Kananaskis Village to Longview AB

Another day of stunning views, starting just a few pedal strokes from our hotel in Kananaskis Village.

A chilly 2 degrees Celsius (36 F), but the morning sun made it feel warmer. Over 16 hours of daylight this time of year at this latitude – 5:30 sunrises and 10pm sunsets – so the jagged peaks are heavily bathed in sunshine.

A wonderful roll along the Evan Thomas bikeway took me to a small oasis called Wedge Pond, where Jax launched a paddle board. Absolutely pristine.

The pond gets its name from the wedge-shaped behemoth that casts winter shadows over the water. In summer, the shimmering pond reflects the surrounding splendor.

Down the road, more beauty and wildlife awaited us at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Our planned rendezvous at Lower Kananaskis Lake was waylaid by a bear closure… a Mom and cubs apparently decided to take over. Bears are quite active in these parts, and the local ranger encouraged me to equip my ride with bear spray, just in case. Thankfully, no bear sightings, at least not yet.

Today’s adventure wrapped up in a foothills town called Longview, where we enjoyed dinner at the local saloon. Good food and cold beer. In a small town like this, apparently massage therapy doubles as live entertainment.