Purcell Mountains
518-5211-Crop-Cobalt-Lake-Vertical-2Cobalt Lake with the dramatic granite Brenta Spire in the background in Bugaboo Provincial Park
This vertical spire of granite rises 1000 metres (3000 ft) higher than than the surrounding glacier. The spire can be seen as you drive up the road heading into Bugaboo Provincial Park. The view in this image was taken from the ridge over Silver Basin.
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523-5274-Silent-Pass-Creek-CropThis little creek is surrounded by wildflower meadows in the high alpine of Silent Pass. This photograph is cropped to a wide narrow shape - suitable for mounting on a large wall.
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523-5310-Silent-PassSilent Pass is one of my favourite high alpine spots to hike to in August. I love the wildflowers, creeks, the midsize lake and glacier views in every direction. This view features the Spillimacheen Glacier.
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523-5331-Silent-Lakethis small lake is Silent-Lake in the high Purcell Mountains of Silent Pass.
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2170-Silent-Pass-Rock-WallsAlpine meadows and ancient Purcell Rock make this day hike to Silent Pass a favourite of mine. No large image
2572-2573-Silent-Pass-Flowers-by-CreekCreeks tumble off the highest areas of the mountains are often surrounded by many species of wildflowers. This is alpine fireweed.
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8736-Summits-along-Templeton-TrailA dusting of new snow fall in summer edged these black peaks with white. Along the Templeton Lake Trail.
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1134-Welsh-Lake-CropWelsh Lakes is a rugged group of 4 high Purcell Mountain Lakes. A trail goes only to the lower lake, but experienced hikers can reach the other 3 turquoise lakes. Glaciers recently left the region and the eastern slopes see frequent rock-falls.
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184_8443-Silver-Basin-South-RidgeSilver Basin is a notch on a massive sidehill within the area known as the Bugaboos. This photograph was taken at sunset from the highest tarn of the basin.
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196_9636-Silver-BasinWildflowers grow in abundance in the beautiful Silver Basin, but the biting bugs also love the area in August, hampering my concentration when creating wildflower photographs.
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230-3091-Lake-of-the-Hanging-Glacier This large alpine lake is a popular destination for its grand scale and scenery. Icebergs often calve from the glacier and float on blue/green coloured water to the outlet where the hiking trail offers a close-up view.
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230-3052-Lake-of-the-Hanging-GlacierAlpine Larch trees change their needles every year. So in autumn the needles turn a bright golden yellow in preparation for winter. Against newly fallen snow and blue sky, the view is truly impressive.
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155-5570-Fireweed-in-RockHigh on the ridge of Silver Basin overlooking the Bugaboo Spires is a smooth rock slope. By locating some growing flowers that would highlight the smooth face makes for a pleasing image.
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1748-Hounds-Tooth-Spire In the Bugaboo Provincial Park early morning light on the 1000 metre spires rising from the Bugaboo Glacier.
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283-2857-Lower-Welsh-LakeThe beautiful turquoise translucent water of Lower Welsh Lake is due to the way light hits the particles of glacial rock powder suspended in the sub-alpine lake.
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315-3168-Southern-Brewer-Tarn-Crop. Upper Brewer Creek Tarns are a group of small tarns in the Purcell Mountains that are hiking accessible and picturesque throughout summer and autumn.
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267-2757-Water-TrickleMany alpine creeks tumble into meadows all through the high Purcells.
The creeks sustain a huge variety of wildflowers in these alpine meadows.
280-2841-Forster-Creek-PaintbrushThe Forster Creek races down from the Catamount Glacier.
Indian Paintbrush flowers grow along the damp rocky shores.
1785-Seed-Head The seed heads of the Western Pasque Flower. These bloom as soon as the snow leaves the alpine and it takes them all summer to ripen their funky looking seeds.
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2208-Silent-Pass-Alpine-Fireweed Close up with a Fireweed Flower
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2236-Silent-Pass-Paintbrush--no-bugs These plants are really colourful leaves and the true flower is a tiny green thing at the top of the leaves.
I digitally removed the little alpine aphids that were clinging to the fuzzy leaves.
More Columbia Mountains West Kootenay
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161-6200-Fisher and Full Moon mid winter Alpenglow. 
595-5961-Fisher Peak Winter Crop-3-Orange-Sky. 
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2154-Mist-by-Cottonwood The mist one early autumn morning was rising above Little Slocan Lake.
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2121-Gwilliam-Lakes-Big-Rock-GraniteGwillam Lake in Valhalla Provincial Park is a sub alpine basin dotted with many shallow tarns in the high mountains of the Selkirks.
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Website design and photography © by Janice Strong
gallery design © Stu Nicholls
