This location in the Canadian Rocky Mountains was near my home. I lived down in the valley in the background of this scene. I hiked in this area often – a couple of the hikes were solo, including the first time. Hiking solo in the mountains can be exhilarating while at the same time can feel foreboding. I recall the feeling of approaching the top of the ridge after hiking straight up through the trees to the saddle of the skyline. The feeling when you are about to look over the edge to the other side of the mountain when you don’t know what the view will be is one that has to be experienced to understand. This time, I didn’t know what I’d see. In my mind I listed the possible options, such as a sheer bottomless cliff to nowhere, or a grizzly with a kill. When I carefully peeked over the edge, I saw a scene that resembled a gently landscaped golf course with meadows, groves of trees, water features, and wildflowers. Such a relief that it wasn’t the grizzly bear option.

Another time, I went solo to the top of a peak in this area, I remember frightening myself when the nuts I had put in my backpack rolled around in the container I had put them in. My mind interpreted the sound to be the sound of a growling bear that was following me up the mountain. It took a bit for my heart rate to go down, I admit.

I camped at a hanging jewel lake in one of the mountain bowls in this area with a couple of my brothers. When we reached the lake, we found grizzly bear tracks, and a pile of scat beside the only piece of ground suitable to set up our tent. My brothers slept well in the tent. I stayed bear aware all night.

The first thing usually seen when going up here are the herds of mountain goats. This is their domain, and is their lofty refuge.