We didn’t do a whole lot of hiking this past summer – I ended up working most weekends and things just didn’t pan out as we had hoped. Our trip to Junction Hill in early June ended up being quite the adventure,* but the scenery was utterly worth it. I have never seen so many shooting stars (Dodecatheon conjugens) and calypso orchids (Calypso bulbosa) blooming in one place – it was simply breathtaking! This isn’t a popular hike by any stretch and so the area is largely undisturbed, allowing the wildflowers to blanket every inch of the ground on the lower slopes. In case you’re in Kananaskis Country and want to try this trek for yourself, be forewarned: this isn’t some little hillock that you can casually saunter up and back from. It’s a certifiable mountain with a highly inappropriate name.
So, this…found at the beginning of our hike. Not ominous, at all.
Wildflower bliss!
And one of the exceptional views from the summit….
Flowery Prose 
yikes! )
It was definitely an interesting (and often daunting!) experience!
Wowsah, but what a payoff at the end. Magnificent!
The scenery was breathtaking, the weather was fantastic, and despite the hardships, it was worth it!
Talk about a beautiful, colorful, orchid! The skull, yes, that would definitely be a bit daunting.
The orchids were stunning – I have never seen so many in one place and it was marvelous. The skull seemed really appropriate after we had finished the slog back to the vehicle…. 😉
Ahh yes, the Tick Hill hike. We learned a couple of valuable lessons on that one. The scenery was fantastic though
It was amazing and crazy and my toenails have finally grown back, YAY!
The orchids are magnificent.Great walk.
The wildflowers were stunning…carpets of them along the slopes. So beautiful.
Beautiful scenery and that wildflower is gorgeous.
It was a fabulous day for a hike, that’s for sure! I love that time of year in the mountains!
Fabulous! Wonderful views and amazing wildflowers, wish I could have been with you. 🙂
The wildflowers put on an incredible display in the early summer in the Rockies – I know you would love to see them!
I would, one day perhaps 🙂
Beautiful flowers and fantastic views!
A difficult hike but certainly worth every step! So much beauty up there!