September 20, 2008

September 20, 2008 - Saturday. Today is Hiking Day for Mama. I am doing this hike for her. It's been two years since she had passed on. We woke up early at 4:30 and was ready for the hike by 5:00. Paul comes to pick us up at 5:15 AM and we are off to our hiking destination in somewhere around Moraine lake. We would be going to the Sentinel Pass. It took about 2 hours from Calgary to the base of where our hike was to begin in Moraine Lake in Banff National Park.

Looking at my watch as Paul drove his car. It was such a peaceful morning. Sometimes I like waking up really early. I would prefer to wake up 4:30 AM everyday If I could - but I sleep late most of the time.

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Paul was driving

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About 3 minutes before Moraine Lake in Banff National Park.

At the Moraine Lake parking lot. Here you see Ron just getting out of the car to get his hiking gear. It was a bit cold that morning and I had started to wonder If I had actually under-dressed for the hike. I only had two layers. One long sleeve shirt and my Tribute T-shirt for mama. I was feeling a bit worried that It would stay that way throughout the Hike but Ron reassured me it will get warmer. So Off we went. Ron was right.

The Location of the start of the hike. Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada











This is what the Hiking trail sign had to say about our Intended Hike for the day.












The Trail sign.

About a quarter way up the hike, Ron took this photo for me. I wanted natural lighting but couldn't quite do it from where the angle I wanted to stand so we had to use flash for this one just so I won't end up becoming silhoetted by the bright background.

As we found ourselves passing through Larch Trees (that's the first time I found out that Larch is a tree) I realised that part of the moon was still out. So I decided to use the branches of a larch tree for a frame.

This is what is called a Larch tree. The leaves change colors during the fall.










Good Friends Ron and Paul











Edgar Lorenzo F. Nievera and Paul Ellison (We love Photography)












Our Little blue friend with Ron and Paul.








It was a beautiful beautiful day!

Somewhere I know, our spirit and love binds us. Although you are gone , still you are with me and will stay here in my heart. I send my love out to the heavens and
know you feel it. I send my good thoughts of peace and caring and I know you continue to live. I miss you. Someday in God's perfect time - I will understand.

(My Thoughts On Mama)

I hope you see how high the mountains are. We are simply dots from below. Like ants. But it was so beautiful everywhere i looked, It was just breathtaking!

So surprised to find so many other hikers that day. This is certainly one of the most popular hiking destinations in Alberta at this time of the year. I think people are trying to enjoy the last days of summer as much as they could. Fall is in the air.

Edgar Lorenzo F. Nievera

If you click on this photo - you will see this photo so much better. Right behind me, you can see the trail . It is almost like the Z cut from the movie "The Mask of Zorro" . That's where we have to go to get to the top. Can't wait to get up there!

Ron and Paul








Ron and Paul - Behind them is the view of where we are going. The Top!











Paul and Edgar











That's me on our hike.









Hiking up the Scree. A bit challenging.










Do you see how far away we still have to go? On the right side you see Ron and Paul's blue backpack and some other hikers.

Midway to the top. here you see Paul looking at where we were down below. If you look closely at the photo I had placed arrow marks where some other hikers were. There are three other hikers behind Paul - on their way up too.

We have finally reached the Sentinel Pass Summit! Hooray!!! The view was awesome from there! It was too big that I can't fit the view in my camera frame. But this is a part of the view (The main view) - which shows the lake down below and the Larch trees - where we went through to get here at the top. It was such an exhilirating feeling. I could breathe better up here! One word - Wow.

Having a moment to take it all in. hahahah. -












Ron took this photo - Salamat! There is a guy behind me eating sandwich. I couldn't go stand where that guy in black was standing. He was basically standing on a rock that was about 2 feet wide. Below it is about a 2000 ft drop. I say no to that. When I got to the top. My knees actually started shaking. The height is a bit intimidating at first. But I got used to it.

Such great view from up here. Wish I could just spend 5 hours here. Drink a glass of wine with some apple and wait till the alcohol wears off before I go back down. Ron and paul were very happy too!

Behind that rock I was leaning on is a 2000 foot drop. Thus the awkward position. I was actually mustering my courage to look as put together as posible. hehehe.

Other hikers -
















Binoculars. Zooming in










The photo from the lake below.

Proceeding down the mountain and back to where we started off this morning. It was afternoon when I took this photo. Notice how bright all the trees are?

Moraine Lake - Not the time of day I would have prefferred to have my photo taken there. But it was a bit late when we got back down the mountain and the lighting was against us. So this is all I got. But I guess it's not bad - Maybe if my face got thinner like it used to years ago (see my shirt? - that's me and my mom) it would be better. hahaha. Such is youth. It is there only for a moment - then it's gone.

I prefer my photo taken further away. hahahah. You like the view? I like it too. This is Moraine Lake. Behind it are mountains called "The Valley of the Ten Peaks"

A young boy in his Canoe - I missed out on his reflection. I only had one click on this before he was in a different angle (which was not as artistic as I wanted)

After the day's Hike, we headed back to Calgary. That's another 2 hours. On our way back, we see these bikers. I found it quite interesting.









A split second moment with the biker on the road. I hope he didn;t get offended that i took his photo. But oh well, I have it now. hahaha!









When we got back to Calgary, We headed for one of our favorite Chinese Restaurant - The Gee Gong. Had a lovely dinner. By that time, we were all tired.

After dinner, we had gone back to Georgia's apartment for the night. We needed that sleep. Overall, today was a very very very very beautiful day. It was so perfect. I am happy.