Kite Skiing on the Spray Lakes

Chad helping Sean launch the Training Kite

Sean playing with the Training Kite

Chad getting the 9 meter Kite ready

Chad throwing some snow on the kite for weight

Sean on his skis with the Training Kite

Chad walking over to help Sean launch the Training Kite

Chad enjoying a free ride courtesy of the wind!

Chad slowing down to switch direction

Sean getting a handle on the 4 meter Kite

Kimmer learning to manage the wind with the 9 meter Kite

Bringing the Kite to neutral to switch direction

Sean, Chad, and Kimmer

Kimmer and Chad

Rod catching some air!

Rod coming down for a landing

Rod showing his skills on his 12 meter Kite



Wheeler Hut Maintenance

Had a nice trip in to the Wheeler hut this past week to help my friend Sylvain with some hut maintenance. It ended up being mainly a work trip (which was more or less anticipated) and a lot less of a ski trip. We moved A LOT of snow to retrieve some buried firewood that was needed to replenish the wood pile so that the hut users would get through the winter. Plus we had a moral obligation to bring down some massive snow mushrooms that were threatening the wood shed and one side of the outhouse. Anyway.... a few beers were drank and many a game of crib was played by Silly and I, and also a couple of games of collaboration rummy, a new game we coined by playing the rules from a few different rummy games. We did manage to get out for a few turns on the Thursday before packing out our sleds full of garbage and gear, so that was nice. All in all a fun little adventure :)



The Wheeler Hut half buried from this years snow fall!

Brad and Earl moving out full latrine's. This was an oversight that occurred by not
 pumping out the outhouse this fall while the hut facilities were still, road accessible

Darren and Earl loading the latrine's to take them to the staging area for pump out

This was a half smile. It was difficult to put on a full smile
with the amount of snow that was left to be shoveled!

Earl down in the pit splitting wood.

Sylvain having a look at the chimney set up for
some maintenance that will have to be done

Brad driving the wedge into these monster rounds
of wood that were bucked this fall

Sylvain doing some creative climbing to summit
the outhouse to do some snow sawing

Sylavain taking a breather and assessing the situation

Earl and Silly sawing off the snow mushroom

The collapsed snow mushroom decommissioned the latrine temporarily

The rescued firewood and latrine storage area

Main kitchen area

Back entrance and gear drying room

Silly putting new brick liners in the main fireplace

View out the front door of the hut

The original fireplace from 1946

Main kitchen with stairs leading up to the loft and sleeping area





Thought provoking quote

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
            
                                                                                                                                                                          Maya Angelou



  This was a quote Karolin posted on our blog that is quite a nice collection of words that were spoken from the heart of Maya Angelou, a well renown Renaissance woman. Her words are a useful tool to put in your back pocket next time you feeling like judging someone or placing yourself above someone else. Just remember how good it feels when someone treats you with respect and dignity, and also how good it feels to you personally to treat that same person with the same respect and dignity. Challenge the fearful parts of your personality and make people feel good by feeling good about yourself. Thanks for sharing this quote with me sweetheart! :)


                                 

-34C Crisp, Calm, Bluebird Day in the Bow Valley

It was an absolutely beautiful day in the Bow Valley today with bluebird skies and crisp, windless air! My camera was nudging me to take it down off the shelf for a little adventure to a few famous 'photo' spots. I'm glad I did :)  Almost all of these photos were taken from the truck, or 30 steps or less from a roadway.

'3 second peak' as seen from the TansCanada Highway heading east.

The peak is actually the south peak of Mount Edith but has been coined

'3 second peak' for the amount of time you get to see it while driving by. 

(I hiked up to the fence for this one)

Eagle Mountain, Mount Howard Douglas, and Fatigue Mountain
reflecting in the sulphur pond on Vermillion Lakes

The 7th and 8th buttresses on Mount Rundle

with a howling wind up high

'3 second peak' right from the truck window

Another nice view of Fatigue Mountain

Clark's Nutcracker



Three Mallards eating bullrush seeds, snails, invertebrae, and the odd tadpole



Clark's Nutcracker

 

Another shot of the Mallard's

Rundle view

Rundle view



Neat contrast of Mount Rundle

Mount Louis with Norquay ski hill below and Mount Fifi to the right



Windy day up on the West End of Rundle



The famous 'Tunnel Mountain' in Banff Townsite

A smiling Rocky Mountain Sheep

Side profile of a Rocky Mountain Sheep

A baby Rocky Mountain Sheep

A Rocky Mountain Sheep grazing

Portrait of a Rocky Mountain Sheep

Love the huge Canadian flag waving in the wind!

More Rocky Mountain Sheep (the rest of the herd)

Snow contrails off of the 3 Sisters