It was a pleasant day at Bow Valley Provincial Park, especially out of the wind. We started off cross country and managed to get in some bushwacking practice over the esker terrain, with occasional snow drifts to negotiate. We managed to find the paved pathway which still had snow along a lot of it. Down by the river pathway it was alternately bare earth or icy, but no one felt the need to put on traction devices. A few waterfowl were spotted, mostly goldeneyes plus a few Canada geese. We chose to stop in the campground for lunch where there was a fine sheltered spot in the sun:


Lunch by the Bow: Ursula, Joyce, Francisco, Aldis, Laszlo & Pat

This turned out to be a good decision as further along where the road comes down to the Bow it was quite chilly in the wind from the snowy mountains to the west:


Along the windy Bow, Bow Valley Provincial Park

We continued along sometimes icy trails to Many Springs which had melted off (and had a few buffleheads), whereas Middle Lake further along was still frozen. Then it was an enjoyable sunny walk back to the cars along the paved, but often snowy path. We did eyeball the surrounding peaks and it looks like it will be a while before there will be snow-free travel up them, although most of what we could see were north & east exposures.

Thanks to Ursula, Joyce, Francisco, Aldis, Laszlo & Pat for accompanying me, Ron, C/S/P.