Wednesday 10/10/2018 Powderface Creek – Prairie Creek Loop
Near Bragg Creek, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
This lovely loop follows two creeks on undulating terrain. It is located near Bragg Creek, Alberta. We parked at Elbow Falls carpark and it was a short walk to the start of the trail that follows Prairie Creek. There are good opportunities to see wildlife, varied terrain and vegetation. It is an excellent half day walk.
Saturday 20/10/2018 Mount Lady MacDonald
Banff National Park, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
This is a stunning and exhilarating day hike if the conditions are favourable. Be prepared for constant climbing uphill, steep at times, for five kilometres. This is a well frequented trail but is adjacent a wildlife corridor so the usual precautions including carrying bear spray are necessary.
Friday 19/10/2018 Peyto Lake
Banff National Park, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
The trailhead for this short but outstanding walk is at the Bow Summit car park, on the Icefields Parkway 42km north of Lake Louise.
Friday 19/10/2018 Wilcox Pass
Jasper National Park, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
The trailhead for this scenic walk is located near the Columbia Icefields 100km south of Jasper at the entrance to the Wilcox Creek Campground. On a clear day you can expect to see expansive views of the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields but be prepared to share the trail with wildlife including mountain sheep.
Thursday 18/10/2018 Valley of the Five Lakes
Jasper National Park, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
The trailhead for this pleasant half day walk is located along the Icefield Parkway 9km south of Jasper. There are five scenic lakes with views of the surrounding peaks, varied vegetation and wildlife encounters along the route.
Monday 8/10/2018 Chester Lake
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
This out and back forested trail leads to an alpine meadow and lake (Chester Lake) below Mount Chester. Wildlife encounters can include bears, birds and rabbits. This is a year round maintained trail which would be a pleasant cross country ski during the colder months. In sections the trail is segregated for skiers. It is accessed via the trailhead on the Smith Dorrien / Spray Lakes road.
Sunday 7/10/2018 Ptarmigan Cirque
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Kananaskis Country, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Beth Davies, Sue Davies (Report and Photos)
Ptarmigan Cirque trail leads to a high mountain bowl between Mount Arethusa and Mount Rae close to the Highwood Pass in Peter Lougheed Park near Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. The Ptarmigan Cirque hiking trail is a short loop in the cirque. Possible wildlife sighting may include deer, bears and mountain sheep. There are wonderful panoramic views for relatively little effort.
Saturday 11/8/2001 Mont Gros Morne
Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, CANADA
Participants: Bethany Davies, Paul Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
We awoke much later than planned to overcast conditions. Despite our best efforts we were still not on the trailhead until 11:40am. Boy, laden down again, a Lowe pack, Bronica medium format camera and three lenses, two Canon EOS cameras with two more lenses with the tripod and bumbags and 2L bottles full of water. It very hard going for the first 4km of gradual uphill climb, obviously too much wine last night. We stashed a 2L drink bottle at about the 4km mark. From here it was a very nice wander through the forest, and rapids lookout meandering uphill to the base of Mont Gros Morne. At it’s base the trails split near a couple of small tarns. The weather to this point has been cool but we were pretty warm owing to our exertions. Continue reading
14/07/2017 – 19/07/2017 Gran Paradiso
Gran Paradiso National Park, ITALY
Distance: 97km Total Ascent: 5,520m Total Descent: 4,800m
Time: 35 hours
Participants: Jenny Asquith, Hannah Brody, Mel Brody, Paul Brody, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (report), Erica Fantini (Guide), Karen Laverack, Simon Marlton
Gran Paradiso is Italy’s oldest national park. It includes numerous soaring peaks, massifs, glaciers, interconnected ridges and cols separated by deep tranquil valleys and rushing streams. Within the park the 4061m Gran Paradiso is the dominant peak but there are also sweeping panoramas beyond towards the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa. Closer up one an observe alpine meadows and ice-smoothed rock faces. We observed chamois, ibex and alpine marmots and many wildflowers.
Throughout the area there are many different signposted walking trails. Here we participated in our first ever guided walk, as we had decided to join a group of friends to explore this area of Alpine Italy.
Thursday 29/06/2017 Skjaggedal – Trolltunga
Odda District, NORWAY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This walk is accessed from the small town of Skjaggedal near Odda, south of Bergen. We reached this destination by hire car, driving from Tyssedal. A fee is payable at the private car park at the start of the walk.
Highlights of the walk include stunning lake views, the iconic “Troll’s Tongue” and high level mountain scenery. Continue reading
Sunday 25/6/2017 Homlong – Skagefla – Keipen – Geiranger
Geirangerfjord, NORWAY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
For this walk we based ourselves at the small town of Geiranger at the end of the Geiranger Fjord. We reached this destination from the Hurtigruten coastal ferry. Next day we took a short scenic cruise around Geirangerfjord before being dropped off at Skagehola on the way back to Geiranger. This drop-off enables walkers to walk back to Geiranger as a one way trip.
Highlights of the walk include the stunning fjord with plentiful waterfall views, several historic farm buildings and some awesome high level mountain scenery. Continue reading
Thursday 22/06/2017 Mount Ulriken – Mount Floyen
Bergen, NORWAY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This popular day walk is easily accessible by bus and gondola from Bergen. It is best to hike from Mt Ulriken as it is considerably higher than Mt Floyen. Another gondola at Mt Floyen allows for a quick and scenic ride back into downtown Bergen. Continue reading