Indian Paintbrush

Arrived in Smithers and another walk where we found masses of these flowers.  They come in red, orange, yellow and purple, depending upon the acidity of the soil.

The owners of the hotel we were staying told us that it got its name from the story of a young First Nation brave who was not interested in hunting - only paining.  The one thing that he failed at was painting the sunset.  One evening he was so frustrated that he stuck his paintbrushes in the soil and went to sleep.  When he woke up, the brushes had turned into these flowers.

On the way down into Smithers for dinner we saw this fine eagle in the trees around a lake.