Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Barrier Lake

10 October 2019: temperature is -12C (windchill -14C), but is supposed to get up to 3C this afternoon. Rain is forecast for Sunday and light snow for Monday (Canadian Thanksgiving). Having seen the weather forecast for another snow storm, I made a quick decision to get back to the mountains - I don't drive there when there is snow on the roads. It was going to be sunny, but unfortunately, it was also very windy, which gave me a lot of not-quite-sharp images. Also, much of the highway through Kananaskis is closed for the winter months, for the protection of the wildlife. There were three or four locations that I wanted to photograph with snow on the peaks. With scenic shots in my mind, I took the south route, this time avoiding the dusty, gravel back road that I love to drive. Normally, I would never do a drive like this on a weekend day - more cars and people. Much of the drive was similar to my trip with friend, Pam, on 5 September. A little over a month ago already? The first part of my drive, before turning around and heading home, I had done before, but I had never driven myself the most northerly part. I really wanted to make sure I did this while I could, rather than have to leave it till next year, as I might have lost courage by then. Actually, this north stretch had not been in my plans, but as it was not yet noon, I decided to do it, driving further than Pam and I had gone. A couple of extra stops were added - Barrier Lake and Lorette Ponds. Keeping a close eye on how much gas was left, it was time to turn around and go back home the same way as I had driven earlier in the morning. Lots of animals on the road - mainly cattle! I don't think I have ever seen so many cows on the road before - and, oh, what a mess they were leaving behind them, everywhere! They were as stubborn about moving off the road as the three groups of Bighorn Sheep I came across during the day. I guess cows, too, like licking salt and other minerals off the road surface. So many people were out to go hiking and there were lots of cars parked in many places. On my return drive, I was not too impressed to see about a dozen cars lined up along the edge of the road - thinking 'hikers' and then suddenly thinking "bear?" As I drove past, I caught a glimpse of three brown shapes in the long grass. I did what I don't like doing - a U-turn and adding myself to the end of the line. My handful of highly zoomed photos were all taken through the windshield, turning them into green-tinted blurs. I have added three of them, just for the record. Not sure if I can rescue any others. I tried to read the blurry number on the pink ear tag, which may have shifted upside down, on her right ear. She was busy feeding in the long grass with her two cubs, totally oblivious of the audience. I didn't notice if many people were out of their cars - I know the female idiot (oops, I mean 'driver') of the car in front of me, got out and walked down the road in the direction of the bears, but I couldn't see where she disappeared to. Eventually, a Park ranger arrived and shooed the beautiful bear family into the trees. Such an unexpected sighting and thrill - definitely the highlight of my 440 km drive. If I am right, I think I had only ever seen two Grizzlies in Alberta in all these years - a female with one cub.

We came across this fungus late July, when several of us went to the U of C Open House, held near Barrier Lake, Kananaskis. I'm not sure if it's actually growing out of the log or if it is a "regular" mushroom that just happened to grow a little too close to the log. Don't think I've seen anything with this kind of pattern and texture anywhere else. Doug, have you seen anything the same or similar?

Not a very good shot, but this was the first and only time I have ever seen Bracted Honeysuckle and I couldn't find a very photgenic "flower" and fruit, LOL. We came across this shrub when we were walking between the edge of the wooded area and the sandy shore at Barrier Lake, Kananaskis. I thought the colour of the bracts (that look like petals) was such a beautiful deep shade of red. The actual flowers of this plant are yellow and tubular, but there were no flowers to be seen. There should be two of these shiny, purplish black berries, but only one was remaining. These berries are inedible and possibly poisonous.

Barrier Lake was our first stop on a beautiful drive through Kananaskis yesterday. Friends very kindly invited me to go with them for the day, as they needed to check out the Mt. Lorette area before the Golden Eagle migration takes place just a few minutes' drive away from this lake. We were lucky that a group of people were taking kayak lessons while we were there. After endless rain and grey-skied days (a whole summer of it!), we were so lucky to have a decent day yesterday. A healthy mix of sun and cloud went perfectly with the fall colours that suddenly seem to have appeared. Today, we are back to rain, and more rain in the forecast. Thanks, D and S for such a wonderful day! Barrier Lake is located approximately 80 km west of Calgary city limits, so takes about an hour to drive there. The Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre is located 6 km (3.6 miles) south of the Trans-Canada Highway, on Highway 40. If you ever get the chance, Highway 40 takes you on a spectacular scenic loop through Kananaskis!

Four of us spent the day in this area on 18th July - Barrier Lake, Kananaskis. It was the second day of the University of Calgary's Open House, and my tiny group spent part of the day botanizing the forested area along this part of the shore of the lake. Though you can't tell in this photo, the woods were a mass of wildflower colour, including many orange Western Wood Lilies and red Paintbrush. Such a beautiful, peaceful place. Afterwards, two of us went on a butterfly walk, led by Steve, who was spending the summer working at the centre. This was when the rain decided to arrive! Barrier Lake is located approximately 80 km west of Calgary city limits. The Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre is located 6 km (3.6 miles) south of the Trans-Canada Highway on Highway 40. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrier_Lake

Fireweed adds so much beautiful colour to wild places. Photographed this particular plant out in Kananaskis recently, when we botanized some forest along the edge of Barrier Lake. "Epilobium angustifolium, commonly known as Fireweed (mainly in North America) or Rosebay Willowherb (mainly in Britain), is a perennial herbaceous plant in the willowherb family, Onagraceae. It is native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, including large parts of the boreal forests.... It has a tendency to quickly colonize open areas with little competition, such as sites of forest fires and forest clearings." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilobium_angustifolium

I was lucky enough to be invited to go with three friends to the mountains in Kananaskis for the whole day today. The University of Calgary had a Biogeoscience Open House at their Field Station near Barrier Lake today. The weather was absolutely perfect, until we drove home and the sky blackened quickly. Had some hail in my area this evening. We viewed the various exhibits at the centre and thoroughly enjoyed (was it really THREE times?) the fresh fruit salad, pastries and coffee. Afterwards, we went for a botany walk in the area, including through the woods that edge Barrier Lake and the various plants were recorded. This butterfly or moth was seen at the edge of the woods along the edge of Barrier Lake. We'd love it if someone is able to suggest an ID!

I was lucky enough to be invited to go with three friends to the mountains in Kananaskis for the whole day today. The University of Calgary had a Biogeoscience Open House at their Field Station near Barrier Lake today. The weather was absolutely perfect, until we drove home and the sky blackened quickly. Had some hail in my area this evening. We viewed the various exhibits at the centre and thoroughly enjoyed (was it really THREE times?) the fresh fruit salad, pastries and coffee. Afterwards, we went for a botany walk in the area, including through the woods that edge Barrier Lake and the various plants were recorded. This Barn Swallow, perched on a roof, and many others were nesting under the eaves of the various buildings.

I was lucky enough to be invited to go with three friends to the mountains in Kananaskis for the whole day today. The University of Calgary had a Biogeoscience Open House at their Field Station near Barrier Lake today. The weather was absolutely perfect, until we drove home and the sky blackened quickly. Had some hail in my area this evening. We viewed the various exhibits at the centre and thoroughly enjoyed (was it really THREE times?) the fresh fruit salad, pastries and coffee. Afterwards, we went for a botany walk in the area, including through the woods that edge Barrier Lake and the various plants were recorded. This BLUE fungus was discovered there - we've never seen anything like it before! I used flash for this photo, which has emphasized a little too much the "fringing" around the edges. These fungi looked rather like small blue stones. We'd love it if someone is able to suggest an ID! Later: thanks so much for the ID, Doug! If you are correct (and to my untrained eye, it looks like Hydnellum caeruleum could be an accurate ID), then the following information will apply: "Hydnellum is a very interesting genus with very unusual fruiting bodies. At least you might consider them unusual if you're used to only looking at mushroom-like fruiting bodies. Hydnellum fruiting bodies are distinguished by their indeterminate growth habit (they can engulf twigs and leaves) and, to bear their basidiospores, they have teeth on the underside instead of gills or pores." From botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/aug2003.html . I remember it had grown around two blades of grass.

Today, 5th January 2008, I went on an outing to the Sibbald, Exshaw, Canmore and Harvie Heights areas in the mountains. There wasn't much snow to be seen until we got further into the mountains. This photo was taken at Barrier Lake. It was windy and cold - looked quite bleak, and the mist was rising and blowing from the frozen lake in the distance. I so rarely get to go to the mountains, so always appreciate any chance that I do get, at any time of year.

This lake is very near the Mt. Lorette area, where the Golden Eagle migration takes place. The weather was pretty grim on this particular day but it made for a different kind of photo.