The countdown to departure for the south continues - with agonizing sluggishness!

And last weeks warm temps have departed - in no uncertain terms, leaving us back in a deepfreeze, albeit a pretty one.

Much of the snowcover is now adorned by some huge surface hoar formations.
If not broken up by winds, or melted, this may become another critical layer in the snowpack once it is covered up by large accumulations of new snow. It may become the layer on which future avalanches slide.
Near Bow Lake, these 'sun dogs' are evidence of the cold.

sun·dog

A parhelion. A small halo or rainbow near the horizon just off the parhelic circle.

Num Ti Jah Lodge is ... Open!
More mountains along the Icefields Parkway



And along Highway 11, east of the park.

It was pretty, but cold.
Below is a photo of one of my summer time camp spots, along the shores of Abraham Lake.

Here is how the spot looked back in July. Which do you prefer?
Waterfowl Lake.

And, the boundary between Banff and Jasper National Parks along the Icefields Parkway.15 days, and counting down!