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This past October, our Mountain Vacation was spent travelling between the Purcel and Rocky Mountain range region. We encountered plenty of deer, grazing along the highway, especially just at nightfall. We left the laptop behind because its nice to have a break from technology, simply to soak in the beauty of the rockies, enjoy the peace and quiet. A family of mallard ducks and at least five white tail deer paid us a visit, stopping right at our door (our rental unit was a terrace ground floor unit and close to the Columbia River). There were sightings of a black bear (sow and cubs) not far away.) Mountain writer Ashley Wong writing in Where magazine, tells us...."Grizzly bears are more plentiful than black bears and prefer a back country wilderness of sub alpine forest but wander occasionally from their elevated domicles to munch on roadside vegetation...." and Wong goes on to tell us..."Bear sightings are most common in spring, especially beside the Kootenay Parkway (highway 93) south to Radium, B.C. and best times to spot bears are afternoon and early evening. A study in 2010 notes approx. 691 grizzlies still roam the foothills and mountains in B.C. (Canada).
There was a light dusting of snow this October and probably more at higher elevations. But here in the Columbia valley, the golf course still green and the Kokanee Salmon making the final trip in the Columbia River. Perhaps it was this majestic beauty of the rockies that brought actress Marilyn Monroe up to Canada some years ago. And the same mountains continue to captivate and inspire those that take the time to make a mountain journey...
And as the mountains turn white we pack our car and prepare for our journey back to our prairie home....and turn to give the mountains one last friendly wave, as though waving to a friend...