Back Road Scenery at Wells Gray Provincial Park

While at Wells Gray, we explored some of the back roads in the area.  This provincial park is really huge, altho one couldn’t really get around to all of it unless we would do some serious back country hiking. We did some good exploring, tho, in the Jeep.  Beautiful views – take a look…..

 

Just as we turned on the back road, we startled a black bear that was on the side of the road.  He started running/lumbering off, but then stopped to look back and check us out.  Take a look at his face – I think he might have been deciding whether or not to turn and stand his ground.  Thank goodness he decided not to take us on and continued on his way back into the woods.

 

The first time I saw the snow-capped mountain tops as we approached this area, I told Jeff that I felt like we were really getting into the “up north” area where we’ll be spending most of this trip.  I found it very exciting!  This was one of the first times we could see the snow-capped mountains on this little back road, and we also noticed another waterfall much higher up the mountain (not in this image).  We absolutely couldn’t get to that waterfall, so I wasn’t able to get any really good images of it (darn!).

 

I stood looking at the water rushing over these rocks for a minute or two before I took this image.  I thought of all those “river rocks” people have around their yards, making up retaining walls or even fireplace walls, and thought about this being the “factory” where they are naturally made!

 

As we walked along a trail, I looked up and it appeared that we were level with the clouds and mountain tops in the distance.  I know we really weren’t, but it was such a nice thought – to feel like we were so far away from civilization.

Here’s another view from the trail, this time with Jeff & Miki walking in front of me.  Again, such a lovely walk under the blue sky up here in the clouds!

Enjoy!

Flowers along the back road at Wells Gray Provincial Park

There were all sorts of wildflowers in bloom in the park.  It was really just the time when the spring wildflowers were starting to bloom, even tho it was summer per the calendar.  In fact, up in the flower meadows at the higher elevations, we were told the spring wildflowers weren’t blooming yet because the meadows were still under snow!  You know you’re up high and up north when someone is telling you that in the latter part of June!

 

I believe these are marsh marigolds, and we saw them on a trail that would lead up to a flower meadow (altho we couldn’t quite reach the meadow).  When I saw these flowers, I had to chuckle because they reminded me of another photo expedition I was on a number of years ago with a dear friend.  These flowers are called marsh marigolds because they grow in the wet, marshy ground.  During the photo expedition, I was quite pleased that the boots I had waterproofed were holding up so well.  I was slogging along in the marsh, and I was totally dry!  I had just commented on that when I saw some marsh marigolds and, clearly without thinking, I dropped to my knees to get up close to photograph them!  Needless to say, that was a time I proved I was a natural blonde!!  LOL!  (I’m wiser now, tho – stayed out of the marsh and let my zoom lens do the getting up close part.)

 

I love the simplicity of this image.  As we walked along, I noticed some bushes and shrubs were just starting to bud, and captured this image of a bud. 

 

This is what some photographers refer to as an intimate landscape.  It’s up close and personal to a piece of nature that just happened to be there.  I didn’t rearrange anything, just captured the perfect positioning!

 

These Indian Paintbrush flowers were just blooming like mad along the roadsides!  I couldn’t help but think how wonderful it was that no one was doing any mowing along these back roads.

 

I have no idea what these orange/yellow blooms are, but I thought they were very interesting in that they seem to bloom upside down!

Enjoy!

Dawson Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park

Another waterfall at Wells Gary Provincial Park is Dawson Falls.  There’s also a cool view of a bridge that we crossed on the way to and from these falls.  Take a look……

 

 

As we drove up the road to Helmcken Falls, we crossed over Bailey Bridge and what’s called the Mush Bowl.  From the look of this image, you can see why!  I purposefully used a slower shutter speed so that you get the feel of how fast the water was rushing down the river into the Mush Bowl!

 

Here’s another view of the Bailey Bridge from the path toward Dawson Falls.  Altho it was very sturdy, from this view, it has a sort of rustic look to it that I really like.  I’m including this image so you can see how the water really does sort of mush together right at this point!

 

After a short walk, here’s Dawson Falls!  It’s incredibly beautiful and wide – and the water is rushing over it at such a fast pace……definitely wouldn’t want to accidentally fall into it!

On the walk to and from the falls, we’re in such a pretty forest, I couldn’t help but stop and take a photo.  I just love the green of the forest and the calmness of the woods.  Altho the area is known for having bears, we didn’t see any.  However, can’t you imagine one looking at you thru this slice of nature?

 

And, look down for some tiny treasures!  As we walked the forest path, I saw these adorable little white flowers set in the deep green leaves.  I really liked them, especially set next to this downed birch tree branch.  An intimate little landscape!

Enjoy!