Mother Nature Always Wins ~ Lake O'Hara

Lake O'Hara

"It's one of the most beautiful places on Earth," people say, and they are not exaggerating. We finally made our first trip to Lake O'Hara! When we arrived, the weather was perfect! Blue sky with only the occassional fluffy white cloud, temperature around 25. It felt like a dream as we walked around the Lake to get our bearings. What a fantastic hour long trail: the almost impossibly high back of Mount Victoria standing guard, the otherworldly glacial green-blue water, black Old Man's Beard hanging off the trees, cool forests, pounding waterfalls, peachy-purple rock beds, tiny yellow, pink and white flowers dotting the path, all encased by distinctive mountains, some with trees others with glaciers hanging off them.

Contented with having played inside an artist's canvas all day, we snuggled down to bed. That's when Mother Nature decided we should get a glimpse of all she was capable of. Splooshy raindrops plopped on the tent, the wind picked up, then a flash of violet and the thunder boomed and pinballed off the surrounding mountains reverberating down the valley. What at first started out sounding like a kid softly tinkling a zylophone over our tent quickly changed to a raging ocean pouring down on us. And then it got cold - real cold.

None of us got more than about 3 hours of sleep that night.

All hail Mother Nature!

Bear Aware

Saw my first Grizzly Bear today! Thankfully it was from the safety of being just outside of the car. Kevin, Grace and I met up with some friends to go climbing (I was in charge of entertaining the kids while they climbed) yesterday and before we got going we heard a rustling on the other side of the road. A bear! It was about 100 meters away - and we were right beside our vehicles so we weren't all that worried - just jazzed that there was a bear. Unfortunately, I missed it as it stood up on its back feet to get a better look at us (not in a threatening way, more of in a curious way) because I was scrounging around for the camera. Soon, I gave up on the camera because I just wanted to get a peek. The bear moved closer to the cars, at one point she was just across the road - that's when I got a glimpse of her silky humpback shoulder and shaggy cinnamon back as she strode further into the trees. Amazing! I say "she" because our friend has a friend who works for Parks who told him there is a Grizzly mother and her 3 cubs roaming around that area. Also, this bear wasn't that big - but she sure was beautiful! So - regretably there isn't a good photo - you'll just have to take my word for it!

Contemplating at Cascade Ponds: the girls don't mind the chilly breeze

Weather Bully

I want to cry. It's grey and miserable outside (again), and I can't feign positivity anymore. It's been one helluva crappy weather year and I'm feeling about to lose it. I gave up this morning. We were set to go to the park, and I turned back. After braving the chilly winds coming off Cascade Ponds yesterday, and biking back home just before another rainstorm imploded, I've had my fill of sidestepping storms. There is a frost in the wind today that I just can't bear. Aaahh Winter, you GD bully, it seems like you just have to get the last word in every single day. That's it - I give up - you win. I'm sitting on the couch under a comforter - are you happy now? Why don't you take a summer holiday, really, we are all quite sick of you.

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone

Walking home from a park we don't usually go to gave Grace and I a different perspective on Tunnel Mountain - or what the Stoney call Sleeping Buffalo. We can definitely see it now.

Grace LOVES Gondolas!

We hiked up Sulphur Mountain on Sunday. It was good to just wake up, have breakfast and get up there first thing in the morning. Near the parking lot there was a great big elk. He was shiny and strong with a huge rack. We gave him a wide berth and then strolled up the mountain. Thanks to Kev for packing Grace up and thanks to Grace for being so patient. It started to rain when we were two thirds of the way to the top - so we pushed on. Grace was a really good sport. She wanted to ride that Gondola down - which is free if you hike up. It was a good heart-thumping hour and a half push. At the top there were people from all over; South Carolina, India, Egypt - all enjoying the view. Now when we look out the window at the gondola station perched on top of Sulphur Mountain Grace will know what it's like to be there. Maybe we should do this every Sunday...

Failed camping attempt

Tried to go camping at Canoe Meadows in Kananaskis. Was excited to try out our new tent - almost as big as our condo. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperating - it's been doing that a lot lately! Ah well - got to see the Kananaski River turned off. What? I know, I thought people were pulling my leg when they said the river gets shut off - but it does, Transalta pulls the plug n the Barrier Dam and the river dries up - crazy. Kev was going to go river surfing (as he does) but then the water disappeared like when you pull the plug in the bath tub. Next time!