It is just past the equinox and the yellow colours in Alberta are perfect in at least a narrow band--the larches in the high subalpine, as reported by several RMRA trips, and the aspen in the foothills and lower Kananaskis valley. We went to Barrier Lake, where the aspens are just perfect, and got to see the mountains reflected on glassy water for a few minutes before the breeze ruffled the surface.

Perfect yellow aspens and glassy Barrier Lake

Looking north across Barrier Lake from "east hill"

The official trail up the "east hill" was beautiful, but the rough, informal trail up the "west hill" we found to not be worth the effort.

The "east hill" and "west hill" above Barrier Lake

We walked the official trail from the upper parking lot of the Barrier Lake picnic area to the lower lots, and tried to do a purported "loop" up a sandy ridge and down to a "beach." The trail was very sketchy and the route down looked extremely steep and loose, so we turned back there. The view from the west shows that the shore is actually a very steep slope of sand and gravel, and to walk it would prove annoying, unless you really like side hill gouging with sand-filled boots.


(not) a beach on the east shore of Barrier Lake

Participants: Carl,coordinator and scribe, Carmie,Margo,George.