Johnston Canyon

Taken on 11 September 2013, when two friends and I went to Johnston Canyon in search of mosses lichens and liverworts - and anything else of interest and/or beauty! "The trail to the waterfalls of Johnston Canyon has to be the busiest in the Canadian Rockies. Nearly every day throughout the summer, hundreds of hikers follow its canyon-clinging catwalks and cliff-mounting staircases to the gorge’s Lower and Upper Falls. While the canyon and its unique trail are certainly worthy of a visit, you’ll have to do the hike in the evening or very early in the morning to avoid the hordes. The trail begins immediately behind Johnston Canyon Lodge. After a short climb through the forest, it descends and stays close to Johnston Creek all the way to Lower Falls. Along the way you pass over sturdy iron catwalks attached beneath overhanging canyon walls, where the turbulent waters of the creek flow beneath your feet. Lower Falls is reached at km 1.1. A bridge across the creek serves as a viewpoint for the thundering cataract, and a short tunnel through the canyon bedrock allows passage to an even more intimate vantage point (albeit a wet one)." banff.ca/?nid=648

Friends and I saw this teeny, blue Slime Mold (I'm pretty sure that's what this is), when we were walking the trail up to the Lower Falls at Johnston Canyon, Banff National Park. Wish they had all been lined up in rows to make a more photogenic shot : ) However, sometimes photos are posted for interest rather than quality - and I wanted to add it to a couple of Albums. I wonder if this is Badhamia utricularis? Taken on 11 September 2013, when the three of us started the day with Johnston Canyon and then on to Bow Lake. Another great day of botanizing and, for me, a wonderful chance to be in the mountains again.

Two species of Cladonia Lichen that were growing together in the forest at Johnston Canyon, on 11 September 2013. The one species looks like tiny, green golf tees or Shrek ears (to those who have watched the Shrek movies) : )

Not the best photo, but unfortunately the sun was so harsh, usually in all the wrong places : ) Taken on 11 September 2013, when I was lucky enough to go with a couple of friends to Johnston Canyon, in Banff National Park. The Canyon is apparently one of the most popular places to visit and sometimes I had little choice as to whether to include people or not. In this case, I was glad that the lady was wearing red : ) This is as far as we walked, to the Lower Falls, as we wanted to head on to Bow Lake one more time. Another great day to remember.

Nowhere near as sharp as it should have been, but this is the least blurry of the few macro photos I took of this Liverwort (non-vascular plant). Seen on 11 September 2013, with friends Sandy and Peter, at Johnston Canyon, Banff National Park, Alberta. I am guessing that this belongs to the Marchantia genus (Marchantiaceae family), and that the tiny, green cups are called Gemma or Gemmae?) Cups. Remind me of Bird's-nest Fungi : ) Hopefully, someone will correct me if I'm wrong, as I know nothing about Liverworts! Later: ID, thanks to Sandra Davis, is Marchantia polymorpha showing gemma cups holding gemmae. "Gemmae are balls of cells which are genetically identical to the parent and contained in cup-like structures on the upper surface of the plant. These are dispersed when rain splashes the cups and develop into new plants." From Wikipedia. "One reason liverworts are so curious is that in terms of the evolution of life on Earth, these plants are old. Liverworts are often referred to as "the simplest true plants." Instead of bearing regular roots, liverworts anchor themselves with rather primitive and simple, one-celled appendages known as rhizoids. Liverworts are called liverworts because long ago the people who named them felt that the curious arrangement of cells on the surface of some liverworts was similar to the cell arrangement in actual livers taken from animals." From backyardnature.net.

On 11 September 2013, I was thrilled to bits to visit Johnston Canyon, in Banff National Park, with a couple of friends. I don't remember ever going there before, but if I did, it would have been 30+ years ago. A very enjoyable walk up to the Lower Falls - we decided not to go to the Upper Falls as well. The rocks and cliff walls down at water level were so beautifully eroded, smooth from the power of water.

Taken on 11 September 2013, when two friends (Sandy and Peter) and I went to Johnston Canyon in search of mosses lichens and liverworts - and anything else of interest and/or beauty! "The trail to the waterfalls of Johnston Canyon has to be the busiest in the Canadian Rockies. Nearly every day throughout the summer, hundreds of hikers follow its canyon-clinging catwalks and cliff-mounting staircases to the gorge’s Lower and Upper Falls. While the canyon and its unique trail are certainly worthy of a visit, you’ll have to do the hike in the evening or very early in the morning to avoid the hordes. The trail begins immediately behind Johnston Canyon Lodge. After a short climb through the forest, it descends and stays close to Johnston Creek all the way to Lower Falls. Along the way you pass over sturdy iron catwalks attached beneath overhanging canyon walls, where the turbulent waters of the creek flow beneath your feet. Lower Falls is reached at km 1.1. A bridge across the creek serves as a viewpoint for the thundering cataract, and a short tunnel through the canyon bedrock allows passage to an even more intimate vantage point (albeit a wet one)." banff.ca/?nid=648