The September Road Trip

Although we didn't travel far we saw an vast amount of inspiring beauty and had a most excellent time exploring territory new to us. 


September 15th at Many Glacier


On our first night out, September 6th, we camped at the young mining town of Elkford (est. 1971) in the wilds of British Columbia's Elk Valley.  The following morning we took a short hike to nearby Josephine Falls viewed from the edge of a very deep canyon.  That afternoon we went the short distance to Fernie and set up camp (for two nights) at Mount Fernie Provincial Park which is just down the road from here ...

Island Lake

On September 9th, we crossed into the United States and lazily made our way to Mountain Meadow RV Park at a little town named Hungry Horse, between Whitefish and West Glacier, Montana.  Based there for five nights, we alternated hiking days with shopping and touring days while enjoying glamping with full services including wireless Internet, at our camp site, great meals at cool cafes and restaurants.  The last time we were in the Kalispell/Glacier area was in 1979.  It was a flash trip with two young kids and a couple of outlaws.  Things are quite changed since then.  It all looked new to us, with the exception of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.  Anyone who has ever traveled it can never forget the beauty and what a feat of engineering it is.

Going-to-the-Sun Road looking west from Logan Pass

I can't really think of anywhere more beautiful to be stuck in road construction traffic.  It delayed our hike until late in the day when the light was so much finer.  At Logan Pass, on the Hidden Lake trail, we got our moneys worth of wildlife and knock-your-socks-off scenery in the best of weather, even with forest fire smoke haze.

Mountain Goat beating the heat



Hidden Lake


With the weather so fine and everything (that wasn't already was closed) about to shut down for the season the crowds were horrific.  We drove around and around the Avalanche Lake trail head waiting for a parking spot to free up as if we were at a mall on December 24th.  I worked hard to exclude the hordes in my photos!



Avalanche Lake, near Apgar, West Glacier National Park


Coming home up the east side of Glacier National Park we intended to stay just one night at Many Glacier then quickly changed our minds so that we could take the full day hike to the Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint.  The elevation gain was 1600 feet over 8.5 kilometers ... I like to mix up how I measure things!  This primo trail is out in the open for most of the time affording exquisite views of mountain peaks above you and jewel coloured lakes far below.  If you have time to look at only one photo essay I would suggest this one. 


Grinnell Lake, East Glacier National Park


If you are inclined here are links to complete photo essays:

The September Run Away Begins
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150817649475438.729474.715295437&l=aa53743d10&type=1

Eureka, Montana
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150820205040438.730039.715295437&l=6443b3f6eb&type=1

West Glacier - Logan Passhttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150822655300438.730490.715295437&l=07f8455c5d&type=1

Avalanche Lakehttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150824970550438.730851.715295437&l=7d5500f414&type=1

Many Glacier - East Glacier

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150826348595438.731045.715295437&l=1f4e6d66d4&type=1

Painting and Camping

Fiesta Iris   unframed oil 5" x 7"   $100.   SOLD

You're likely aware, primarily through my continual complaining, about how wet (and cold) our spring has been.  So, as soon as we get a window of fine weather off we go R-Podding.  There was one such window last week.  We hitched up and went south west, for two nights, to one of our favourite places; Beaver Mines Lake.

I'm lured by the beauty there which includes my new favourite mountain and Bill is drawn by the fishing.  He goes out on the lake morning, afternoon and evening.


When I accompany him I get to gawk at Table Mountain


Sometimes when I don't go with him I paint. 


 
I had started Fiesta Iris a couple of weeks ago and thought this would be a good time to finish it.  When it was done, I laced into another, seen below, which I didn't finish ...


And then, as quickly as the window opened, it closed.  Under a threatening sky, on the morning of June 23rd, we packed up and came home.  And home is just a little more than an hour away from Beaver Mines.

Alberta Badlands

  

Exquisite light at sundown, May 31st, 2011



A week ago today we were camping with Don and Ann at Dinosaur Provincial Park, near Brooks, Alberta.  It was our third visit and everywhere I was tripping over familiar hoodoos and memories.  Titles of oils and watercolours, painted long ago, came tumbling out of my mouth.  And all over again I found myself completely fascinated by the strange beauty of this World Heritage Site.  Our first visit was in September 1993 and it was quickly followed by a second trip in April 1994 because I was on a bender to paint this wild, barren, lunar landscape. 



Me, Bill and a favourite hoodoo behind the Visitor Centre



https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150639951080438.680578.715295437&l=6676387f75

If you click on the above link it will take you to the photo essay I compiled of our recent time there in which I integrated some of my paintings. 

I came home consumed with the desire to really remember that time.  So I dug out photos from the early trips and revisited the artwork as a result of them.  I fished out painting slides, learned how to scan them and made a complete digital record of the collection.  It was a deeply satisfing experience.  I invite you to click on the following link to know the details behind the series, the exhibitions and to see all of my badlands paintings:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22752120@N04/sets/72157626791691425/

May these thumbnails whet your appetite ...