Elk Mountain hike

[vilnoori]

Well I got my butt out of the chair this last weekend and went up Elk Mountain. I know it is a very popular hike and has lots of people on it all the time, but still, there is next to no activity at night and ther'd be lots of yummy garbage hanging around.

Basically there was almost nothing. Up near the tree line there are a few twisted young trees but they could have been done by the wind, which I imagine is considerable up there. I saw no likely footprints in the snow, except for a few cougar tracks (other than dog, deer and people). Other than a few deer and birds there was almost no animals at all in that spot, and very little vegetation in the upper part of the forest. It is really barren for a West Coast forest. And I can't really blame the people, because for the most part they stick to the trail. It must just be a dry area or something.

[Deleted]

hey vilnoori! good to hear! even though we get off our arses and head out in the field and find nothing more then the regular suspect's tracks, it's still good for the heart and soul, no doubt! Lions, sasquatches and bears oh my! I finally have my pick up and went out last sunday, not much either, startled a coyote who was sleeping, later found more coyote tracks, lots of deer tracks, some deer tree rubs and fur, we flushed some grouse out, came across a raven and a red tailed hawk! pretty cool for this all being within the city's river valley! Heading back out tomorrow further out of town, not sure which direction? if we go east were going to Elk National park hiking trails and if west going around my in-laws cottage, both areas and within the areas have had reports in the past of sightings or prints found so!? hoping the weather is better then last week! keep us up to date!!

[Deleted]

Elk Island was awesome! the 11 kms hike was tiring! little signs of human activity on the trail we picked! saw bison, elk, deer, squirrels, musk rat, snow geese, canada geese, almost walked right by a moose but my predator eyes caught it's outline in the bush! but nothing squatch related. I got lots on video on my youtube account.

[cherni]

Pardon my ignorance, but where's Elk Island?

[Deleted]

Elk Island National Park is located approximately one hour from Edmonton city centre, via Highway 16 East (Yellowhead).

www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland/visit/visit9b_e.asp

[Deleted]

and when I said the area East of Edmonton I was more or less refering to the WCSRO's 2005 Myrnam sighting report of the squatch under the bridge wading in the north sasketchewan river. www.freewebs.com/casr/Reports-AB2/Mrynam2005.htm not as close as I believed but uh! close enough for me!

[vilnoori]

I'll probably be going up again soon. Be interesting to see the difference in seasons up there.

(edit to add) Oh, and of course, it's mushroom time! ;D

[vilnoori]

Went up Elk Mountain again yesterday. It was considerably warmer this time. I photographed the tree twist and got a few more pictures. You could hear brush moving and see glimpses of things moving just on the periphery of your view, and I did hear a hoot just once. Odds are it was a freak owl in the day time and deer, but who knows. There was a bit of a spooky feeling a few times during the hike. At the top there was a pile of puke with a lot of grass in it, probably bear.

Hikers we met told us that there was a guy they passed on their way up who comes up with a tarp at 3 AM and lies under it to watch the bears, and they are all around him in the early daylight hours. Man, that guy, whoever he is has some cahones to do that.

So here are some pictures. First, the twist, then a few of the forest and view.

[vilnoori]

oops, missed one,

[Deleted]

Nice shots. Appreciate the look along I'm still aiming my boots in that direction. Haven't been up there in years.