This was a busy August 3rd, TransCanada highway, with a lot of people going places.

Today's hiking group.

Young lodgepole pine.

A transition point it seems. We are leaving the burnt out forest and entering the unaffected portion.

Passing through Canmore Alberta, one of the first towns ravaged by the flood waters that recked havoc throughout south-western Alberta.

The Vermilion River is our companion as it makes its way south-west towards the Pacific Ocean.

Washed up debris suggests the river did indeed overstep its boundaries.

As I look back and take a boo, the transition is quite remarkable.

Storm Mountain is flanked by the burnt out forests of Kootenay National Park.

Follow us. During normal circumstances, visitors would park and walk less than 1/2 km. to the Paint Pots. But because of a bridge wash out, this is our fate. And as fate would have it, this was worth the extra distance.

Vermilion River.

Towering Spires.

The burnt forest is behind us, but the colourful backdrop remains.

There is really no significance to this photo and the rest of our day, except this fellow kept following me around in the parking lot while I was preparing for our hike. As I was squatting to tie up my laces he passed under my knee, and so I figured, what the heck.

And so on they went. It took me a short time to catch up, but catch up I did.

Old, New, and not so Old.

I thought this mountain top was interesting because I was reminded somewhat of the spiked hair cut of a "this is me" teenager.

Let's go!

Fireweed is one of the first flowers to populate a burnt out area.