Elk In A Snowy Meadow Near Lake Louise

elk sitting on snow near lake louise 2

One afternoon during our stay in Banff National Park, Alberta, Bob and I decided to take a drive from Lake Louise along the Bow Valley Parkway, a quieter highway than the Trans Canada, only two-lane versus four.  We were in hopes of spotting some wildlife and were on the lookout for elk in particular.  Seeing another vehicle pulled to the side of the road, we slowed to have a look.  At first, we didn’t notice the Elk laying in the snow but rather thought the tourists were admiring yet another beautiful mountain peak. Read more

Ice Climbing In Johnston Canyon At Banff

ice climbing in johnston canyon - banff 5

While visiting Banff National Park,  Bob and I learned of a hiking trail at Johnston Canyon that promised views of frozen waterfalls after traversing the length of a deep river gorge beneath sheer canyon walls.  We knew the experience would be right up our alley.  What we did not anticipate was finding a group of ice climbers actively ice climbing the frozen waters of the Upper Falls. Read more

Clark’s Nutcracker At Lake Louise In Banff

Clark's Nutcracker, Lake Louise, Alberta

On our first morning in Banff National Park, Alberta, Bob and I made a beeline for Lake Louise to take advantage of the morning sunshine for photographing that iconic location.  When we returned to the parking lot at Chateau Lake Louise, Bob quickly pointed out an interesting bird loitering near the vehicles and seemingly unafraid of the humans coming and going about their business.  The bird turned out to be a Clark’s Nutcracker.

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Ice Skating On Lake Louise

Ice Castle on Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

On our first morning in Banff National Park, Bob and I had planned to go cross-country skiing, but with the sun shining brightly, we headed up instead to checkout the skating surface on Lake Louise.  We were pleasantly surprised to find not one but two ice rinks, with one reserved for ice hockey, and the other set off by a glistening castle fashioned out of blocks of ice for ice skating. Read more

Snowshoeing On Lake Agnes Trail To Big Beehive

Jean snowshoeing on the Lake Agnes Trail at Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada

During our stay at Banff National Park, not a day passed without a dump of fresh snow.  Either we awoke in the morning to an additional 6 inches weighing down the trees, or snow fell so thickly when skiing that we could barely see which way to go.  One afternoon, owing to the lack of freshly trackset cross-country ski trails, Bob and I opted to go snowshoeing up into the mountains following the Lake Agnes Trail from Lake Louise. Read more

Our Message In A Bottle Tossed Back To Sea

jean holds message in a bottle over side of BC ferry

I was filled with anticipation when Bob and I boarded the B.C. ferry returning to Horseshoe Bay from Vancouver Island because it was from the ferry that I planned to cast adrift our Message in a Bottle.  It had been over a year since we found the bottle that contained an inspiring message from its authors. Read more

Beaver Sighting At Arrowhead Provincial Park

beaver looks towards camera in frozen lake - arrowhead provincial park - ontario

On a winter trip to the Huntsville area, Bob and I decided to check out the ski trails at Arrowhead Provincial Park.  Despite having grown up in the vicinity, I had never visited that Park before, always opting instead to go to Algonquin Provincial Park since it was closer to home.  What a delight to find a beaver just off to the side of the groomed ski trail. Read more

Magical Frost On My Toronto Windowpane

frost forms on a window pane - toronto 3

In 2014, the province of Ontario had one of the longest and coldest bouts of winter weather to be experienced in recent years, decades even, and along with the pristine beauty of fresh powdered snow that had fallen into every crack and crevice came the magical frost on my Toronto windowpane. Read more

Bighorn Sheep On Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon

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Bighorn sheep along Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, U.S.A.

Bob and I were well on our way back up to the South Rim from Plateau Point at    Grand Canyon National Park    after a grueling 12-hours of hiking, so with our noses to the grindstone, we just focused on putting one foot in front of the other to make headway.  That is why neither one of us saw the Bighorn Sheep surveying its surroundings from a ledge above the trail, just below Mile-and-a Half Resthouse.   If not for other hikers mentioning sight of the animal, we would have completed our hike in total ignorance of its presence. Read more

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