JoAnne Burek

How well we’re adapting to this cooler weather! On a day so gloomy that we could have been tempted to stay indoors, fourteen people instead came to hike in the Blackfoot Recreational Area. Our trail head was the Islet Lake Staging Area, and our lunch stop was in the Lost Lake Shelter.

The grasses have died back and fallen over, and the leaves have fallen off the trees. The rosehips and highbush cranberries will hang on for months to come. The water is not yet frozen. Under grey skies, it’s a moody scene. But to fourteen hikers, engaged in conversation, camaraderie, and exercise, it’s a refreshing and rejuvenating change of pace. We’re looking forward to doing more of this every Sunday.

You can see more photos from the hike on Flickr.

When people talk about a blue October sky, you can picture exactly what they mean. The sun never climbs to the zenith, but casts long shadows even at mid-day. The rays are golden, giving the sky a distinctive, intense hue that complements the fields of straw, the bare grey tree trunks, and the forests of dark green spruce.

Thirteen of us came out to enjoy the fine weather and sun. When we got up to the meadow on the tableland, we spotted a deer high-tailing into the bush.

After lunch we visited the monument to Peter Fidler, the explorer and map maker. This is one of four monuments in Canada.

On the way back, we decided to take full advantage of the day by taking a relaxing and refreshing break at the pond.

Finally we carried on through the forest that we visited in July, this time without mosquitoes.

You can see more pictures like these on Flickr.