Category Archives: Hiking

Catwalks, Cascades, and Canyons

Posted on 10/09/2026 by Jens

Johnston Canyon, not to be confused with Johnson Lake, is famous for its dramatic limestone canyon, turquoise creek, and cascading waterfalls. It has narrow steel walkways that are bolted into the canyon walls. If you continue beyond the Upper Falls you come to The Ink Pots which are small, cold mineral springs with blue-green hues. It’s about 5.8 km one way to The Ink Pots. The trailhead is about 25 km from Banff. The trail is very busy in the summer, so the best time to go is early in the morning because there is less people on the narrow walkways. Johnston Canyon is a very popular natural attraction in Banff National Park.

Posted in Alberta, Colour, Hiking, Holidays, Inspiring, Mountains, Summer, Travel, Waterfalls | Leave a comment

The Most Visited Lake in Canada

Posted on 09/27/2026 by Jens

This video is about solo hiking at Lake Louise in Banff National Park Alberta, Canada. The lake is framed by massive mountains, evergreen forests, and steep rocky cliffs. As I hiked I photographed hanging glaciers, Hoary marmots, and a Pika. Meltwater from the glaciers carries fine rock flour into the lake, which scatters sunlight and creates the iconic, glowing blue-green colour.

Posted in Alberta, Colour, Hiking, Historical, Inspiring, Mountains, Summer, Travel, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Jasper National Park

Posted on 09/21/2026 by Jens

I recently spent a week camping and hiking in Jasper National Park which was a great experience. I was disappointed at how little wildlife there was in the national park. If you are ever in Jasper I would recommend Otto’s Cache Provisions + Cafe for breakfast. I really liked the food and the vibe. If you have time please watch my video. All shooting, editing, and the selection of music has been done by me. Comments are always welcome.

Posted in Alberta, Birds, Colour, Hiking, Inspiring, Mountains, Science, Summer, Travel, Waterfalls, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Quarry Rock Hike

Posted on 07/28/2026 by Jens

A beautiful day to spend some time in the forest. I went early to avoid the crowds and parking hassles. All filming, editing, and drone work has been done by me. There is music and you can click on the lower right hand corner to see the video full screen.

Posted in British Columbia, Drone, Hiking, Summer, Travel, West Coast | Leave a comment

The Black Tusk

Posted on 10/05/2025 by Jens

One of the best known mountains in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains. It’s considered to be the remnant of an extinct andesitic stratovolcano which formed between 1.1 and 1.3 million years ago. To the Squamish people it’s T’ákt’akmúten tl’a Ín7inyáx̱a7en which means ‘Landing Place of the Thunderbird’. The jagged shape of the mountain and its black colouring are said to come from the Thunderbird’s lightning. In my photo, just to the left of the mountain you can see the rock formation the ‘Bishop’s Mitre’ which is a challenging and technical climb. Click on either photo to see a larger version.

Posted in Autumn, British Columbia, Hiking, Inspiring, Mountains, Science, Travel, West Coast | Leave a comment

The War of the Worlds

Posted on 02/16/2025 by Jens

When we have some prolonged cold weather and the temperature dips below zero at night I like to photograph frozen waterfalls. The ice formations in my photos remind me of the Martian fighting-machines used in H.G. Wells’ 1898 classic science fiction novel The War of the Worlds. They are also known as tripods and are the main war machines used by the Martians in their attempt to conquer Earth. They are fast moving three legged walkers that have whip-like tentacles used for grasping. Click on any one of the polaroid images to see a larger version. Comments are always welcome.

Posted in British Columbia, Hiking, Mountains, Travel, Waterfalls, West Coast, Winter | Leave a comment

Mount Slesse Sunrise

Posted on 12/24/2024 by Jens

This mountain which is 8,002 feet high is located in the Cascade mountains just north of the US-Canada border. The name means ‘fang’ in the Halkomelem language and it was first climbed in 1927. However, it’s most famous for its Northeast Buttress which was climbed in 1963.

On December 9, 1956, Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810 on a scheduled flight from Vancouver to Calgary encountered severe icing and turbulence. The pilots climbed to 19,200 feet and then they experienced a fire warning indication light in engine number two. They contacted Vancouver Air Traffic Control and requested a flight path that would return them to the Vancouver airport. Instead of turning left they turned right into the mountains. The Canadair North Star plane crashed on the upper slopes of the mountain, killing all 62 people on board. Among the victims were five professional Canadian football players on their way home from the annual Shrine Game between the East and West all-stars in Vancouver. At the time, it was one of the deadliest airline crashes. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Posted in British Columbia, Colour, Hiking, Historical, Mountains, West Coast, Winter | Leave a comment

A Tale of Two Tea Houses

Posted on 08/03/2022 by Jens

In early July I did some hiking in the Lake Louise area. I started at the Chateau Lake Louise and hiked up to Mirror Lake, then Lake Agnes, and its European-styled tea house. There were too many people so I didn’t stop and hiked around Lake Agnes to the switchbacks that lead to the top of the Big Beehive. Here you’re rewarded with a stunning panorama of Lake Louise. From there I descended on the Highline trail which had lots of big rocks, roots, and stumps. I was glad I had my hiking poles. Eventually you join the Plain of Six Glaciers trail which leads to another tea house. I pressed on to the Plain of Six Glaciers viewpoint and ate my lunch underneath the hanging glacier of Mount Victoria. What a great day. Click on any photo in the gallery to see a larger version.

Lake Louise and Fairview Mountain ( 2744 m ) seen from the top of the Big Beehive. To the right is Haddo Peak ( 3070 m ) and Mount Aberdeen ( 3152 m ). As glaciers shrink the brilliant blues of mountain lakes is changing.

Mount Aberdeen and Mount Lefroy. In between the two mountains is the Lefroy glacier.

Hiking up the switchbacks to the Big Beehive. Looking down on Lake Agnes and some beautiful Larch trees.

The Mitre ( 2850 m ) and Lefroy glacier. The mountain was named in 1893 by Samuel E.S. Allen because it resembles a Bishop's mitre, which is a tall headdress.

Posted in Alberta, Hiking, Mountains, Summer, Travel | Leave a comment

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park

Posted on 08/13/2021 by Jens

Joffre Lakes is a beautiful hike that passes three lakes with turquoise blue water. The colour is caused by ‘rockflour’ or glacial silt that is suspended in the water and reflects blue and green wavelengths of sunlight. At the upper lake you get an impressive view of the Matier glacier and Slalok mountain which is 8704 feet high. Hikers need to obtain a day use pass and will be turned away if they don’t have one. Click on each of the photos below to see a larger version. If you click on the square in the top right hand corner of the image, the photo is displayed on a dark black background.

Posted in British Columbia, Hiking, Inspiring, Mountains, Summer, Waterfalls, West Coast | Leave a comment

The Granite Monolith

Posted on 08/06/2021 by Jens

Today I hiked to the top of the 2nd Peak of the Stawamus Chief in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. All hikers must obtain a day use pass, which is an attempt by BC Parks to manage visitation levels in the more popular parks. The granite cliffs are world famous for their climbing and also a nesting area for Peregrine Falcons. After climbing a steep trail, chains and a ladder, which felt like two hours on a StairMaster, I was rewarded with incredible views of Howe Sound, the Squamish area, and Garibaldi Provincial Park. I shared my lunch with a chipmunk and a Steller’s Jay. On the top of the peak pine trees grow on the granite and it’s a very fragile ecosystem. Due to the fact that we’ve received very little rainfall for the last forty days the pine trees didn’t look very healthy. Thankfully, there is some rain in the weather forecast for this weekend. Click on a photo in the gallery to see a larger version.