Thanksgiving Weekend Hike

Living across the country from my family means that I don’t always get to celebrate holidays in the typical way. Since moving out to Alberta, I have always tried to make my own traditions, or to commemorate holidays in some way, so as to feel like I am at least still celebrating them a little bit. Being as outdoorsy as I am, I have typically always tried to do something outside for holidays, and this Thanksgiving was no different.

With Friday being the best weather day, I picked it as my hiking day. Myself and my good friend/soon to be roomate decided to pack a picnic lunch and head up Wasootch Ridge.

The last of the fall colours in the Kananaskis Valley

Of course Dahl came along for the hike, although she was more interested in the picnic…

Dahlia is such a good adventure doggo, not much seems to phase her. As long as there are snacks LOL

Fall in the Rockies – 2020

Mt Kidd, Kananaskis

The Kananaskis Village Rim Trail

Hay Meadows trail, Kananaskis

Two Jack Lake, Banff

Hay Meadows trail, Kananaskis

Kananaskis Village Views

Looking towards Wedge Mountain

Lake Minnewanka, Banff

Lake Minnewanka, Banff

Barrier Lake, Kananaskis

Barrier Lake, Kananaskis

Troll Falls trail, Kananaskis

Barrier Lake Selfie, Kananaskis

Highway 40, Kananaskis

The Kananaskis River, Mt Wasootch in the background

Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka

Looking for Larches on the Highwood

Camping with Doggo

Both Zach and I are incredibly outdoorsy and we knew that we wanted whatever dog we adopted to be adventurous too. But that is unfortunately not something you can exactly screen when you’re looking for a dog to adopt. With Dahlia, we got lucky. So, so lucky. She seems to take everything in stride and is happy as long as she is with us.

Long car rides? No problem. We have converted the back seat of the truck into a giant dog bed and she alternates between napping in the back or hanging out with us by leaning on the center console.

Within our first month of getting her, we took her on her first camping trip. Since it was October in the rockies, the conditions were a mix of sun and snow, with overnight temperatures dropping down to 0.

We had a pretty awesome set up with one big mattress and a huge pile of blankets, and Dahl slept pretty peacefully snuggled inbetween the two of us all night. I can’t wait to get her out for more camping trips next year!

Below are some of my favourite pictures from the camping trip. Drop any ‘camping with dogs’ tips you happen to have in the comments 🙂

This was our campsite in Kananaskis ❤

Visiting the Bomber Command Museum

Back in June, I was lucky enough to go on a little road trip with my grandfather and his good friend Jack.

My grandfather spent most of his working life in the Canadian Military. Back in the day, when he went to flight school, Jack was actually his teacher. Together they worked on the Lancaster aircraft. Decades later, after both working and living all over the world, the two men re-connected when they both found themselves living in Edmonton. The two now meet every Sunday morning for breakfast at a restaurant called Alberts, trading stories and news with eachother.

The opportunity to travel with these two men, along with my uncle, to visit a museum that housed one of the few remaining planes that they had worked on decades ago was too good to pass up.

Here are some of my favourite photos from our trip to the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, AB.

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Watching these two men, who both served their country for most of their lives, walk around and take it all in, was an incredible moment. Both men remembered so so much about these planes. Not many people can say that they got to tour the museum with people who lived the history.

Banff: Cave and Basin

Banff National Park is one of those places that draws people by the thousands. This summer in the park was absolutely insane for the number of visitors through the park gates. Yet despite such a high number of visitors, very people know the humble origins of the park.

Imagine hiking through untouched wilderness and smelling sulfur and seeing steam coming from a hole in the ground… and then thinking it was a good idea to climb down said hole… Well, in a nutshell, that is how Banff was born. Obviously I am skimming over a bunch of details, but to find out the full history, you should visit Cave and Basin Historical Site in Banff. 

The museum is in the building that houses the entrance to original Banff Hotsprings (which are actually in a cave!), and later on, a pool for the mineral rich water. Nowadays, the springs are recognized as a sensitive ecological environment, home to a unique breed of snail, and they are protected. While you cannot go IN the springs anymore, you can visit the original cave and appreciate it for what it is: a stunningly beautiful cavern full of turquoise water and unique rock formations.

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After you explore the cave and the attached hall with displays on the history of Canada’s National Parks, take a walk to explore the upper hot springs. Above the museum, there is a boardwalk with interpretive panels and gorgeous views of Vermillion Lakes below. 

Wool, Wetsuits and Making the Most of a Bad Chinook.

Chi·nook

Pronounced:SHəˈno͝ok

Definition: A warm ocean-born wind that makes its way into the pacific northwest region and the southern Canadian Rockies. Commonly called ‘snow eaters’, these winds will break the heart of anyone who loves winter and deep powder.

Your winter can be going along perfectly; you have lots of snow on the ground, the temperature is well below freezing and ski or snowshoe conditions are great. And then BOOM. In rolls a Chinook and it’s all wrecked. Chinooks bring high wind levels and high temperatures. During a Chinook, temperatures can swing from -20 up to +10 in the matter of a day. The warm winds are drying and melt away or evaporate all of the snow, leaving the ground bare, when just days before it was a winter wonderland.

Now, this might not sound like something awful to you, getting above-freezing temperatures in the middle of winter. But if you love winter, your heart breaks a little every time a Chinook rolls through. While last week I was skiing on pristine xc ski trails, now there is dirt and grass and pavement poking through. The downhill ski slopes are icy and snowshoes are pretty much unnecessary unless you are at a high elevation.

So what do you do when a chinook rolls in? Well, my friend Tiffany and I decided to make the best of it.

Both of us love outdoor adventure in the mountains and are avid paddlers. So when we heard there was open water to be found in Canmore, we decided to spend our Sunday morning paddling it.

One of the nice things about winter is that if you’re looking to do a sunrise hike or paddle, you really don’t have to get up all that early; Tiffany and I met up for breakfast at Rocky Mountain Bagel co (a pre-paddling tradition!) and headed out to the reservoir in Canmore. We found open water by the trailhead for Grassi Lakes, pumped up our SUPs and headed out.

It was an absolutely incredible paddle; the morning was beautiful and warm and it was fun to watch the ice climbers at Grassi while we paddled. We found a fairly large section of open water and managed to paddle almost all the way to the dam. We snapped a bunch of photos along the way; check them out here:

SAFETY NOTE:

Tiffany and I are both very experienced paddlers who had the right training and right gear in case we went for a dip; we also had a chat about risks and what-ifs before heading out, so we had a game plan in place should one of us fall in. Paddling in the winter definitely isn’t for the inexperienced or unprepared paddler, so if you choose to find open water this winter, make sure you know what you are doing and are prepared for the worst case scenario.

Skinny Skis

When you talk to someone about skiing in the Rockies, their mind undoubtedly goes first to downhill. And yes, downhill is fun. Obviously. But I also have a deep love for cross country skiing. I love cross country skiing for the lack of lineups, the ability to find solitude or to actually spend quality time with friends. One of my most memorable winter nights was spent xc skiing behind a lynx and watching the aurora dance overhead. These are the kinds of quiet, serene moments that you will never find on a ski hill.

I can remember my first time on cross country skis. I was AWFUL. It was in my grade 10 outdoor gym class, and I was skiing on a pair of wooden skis with three pin bindings that I had picked up at the local thrift shop just for my class. Those skis are probably still in my parents shed back in Ontario (sorry Mom and Dad!). All I remember was not being able to go up hills and how cold my feet were in the leather ski shoes that came with the set. I tried hard to love it at that point, but it wasn’t until moving out to the Rockies (and working for a ski shop) that I really fell in love with the sport. Since moving to Kananaskis, I have skied pretty extensively on the incredible network of (free!) trails that are groomed and maintained by Alberta Parks.

Right up until yesterday, when this damn Chinook blew in, the winter conditions out here in Kananaskis were spectacular. The snow was plentiful and all the ski trails were perfectly groomed. I wanted to share some photos from last Wednesday, where I was the first person out on the trails after they were groomed and track set.  This was all along the Bill Milne trail here in Spray Valley Provincial Park in Kananaskis, which while not overly exciting (its valley bottom, so pretty flat but gorgeous views), literally runs through my backyard so its super easy for me to hop onto it.

Winter at Lake Louise

Lake Louise is an icon of beauty in the Canadian Rockies; however, most people only know it for its turquoise waters of summer. What about the other 6 months of the year? Lake Louise is actually a winter paradise for people who love being outside in the cold. Here are my favorite things to do outside at Lake Louise in the winter:

Ice Skating

On the lake, there is a hockey rink cleared for playing shinny, as well as a large cleared ice surface for families. Just prior to the Banff Ice Magic Festival every January, a large ice castle is built on Lake Louise, in the center of the family ice surface. In years past, there has even been a throne in the heart of the castle, allowing everyone to be King or Queen of Lake Louise, even if only for a minute. Don’t have your own skates? Not a problem! Ice skate rentals are available in the Chateau. Click here for more details on rentals. Pro tip: bundle up, it’s usually quite windy on the lake.

XC Skiing

I have wanted to XC ski at Lake Louise for as long as I’ve known there was a trail to ski. I finally got to check that item off my bucket list last week. I skied a couple laps of the lake and with it being my first real xc ski of the season, I was feeling pretty good. I didn’t fall, my technique was solid and I was in a good rhythm. It was a pretty chilly day, sitting around -20 with the wind chill. I have never had my eyelashes freeze before. I should try to pass it off as the latest winter look 😉

The XC ski trail on Lake Louise starts at the boathouse and is flat groomed and trackset all the way to the waterfall at the far end. I skied through powder so I could come back on the other side of the lake and to do it as a loop instead of a linear trail.Parts of the trail were severely mashed due to snowshoers and people walking on it, but the vast majority of the trail was in great shape.

The frozen waterfall at the end of the lake is definitely worth getting to and then hiking up to the base of.

Snowshoeing

If you’re not big into xc skiing or skating, then give snowshoeing a shot! There is a snowshoe trail that cuts across Lake Louise, as well as many kms of other trails around the lake and surrounding area. Always make sure to check that you are not going into avalanche terrain; check the reports and know what areas are safe. It’s pretty amazing to be able to snowshoe out into the middle of the lake, and to look back at the Chateau: the opposite of what most people see when visiting.

Other winter delights:

Go during the Ice Festival and look at magical ice carvings, have a drink at the outdoor ice bar, take a sleigh ride around the lake or enjoy a bonfire hosted by the Lake Louise staff.

My absolute favorite winter activity at Lake Louise is stargazing. The stars are always fantastic (as long as its clear) and you can set up a long exposure and skate around while you wait, or better yet, play with lights through a long exposure!

 

 

 

Snowshoeing in Kananaskis

While I have not posted on here a lot over the holidays, it does not mean that I haven’t been super busy writing: I wrote this post last week for Kananaskis Outfitters, give it a read and check out their beautiful website if you are interested in seeing what all they do.

Snowshoeing is a method of transportation that has been around for about 4000 years, but in the last couple of years, it has definitely gained a lot of popularity! A lot of this popularity is probably because of how accessible snowshoeing is for the vast majority of people, and also how snowshoes have become easy to wear and use.

Originally designed by the necessities of living in a snow-covered world, nowadays, people mostly snowshoe for fun. Snowshoeing turns hiking into a year-round activity. Snowshoes no longer look like tennis racquets strapped to your feet; modern snowshoes are sleek and usually come equipped with ice cleats built in, making for incredible traction in even the most slippery of winter conditions.

 

Kananaskis is a haven for snowshoers, offering a long snowshoeing season and a huge variety of trails. By the Kananaskis Village, there are a couple of great loops for newcomers to the sport; the Village Loops leave right from the Village Centre, and have a 2.5km option or a 1.5km option, or you can do them both for a great 4km loop. This loop has a little bit of elevation gain but remains very family friendly.

Troll Falls – An easy snowshoe for families

Another snowshoe trail close to the village that is family friendly, is the Troll Falls trail. Leaving from the Stoney trailhead, this is an easy 4km loop when done in conjunction with the Hay Meadows trail. This trail features a beautiful wintery waterfall and fantastic valley-bottom views of the surrounding peaks.

If you are willing to drive a little deeper into Kananaskis for snowshoeing, then you need to check out Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. This park offers kilometer after kilometer of snowshoe trails, with a wide range of views. On our recommended list to check out are:

The Elkwood loop starts at the Elkwood amphitheater and travels across the frozen edge of Marl lake. At 3.4km in length, and with little elevation gain, this is another great snowshoe loop for families.

 

One of our snowshoe groups standing on Marl Lake

 

Hogarth Lakes is another Kananaskis classic. Starting at the Burstall Pass trailhead, you share the trail with skiers for about 200m, before the snowshoe trail meanders off into the woods. This trail takes you through beautiful spruce and pine stands before taking you over Hogarth Lakes. There are always lots of tracks and signs of wildlife along this loop and one of our guides has even spotted a lynx along the trail (from a distance!).  Take a lunch or some hot chocolate along on this 4.1km trek to make the most of a beautiful winters day.
Looking for a bit more of a challenge? Then Chester Lake is for you. The cross country ski trail at Chester Lake follows the summer hiking trail, but the winter snowshoeing trail is a much steeper climb. The steep hike is definitely worth the reward! The trail deposits you on a frozen alpine lake, surrounded by fiercely beautiful peaks. Definitely take a lunch along: This 7km hike has 287 meters of elevation gain.

Snowshoe Safety

No matter how long you are planning on being outside while snowshoeing, be it a 2.5km loop or a 15km summit day, there are some very important things to keep in mind. In the winter, what may start as a simple backcountry emergency can get a lot worse very quickly. To make sure you are well prepared for any situation, there are some things that you should always carry:

• Emergency blanket/bivy. Make sure to account for group size
• Enough water and keep it thawed! Store it inside your pack or next to your body. It’s no good as ice
• Snacks and food – enough to get you through an accidental night in the outdoors
• First Aid kit
• Hand warmers – these little packs can help if some ones gloves just aren’t cutting it
• Spare toque, gloves and socks and an extra mid layer
• Headlamp or flashlight – winter days are short!

Before you go:

• Check the local avalanche reports. You can check it here. If you are in an Alberta Parks area, then the designated snowshoe trails are not located in avalanche terrain. If you are entering avalanche terrain, make sure you have the necessary training and gear.
• Let someone know where you are going and when to expect you back.
• Know the local emergency number: here in Kananaskis it is 403-591-7755, or 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
• Check the local weather and dress for it. Remember to dress in layers!

 

Snowshoeing is a great activity to keep you outdoors all winter long! There is always somewhere new to explore and fresh powder to plow through! Looking for a twist on snowshoeing? Check out our Stargazing Snowshoe tours!

Troll Falls at Night on a Stargazing Snowshoe Tour