Grassi Lake; Such A Beauty

It was my first hiking of the season, unlike last year when I started at Mount Norquay, this year I started at Grassi Lake. The trail, even though a short, leisurely one had options to take the "easy" trail or the "more difficult" trail. Due to the people with me, we chose the easy one and what a beauty!

Nature unspoiled, fresh smell of grass, the combined sounds of the forest, birds chirping, insects buzzing, waterfalls splashing in the near distance; all gave a sense of freedom you can only find when standing in the daunting presence of nature.

Emeka, At The Top of Grassi Lake, Canmore

See more pictures after the cut

Such a fine day for my first hiking of the season. By the time we arrived the car park at the lower end of the lake, it was like a race-track. A sea of every kind of transportation vehicle imaginable, monster trucks, minis, souped up beamers and jeep wranglers, recreational vehicles that can best be described as luxury homes on wheels to an assortment of mountain bikes, mounted on family vehicles and roller skates.

Some Excited  Hikers At The Top of Grassi Lake Trail

When we set out, it was like going hiking in a carnival, multi-coloured active wears were on display. Families, from grandparents to toddlers on reinforced strollers were all trying to make it to the top of the trail. Within a few minutes, the ladies in our group had dropped behind, panting for breathe, LOL.

I met Ray for the first time, a guy who migrated from Guyana and married to one of my colleagues from the office. He was very talkative and jovial in his sing song voice, sounding like a cross between bob Marley and Peter Tosh, I immediately liked him.

Ray, In Dark Sunglasses

We continued walking with Ray throwing in one anecdote or another, cracking me up. Suddenly, the rush of water increased in tempo and it was like we were approaching Kainji Dam. I strained my eyes to see but the forest was thick with pines and evergreens. Looking down as we climbed was like looking from the edge of the cliff, because it was the edge of the cliff!

The Waterfall

Beautiful Vista At The Edge

When we finally crested the top of the hill to mark our arrival at the top of Grassi Lake, it was exhilarating! The water was so blue it looked like the sky was poured into the lake. So pure, it was tempting to jump in and this was on top of the hill!

Amazingly Blue Grassi Lake

Some girls could not resist deeping into the cold water of the lake. Across from where we arrived, on the other side of the lake was a solid rock wall. As is normal. where there is rock, there will be rock climbers and it was stomach churning to see these men and women climbing a seemingly impossible wall but they did climb it with their gear and it was awesome.

I went over but my liver failed me, so I consoled myself with going into the mouth of a cave that may well be a bear's bedroom in winter. That was my Saturday, folks!

At The Mouth Of The Cave