Confederation Park Sunday School Rocks

It has been almost a month since I spent time X-C Skiing on the big tracks further west.  I had make significant progress on my X-C Skis both physically & mentally and want to make sure I do not loose momentum, so once again, it was time to go off to school at Confederation Park this Sunday morning to practice what was preached to me .    It snowed yesterday, it was bitterly cold this morning, the sun was out, the sky was blue, all this meant Sunday school would rock.   

On some of the trails someone had been before me.

In some sections, I opted for the snow-filled tracks.     

I tested the hills going both up and down a few times before aiming for the flat tracks on golf course center.  The tracks were perfect in some areas but need grooming in others.  I am not sure if there is enough snow though for a proper grooming.  How much snow does there need to be?  

When I left home, the air temperature showed -18 C with a windchill of -24C.  

I have the gear for that so was quite comfortable. 

the ducks were comfortable too

After about 90 minutes on my X-C Skis, I had reviewed my skills enough.  It was time to head home.  There was enough snow on the bridges to go up and over and down the other side.  I saved this one for the last and once down the other side then aimed for the last stretch up hill to the parking lot.

I am ready once again to take on the big tracks further west.

Aylmer Campground a new way of seeing

My sister-in-law shared with me some points to ponder which reflect upon absorption, adjustment, acceptance, alteration.  I am learning how to incorporate these "new to me  A  words" into my everyday living.  Being open to experiencing new and learning affords the opportunity for growth.  I am facing each day as it comes, some are difficult and some not as difficult.   Being with friends and embracing my passion even stronger assisted in making today a not as difficult day.

The start for our winter hike to the Aylmer Junction Campground was early, just how I like it.  

The temperature gauge as we hit the trail read -24C, not quite how I like it.  

The scenery from the get-go was pretty, exactly how I love it.  

golden glow as the sun rises higher

We opted to cross a section of Lake Minniwanka right from the start so we would have wide open views.  Further down the Lake, we veered into the trees and attacked a short steep scramble section up to where we intersected the main trail.   The views were obstructed but then opened up as we neared the Aylmer Junction.

at the Aylmer Junction

The Lm8 Campground was our destination and our dining spot. After a short hike through the campground we came out to this wide open space. There was no sun to be found here and it was still frigid so our stop was short, just long enough to fuel up.  

The sun began to rise over Mount Inglismaldie and shone down on Lake Minniwanka and on us.  

rock art on the lake shore

the good ole hockey game

We crossed the Stewart Canyon bridge then eventually made our way back down onto Lake Minniwanka for the final stretch back to our vehicles.  We checked out frozen air bubbles in cleared sections and continued to admire the pretty scenery until........    

......it was time to head home.....

Looking at the elevation profile below, it was an up and down day.  For me when I am "out & about" it is always a day of being up which today was mostly yet I did take time to reflect on those "A" words throughtout the day.  That reflection time allowed me a new way of seeing.  There was much about today to embrace and the frosting on my day was sitting around the dinner table with my friends by a window with a view.  We shared stories of accomplishments and of our goals to come.  

Thank you for today!

Confederation Park I never thought it possible.......

.....that X-C Skiing conditions could be so amazing just a mere 12 minute drive from my home.  Drive 12 minutes ski 90 minutes.  I landed back at Confederation Park this morning for some fresh air and exercise and while there I made sure to acknowledge I am thankful that I can do that.   The new fallen snow created quite a magical scene.  I took to the track and then decided to make my own.

looking tall and feeling high

I owned the place for awhile and the scenery was spectacular.

That's all I need!

frosty & frigid

I truly don't mind the cold and I like when my hair gets frost covered.

From the frost on the trees and bushes, to the steam rising from the creek, and the pure white meadows, plus the blue sky and sunshine, X-C Skiing in the middle of Calgary this morning was as ideal I believe as it possibly could be.   

I cherish these kinds of moments.

Confederation Park urban ski

It said cold!  It said high windchill!  I said I don't care!

I had a couple of hours to pass this morning and I did not want them to go to waste.  

My vote which was the only one that counted, went to X-C Skiing at Confederation Park.

I had never skied at Confederation Park before so I had no idea what to expect.  Even after googling for info, I came away with not much.  It's a very short drive from home so I went to at least check the place out.  What a pleasant surprise!  

decent tracks, wide open spaces, love scenery, ups & downs & flats

How fortunate are we to have this facility right smack in the center of our city.  I roamed the tracks with no focus nor destination nor direction in mind.  I just went.  A few sections were sketchy, I did need to control my snowplow and got good herringbone practice.  The pace was fast on the downhills and I loved it.  The scenery was pretty to boot.

 This is where I just roamed.

I'm happy to have finally checked this place out.  I am excited for the snow in the forecast for tomorrow because it will make the tracks here even better.  I sense there is potential to become a regular on the X-C Ski Trails at Confederation Park.

Fox Lake a foxy kind of fun

I was aiming for a day characterized by childlike abandon plus gladly accepting any type of weather/scenery/conditions that would come our way.  I knew for sure Short Stop would be on that exact same page as me, so we made the plan for a snowshoe adventure to Fox Lake where there would be no doubt we could execute the plan.  Given this was to be my first snowshoe trek of the season and also not quite being 100% me, I was game to give it my all and try to go the distance.

Gear wise I was prepared for the -17C + windchill, I just needed to get there in my head and as it turned out, that was not an issue at all.  We were afforded beauty, prettier than I was expecting, right from the get-go and it only got better as our day progressed.  We beelined straight up the center of the hydroline in favour of getting that over with sooner.  We made our way along the creek side then arrived at the intersection.  

I have been in this area numerous times and each time I spied a wide open meadow on the other side of the forest.  Each time, I wondered what was over there. It was finally time to find out.  We wondered around a bit, stepping gingerly as we could tell the snow was deep and we did not want to sink.  It was so sparkly and pristine.  

We arrived at the picnic table and only took a few minutes to admire the view.

 We then veered off towards Fox Lake.   

It could not look more prettier than it did at this moment in time.  

us

It took some time to get to Fox Lake.  It wasn't because we had to break trail to the kiosk, we were fortunate that had been completed in prior days, but it was the scenery and all the snow that was so distracting.

the sun was just reaching high enough to peek through the trees

at the kiosk

We broke trail from the kiosk to Fox Lake in a tiny bit of an unplanned round about way.  

We snapped some shots of the Lake before settling down to dine.  

a sign on Fox Lake

such a perfect snow cap

icicle at our dining location

We picked a spot in the sun and enjoyed our lunch and the scenery and took a few moments to remember and acknowledge Short Stop's sister and my brother, who we both lost very recently.  Then it was time to be....to be kids at heart.  We ran, jumped, laughed, fell, sunk, crawled then sighed taking a deep breath feeling exhausted.   

at the point of no return

After all that, it was time to pack up and hit the trail back, which happened to be in an unplanned round about way.  We did not really need the added distance today but hey, everywhere we ended up planned or unplanned, was pretty, pretty, pretty.  This was the view as we left from the kiosk.  

Today was exactly what I needed.  If I cannot be near the ocean then I will take the mountains.  So very different yet so much the same, in a certain way to me anyway.  Thank you for sharing this day with me and for just being you.  

a Review & a Preview

As I begin to settle back in, it's time to take time, to review 2015 and preview 2016.  I like to pick places, pictures or experiences that stood out for one reason or another for each month to reflect on the year just past.  This time around I opted for favourite photos and designed a 2016 calendar to hang on my wall at work. Now, even while sitting in my chair at my desk, I can experience a quick escape with just one short swivel.

As 2015 was a month away from drawing to a close, I verified my statistics to see how I had performed so far compared to previous years.  I knew I would surpass all other years in kilometers traveled yet the total vertical elevation that I gained would be up there but not at the top.  These are the final totals for ground covered in 2015.  I kept track of the X-C Ski digits too but did not include those in the final yearly totals.

2015 was a stellar year for the number of kilometers I hiked and snowshoed.  As each year passes and I am another year older & wiser, I realize I can still go the distance yet at not so quick a pace.  I still conquered many, many summits but obviously not as many nor as high as some other years.  Still, 37.6 kilometers of elevation gain is not a number to sneeze at.  Thank you, I gladly accept that pat on the back.

"OUT & ABOUT in 2016" is up and running and I will be too.  Usually I like to kick it off right on January 1 but it will be a little bit later this time around. I have incorporated one of my favourite colors, memorable places and pretty pictures to this year's edition. I am looking forward to being "out & about" in our vast playground.  

There have been many reminders over the past year to embrace each day and to live life.  That's the kind of resolution I go for.  I try my best to not sweat the small stuff, to turn a deaf ear to negativity, and to smile big & bright at the least little things.  I will continue to make an effort to be surrounded by cheer & color. I love having plans in place.  I enjoy the planning, the anticipation and the execution.  My home away from home is booked and anticipation is building.

with the dawn of a new year, I am