Muleshoe Trek

Back in July I made the trek up the Muleshoe Trail, located in Banff NP just west of the Town of Banff. My experience was chronicled in a blog I posted on July 3… https://www.shotsbypeter.com/blog/?p=11793. 

I was very impressed with the photographic opportunities and planned to return this fall to capture the sights in their autumn splendour. I realized that there is a large aspen grove at the base of the trail and as anticipated it’s aglow with the golden hues of autumn.

I was accompanied on this visit by Tracey Wilkens, a friend of ours who’s an avid hiker, an enthusiastic photographer and an enduring supporter of my photographic efforts.

My first photograph for today is an overview of the Muleshoe area, taken near the peak of our ascent. In the background, is the Massive Range and directly below is the Bow River.

My next photograph was taken from the trail on the way up to the apex of our hike. This shot offers a good sense of the aspens’ vibrant colour.

This area was the object of a controlled burn in 1993. The remnants are strewn about the landscape, amidst the new growth that has prospered in the intervening 25 years since the burn.

The burnt areas surprisingly make good photo subjects. I’m always drawn to scenes like the following, perhaps due to the contrast of the destroyed and the emergent. It’s most often a natural process, a process that has existed since the beginning of forests. Lightning ignites a blaze, fuelled by the trees and surrounding deadfall. In the years that follow, nutrients from the ash promote new growth and the forest is rejuvenated.

Our travels took us to an area looking west, along the Bow Valley. This scene again shows the Massive Range, with Pilot Mountain at the far end.

This last shot was taken from a ridge that provides a number of excellent photographic scenes. One such view is eastward along a trail in the direction of Mount Cory. That’s Tracey checking out some more photo locations.

Another panoramic view, this one taken on our descent. I’m amazed at the expanse of the alpine meadow we visited and breadth of the view available from there.

My last photograph features a scene that caught my attention on our way down to the trailhead. It’s intriguing, the fan-like layout of the fallen tree trunks. The photo also serves again, as an example of the forest’s re-emergence following the 1993 burn. 

It was a good day. I’m pleased I had the opportunity to capture the autumn colours in this magnificent  area of Banff National Park.