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  PARNASSIAN LARVA
  Now that it's nearly full-grown (~2.5cm long), this larva will pupate soon. Parnassian larvae spend most of their time eating Stonecrop, choosing the tender central leaves wherever possible. Once the larva has found a suitable hiding place under a rock, pupation takes around 3 weeks to complete.
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  AMERICAN PIKA
  Chosen as the second cutest animal in a recent WWF survey (after the Polar Bear--though good luck getting this close to one of those), Pikas live on alpine talus slopes and spend most of their time gathering grass to sustain them through the winter. You can hear their characteristic squeaking call near most rocky slopes in the alpine.
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  FLY ON FLEABANE
  A fly sipping nectar from an Alpine Fleabane. I'm not sure what species of fly this is; there are two species that look essentially the same, but one bites and the other doesn't. Fleabanes of one kind or another are quite common, but the Alpine Fleabane is fairly rare.
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  BIGHORN SHEEP
  We ran across this small herd while hiking at Pocaterra Cirque. Bighorns are fairly common on steep alpine slopes across the Rockies, grazing on grasses and small shrubs. Young are born in May after a 6-month winter gestation period, but it takes several years for the males to develop their characteristic horns.
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  SWALLOWTAIL
  This is a Canadian Tiger Swallowtail, one of the largest and most striking of the butterflies found in the Rockies. The larvae eat leaves from trees of the poplar family, so the adults are generally found within striking distance of those species. This one is resting on a Lodgepole pine bough just long enough for me to take its picture.
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  MATING
  Male Parnassians usually hatch out just before females and patrol for mates, so females are mated almost immediately after emerging. Females (left) have slightly darker wings with more red on them than males. Before they separate, the male will deposit a 'shield' on the female (called a Sphragis), which blocks other males from mating with her.
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  MT. INDEFATIGABLE
  This is near the summit, with the Kananaskis lakes far below. The hike takes you through 1000 vertical meters of forest, meadow and talus on the way up--perhaps not quite as daunting as the name suggests, but a workout nonetheless. Highly recommended, and one of the best views in Kananaskis.
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  CABIN LAMP
  The venerable lamp in my living room, for no particular reason. I thought it looked neat.
  
  (The incandescent light bulb is more than 200 years old--who knew?)
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  MALE PARNASSIAN
  This is a male Parnassian looking awkward. When newly hatched, Parnassians of both sexes smell like Doritos nacho-cheese chips, but the smell dies down as they age. They live for 2-3 weeks only, with the females slightly outlasting the males, probably because they spend more time hiding in the grass trying not to be jumped on by males.
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  DARNER
  This is a Darner dragonfly of some sort; I suspect it's a Variable Darner. Regardless, it's a highly agile aerial predator, and we can thank it and its kind for keeping the worst of the summer mosquitos in check. I've seen these pick off the odd butterfly as well. Perhaps it was digesting when I caught up with it.
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  KOOTENAY SUNRISE
  Sunrise in Kootenay National Park, near Marble Canyon. There's something more wild and remote feeling about Kootenay park that I can't quite put my finger on. The remains of the 2003 Tokumm-Verendrye fire used to add to the effect, but now the rebirth of life in the area highlights a more approachable side.
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  FIREWEED
  Fireweed in August lends a colourful splash to the hillsides. This is the standard version, but there's another, smaller species called broad-leaved willow herb that's also very pretty. Both species grow quickly and are at home in disturbed enviroments where other plants languish. Young fireweed shoots are edible in a pinch.