Rawson Lake & Upper Kananaskis Lake January 14, 2018

Did anyone stay in the city today?  Is pot puffing now legal?  I thought for certain hitting the road west very very early on a Sunday morning would afford me a quiet easy sail to where life begins at the turnoff onto Highway 40.  I was mistakenly wrong big time, so I just went with the flow until it was time to break away from that madness.  I arrived at a quiet Upper Kananaskis Lake parking lot.  The ice fishermen were already fishing and more were suiting up to do so beside me.  Or should I say were "puffing up" beside me.  As I geared up I began to think I may get my "high" fix not just from when I "remember to breathe" but by just breathing alone.  I geared up and got out of there while finding myself smiling wide, but why!  Yes, I was happy! It was pretty here, the temperature was ideal, it was quiet and I was where I belonged.  That's what I contribute my happiness to!  

What a morning it was here!  It seemed surreal in a way.  There were the odd touches here and there that made it that much more beautiful.  Snow covered boulders scattered along the edge of the Upper Kananaskis Lake.....

.....mountain peaks peeking through cloud windows.....

.....a line of cloud stayed stationary the whole time.....

At certain sections along the trail I snowshoed down to the lake side for more wide open vistas.  

I got to see back at the bridge I just went over.  

There were new signs along the way.

I spotted a wildlife camera while it spotted me.

I like to arrive early at Rawson Lake in the winter to get the good lighting.  As the minutes passed and the sun got higher the view became blinding white and washed out.  There was no one else here.  It was incredibly peaceful and pretty.

I followed the broken trail to a safe view point.

owning Rawson Lake

After my Rawson reprieve, I went for a quick trip down to upper.  For the majority of the descent my method was a jog of a sort.  I arrived back at Upper Kananaskis Lake and took the trail along the shore back to the parking lot.  That cloud still lined itself along the mountain range.

The pot puffers were out ice fishing by now.  My only source of "high" now is the sight to behold.  I geared down then drove over to the Interlakes parking lot to hike in that area.  This was my first view.  I enjoy being alone at times so I can take the time I want to play photographer.  I like to see things in a different perspective, I will let you figure this one out.

The view in front of me and behind me was amazing.  

Behind me that long cloud still lingered.

This is why I like winter!

I found a place in the sun, settled down and soaked it up.  

I like perspective!

This is about a foot high!

But this is about six feet high!  The moose owned the road for a little while, while we all waited for it to decide what to do.  A little moose was off to the side in the bushes.  When the road was clear we began to move on and as my turn came the moose turned and started to walk the road again.  I quickly snapped a shot and got the heck out of there.   I think the moose was telling me to get going!

Ahhh!  

What a day!