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!

Why blog?

Why blog? I've asked myself this a number of times. Do I have anything interesting to say? Do I really want to be a part of what can be a narcissistic and self-promoting venture? That's how I've viewed blogs in the past. I can be quite cranky about technology - I don't even know how to text and don't particularly want to, but there comes a time, namely when the 80 year old next to you pulls out her smart phone and her fingers dance, that you figure, if you can't beat 'em, perhaps it's time to join them. I'm reluctant, but there are a few good reasons why I figure it's time.

~I want to get outside more, be more active, find that run-til-you-drop-fresh-air-crazy childhood I had, and also give my daughter as many chances as possible to roam and explore and feel perfectly happy outside as I had growing up. So saying that out loud and affirming it by having other people know in this kind of forum is impetus to stick to it.

~We're in an amazing place - and I want to explore and feel even more at home here. Walking down the streets of Banff, and at the library where I work, I feel very at home. But, I need to get into the hills more. Confession #1: the mountains kind of scare me. Having grown up in an endless expanse of prairie where you could see for miles, I still feel a little claustrophobic by the stone giants that encircle us. But, they are our home now and I want us all to feel every bit as comfortable here.

~I want to get better at biking, hiking and skiing. I'm a pretty active person: in the dance studio, the yoga studio and the gym. Time to take it out of doors. Confession #2: I dont' like not being good at things - and I'm not good at biking, hiking or skiing! I didn't learn how to bike until I was 6, and I still feel wobbly some times. I am fearful of riding down the streets - which isn't totally crazy, because there are a number of scary drivers around these parts - but it's time to feel more at one with a bike. And hiking, well my motives are vain - I want tight calves! There are some spiritual reasons too; I want to get to high places - get a little perspective (in more ways than one). And skiing, well, Confession #3 - I can't really. Well, that's not a confession really, it's pretty apparent if you've seen me semi-snowplow down a blue run, and most people probably haven't, I've been avoiding it for a long time despite my husband practically living on skis. I want to be able to shoosh - at least as well as my toddler.

~We can't afford to go anywhere exotic right now. So I intend for this year to be the ultimate Stay-cation. Millions of people come here from around the world to see the sights. I have accommodation and plenty of time to explore - how lucky!

~Practise makes perfect (or at least better). I hope that the dailiness (or at least weekliness) of writing, biking, hiking, skiing, exploring will help me get better.

~I want to have a place to express my appreciation for this beautiful place and all the opportunities we have. The blog will be a scrapbook of sorts.

~So, I've put it out there - these are my reasons. Let's hope I can live up to them! Here goes!

Spring is here!

Spring is here and it's time to get outside. After a long, cold winter it is such a relief to feel the warmth of the sun and a breeze at your back.

This past winter I vowed that when the time came (if it ever did) I would relish being outside and exploring. It's finally here!

People told me that the crocuses were out - so my first mission was to find one. I found several sprouting through cracks in the rock on Tunnel Mountain. Hurrah! Spring is here!