I drove to the nearby Amisk Wuche Trail.  It is short and well treed; just right for today.

I was almost a quarter way around the trail when the sun was high enough in the sky to break through the treetops.  I love the early morning light.  It is warm in color making it ideal for some dewdrop and back lit photographs.

There are not many leaves hanging on the branches.  Most are forming a carpet on the trail.  The rose bushes are providing the last bit of color amidst the grey tree trunks.  It is amazing how each of the thorny branches produces so many varying shades of color.  They are beautiful.
 
I spent some time sitting on a bench that stands atop a hill, overlooking a beaver pond.  The ducks were swimming in the shadows of the pond.  I heard the bluejays in the spruce trees.  A pair of geese and a number of ducks flew overhead.  I could hear their wings whistle in the wind.  

As I sat on the bench, I closed my eyes and tuned everything out except the sounds of the forest.  The dried leaves clinging to the branches and the tall grasses rustled in the wind. The birds called from the treetops.  I heard a hawk and a raven call from overhead.  The nearby trees creaked as they swayed to and fro in the gusts.  The sounds were heavenly.

On the drive back home, I noticed the park staff replacing the culverts in the bison loop.  The heavy machinery did not seem to bother the bison herd that was grazing nearby. 

A coyote was hunting in the ditch.  It stopped now and again to listen for movement in the tall grass.  As I approached, it lopped off into the trees.

The birds were busy in the backyard again; so was the squirrel.  I opened the garage door and the bushy tailed little rodent stared back at me before running for the safety of a cabinet.  It has been storing food in the attic of my garage as well as in the boxes that I have items stored in.  I found some nice dried mushrooms in the box containing the tie downs.

The afternoon turned out to be sunny but windy.  The leaves that I was going to rake, blew into the neighbor's yard on their own so I could sit back and enjoy a coffee on the deck. 

 

It's Thanksgiving and it was a beautiful day.  I ended up having the day off and wasn't going to waste the sunshine and warm temperature so I left home at 9am en route to Elk Island National Park.  As I drove to the park, I noticed that the warm rays of the sun created some fog over the ponds along the highway.  

At 9:20am, I was leaving the Shirley Lake Trail parking lot for a 12km hike.  I've snowshoed this trail in winter and wanted to experience it in another season.  It was only me and Mother Nature.

My vehicle was the only one in the parking lot.  As I packed up, the coyotes were howling in the forest.  Blue jays called from the tree tops.  The sun was rising higher.  I knew it was going to be a good day.

Frost covered the grasses and leaves along the trail.  The morning sun reflected off the ice crystals, creating millions of sparkles around my feet.  I was so busy watching the beauty on the ground that I missed seeing a great horned owl perched on a nearby branch.  It swooped down in front of me and then up to a higher tree.  I tried getting close enough to get a photo but the owl was camera shy.

An hour into the walk brought me to a beautiful spot with a picnic table that overlooked the lake.  The water was calm and looked like a sheet of glass.  The only ripples in it were those created by the swimming ducks.  The sky was blue with very few clouds.  The fall colors across the lake were beautiful.  

I sat at the picnic table for 30 minutes, admiring the scene in front of me.  As I took in the view, I reflected on what I was thankful for on this beautiful day.  I heard the waterfowl calling on the lake, the honking geese flying overhead and the cheeseburger calls of the black capped chickadees.  The colored tops of the aspens across the lake reflected on the water.

I've hiked numerous trails in the park and there is always something that I've seen or experienced for the first time.  Today, on the way to the group camping site, I came across a decaying bison carcass.  I noticed a rib bone on the trail and a few feet further, my nose detected the rest of the carcass.  The smell was not pleasant.  The skeletal bones were picked clean but there were still entrails and skin baking in the sun.  Nasty.

I reached the group camping site at 11:25am.  There were no campers so I took a 30 minute break at this spot as well.  I could see the first picnic table that I stopped at across the lake.  The large flock of ducks were still floating in the sunshine.  A slight breeze rustled the tall grasses on the lake shore.  A few leaves danced across the open tenting area.

At 1:15pm I finished the loop and was back at the parking lot.  It was not empty like it was in the morning.  The parking lot was full.  


As I drove toward the south park gate, there was a steady stream of vehicles coming into the park.  Many people took advantage of the beautiful fall day.

I got home and just could not bring myself to spend time in the house.  I lit a fire in my new fire pit.  It was the first time that I used it.  I pulled out the reclining lawn chair, made myself a cup of coffee and enjoyed the crackle of a fire for the remainder of the afternoon.  It was an awesome day.

I was surprised at the number of creatures, big and small, that I saw yesterday.  I was not the only one taking advantage of a sunny day.  There was more wildlife on this trail than my usual Elk Island trails combined.

I was about a half hour into the hike when I spied a cow moose.  She ran as soon as she caught sight of me.  I could hear her crashing through the trees.

The birds were busy and vocal.  Black capped chickadees, white breasted nuthatches, juncos and blue jays flew from branch to branch in search of food.  I could hear magpies, crows and ravens in the distance.  As I approached the lake, a choir of waterfowl calls filled the air.  A flock of cranes called from overhead. 

The wood bison were close to the trail.  My first sighting was along the lake shore.  I could see his horns and the top of his head above the tall grass.  I saw four of them grazing in an open meadow and another four came thundering across the trail.  The ground shook as they stampeded into the trees.

Squirrels were gathering mushrooms for their winter stores.  One balanced atop a snag.  It stopped long enough to give me a scolding.

There were so many butterflies visible.  All were feeding on the remaining wildflowers; flitting in front of me on the trail and then stopping to rest on the warm sand.

I counted five grouse and four more moose along the way.  The one photo that I did get was of the south end of a north bound moose. 

I took the long way home to see if there were more creatures out on the parkway.  

Two young coyotes were walking in the ditch.  I pulled over to watch them and both came lopping to my driver's side door.  They waited to see if I would give them some food.  I could tell that visitors have been feeding them.  They were not afraid.

Astotin Lake had a couple of bison visiting the picnic area.  One decided that he needed to wallow in the sand on the beach.  He used his front hooves to dig in the sand before rolling back and forth.

Yesterday was fantastic for a number of reasons; the sun was shining, the temperature was perfect, there were no flying insects to bother me and so many of the forest creatures stopped to say hello.  What a perfect day!

I had a road trip planned for today until I stepped onto the deck this morning.  It was calm and warm.  I wondered why I would waste a day like this cooped up in my vehicle.

The alternate plan was to try a new trail at Elk Island National Park.  I decided on the 16km long Wood Bison Trail.  Estimated time to walk the loop is 5 hours.  Now that is the way to spend a beautiful autumn day!

My backpack held enough snacks for the day, extra clothing and some of my camera gear.  I left home at 9:35am and was ready to hit the trail at 10:00am.  It was not as wide or as well worn as the trails that I frequent on the north side of the park.

I just about turned back because I could hear the traffic noise from the Yellowhead Highway.  That was the last thing that I wanted to hear.  I was about 3kms in before I didn't hear the traffic anymore.  Instead, I heard woodpeckers and chickadees.  

I saw a cow moose feeding on some willow branches.  She was camera shy and took off into the trees before I could get a photo.

There was a bluebird sky overhead.  The warm sun shone down so it didn't take long for me to make a pit stop to remove the jacket I was wearing.  At 11:25am, I was at the south end of Flyingshot Lake.  I had hoped to see cranes or swans on the lake but no such luck.  The only waterfowl out there were ducks.

At the half way point, I found a log that served as the perfect bench for me to sit, take in the beauty and have lunch.  There was not a sound and not a soul out there.  It was just me and Mother Nature.

The colors were spectacular.  I was lucky to see a male ruffed grouse in full regalia.  He looked like he meant business but as I approached he flew into the trees to join a female.

The trail took me through a mix of very different landscapes.  I hiked past a lake, marsh areas, open meadows and a ravine filled with colorful larch.  There were a number of downed trees across the trail and a number of wood boardwalks to cross to get over wet areas.

At 3:25pm I arrived back at the parking lot.  I made good time considering that I was carrying a backpack, a camera bag and my tripod and that I had stopped for lunch and for many photo ops.

This was definitely the right way to spend the day.  Fresh air, sunshine, animal sightings, bird calls, the colors of autumn and crunching leaves made for a perfect outing.

Oh yes, and one more thing... NO bugs!