Mountain Lifestyle Day 5 December 22

I still have more X-C Skiing in me and there are still a few local tracks I need to fill with my skis.  I woke to witness heavy snow falling.  I have been sleeping with the curtains wide open and watching the snow fall as I fall asleep and seeing it still fall as I wake.  My intentions of starting to ski with a long gradual uphill changed quickly when I got outside and saw how much snow actually came down.   Instead I went for a gradual downhill to start, down the Tramline again.

The track had been groomed and set yesterday.  It's a small world!  I met up with the same group of snowshoers that were snowshoeing along Emerald Lake yesterday while I was skiing.  They were a large group, filled two small touring vans.  The vans were Budget Rentals.  One person seemed to be a guide.  They stayed off the ski track as you can see in my photo.

I reached the junction then went for more uphill, up Moraine Lake Road.  I passed by the Fairview turn off and skied for a few more kilometres up the Road.  It was so peaceful and quiet, it flurried the whole time, I got lost in my thoughts and just skied and skied.  On the way back I once again let my imagination take over and I was seeing things in the snow formations.

                                       

Oh how I love winter, the cold and snow warm my heart.  I savoured my tuna sandwich, cashew nuts, orange slices, and tea in my car before taking a stroll over to Lake Louise for more wintery scenes.  They are in the process of building the ice castle on the lake.  I captured this shot from their webcam last night.

A few other sculptures are completed including the ice bar.  I bellied up to it but it was closed.  I did get a view down into it.  I like how they have the ice benches around the sides.  The lights inside the ice sculptures is fascinating.

I polished the ball between the bears.  I could see The Chateau in it.  I am sure if it was polished up quite a bit more, the image inside would be much clearer.  

It was enjoyable just to hang out in this beautiful winter wonderland.  While I do love mountain views, I find snow falling obscuring the views offering up just a tease, is just as appealing.  

Mountain Lifestyle Day 4 December 21

I know how pretty Emerald Lake can be in the winter and I had a strong desire to pay that place a visit on this mountain get-a-way.  When checking weather forecasts, today would be the best one to venture there.  The only reason I waffled about going there was the condition of the highway.  I love adventure, I play safe, I do take some chances because how else am I going to grow.  I did not want to arrive back in Calgary at the weeks end regretting that I did not at least try to drive to Emerald Lake.   I knew there would be options along the way to turn back if I just could not handle it.  Before getting onto the highway west, I checked out the views around town here first.

From here to the Banff/Yoho National Parks border was just OK, I would have preferred better.  But from there on it was dreadful.  I could see where cars went off the road.  There was no longer a divided highway, there were many of those large transport trucks in my vicinity, bare pavement was non-existent, passing lanes were not visible, I crawled but I was getting there.  My knuckles were white, my shoulders were tense, but I was getting there. I breathed a sigh of relief when I reached the Emerald Lake turnoff.  I came prepared to hike or snowshoe or X-C Ski.  When I saw the conditions there was no doubt my mode of travel, I clipped into my skis.  

I skied in the groomed track to the end of Emerald Lake.  At the end the track continued so I followed it.  It was so delightful. I was the first one there today.  It snowed last night so the track had new snow in it.  I like it like that.  This place was paradise.  It seemed to go on forever and I just hoped eventually it would circle back and it did.  I had no idea where I actually was but found out later that route is called the Alluvial Fan.  I had the entire Fan to myself.

After enjoying the Fan, I made my way back across Emerald Lake and back to my car. I geared down, fuelled up and then went for a hike along the river in a winter wonderland.  What a pretty peaceful paradise this place is!

Now it was time to face reality and hit that highway.  I prayed it would now be in somewhat better shape.  It was somewhat and I was happy about that.  As I went along I realized there was no traffic and was even happier about they.  I saw a truck up ahead on the side with a sign beside it.  As I very slowly passed I saw it was a Parks truck and the sign said Avalanche Control Ahead.  He waved me on and I went.  I minute or so later I looked in my rear view and saw the truck had red and blue flashing lights going and was now sideways on the road.  What the heck!  I became concerned! I was praying he radioed to someone that I was coming through.  I carried on and then came upon plumes of whatever, was it cloud, was it fog, was it snow?  I got through it came out the other side and then heard a thunder.  I put the pedal to the metal, I knew what that was all about.  I then saw a helicopter fly by. What an adventure!  All that seemed more scary then the drive in the morning. I enjoyed a few nice glasses of wine by the fire and was so happy, even given the drive to and from, that I got to experience Emerald Lake today.  It was a day with no regrets! 

Mountain Lifestyle Day 3 December 20

I woke this morning wondering how should I fill my day.  Surrounding highways were showing red, forecasts were all conflicting.  I himmmed and hawwwed and paced.  I keep checking out my deck double doors and then low and behold saw blue sky with some pink!  I wanted to be out in that right now which meant staying local.  Out the door, up the hill, at the trail head for Upper Tramline, X-C Skis on is how I started to fill my day.

I decided to aim down Upper Tramline and connect with Moraine Lake Road.  This is my first time on skis this season so I needed to get my X-C Ski legs back and would assess on how my trip would look as I went along.  One thing about this route, the views are spectacular right away and never let up.

                                 

I got excited when I reached Moraine Lake Road and got to hop into newly groomed tracks.  As I was working my way up, the groomers were on their way in the other direction now setting a downhill track and also freshening up the skate ski lane.  I am not sure what you call what they do to that lane.  It is always nice to see those knights on shining grooming equipment doing what they do.  Thank you for that!

                                             

I was pleased with how my day was going so decided to take on Fairview.  This was the first time for doing this loop in a counterclockwise direction.  I knew I would have a little more uphill sections but I needed to get my herringbone technique up to snuff anyway.  So up I went!

                                          

                                 

The further into Fairview I got the more it began to snow and heavy at times.  I like that though because the build up of snow creates scenes like these.  I always think I see things in the snow formations, usually animal shapes or even snowman hanky panky like one below.

                                             

                                                 a frosty finish

I was covered in snow by the time I reached my car and it had a cm or two on it along with ice build up on the windows.  It was a slow drive back down the hill.  I was glad to be back inside cozy and warm sipping wine by the fire feeling delighted with how my day filled up.

Mountain Lifestyle Day 2 December 19

In my younger not so sensible years I refused to wear a hat or boots, in fact for a year or two stretch in there I did not even own boots.  My how attitudes change and boy have they ever since long past growing out of my 20's.  Now I enjoy choosing which hat to wear from the many I own and also deciding which boots will best suit the days forecast and activity. When I looked outside this morning and saw the snow falling and reading it would be nippy, I felt glee I would need to be donning my warmest attire which included a hat and boots.

I hit the 1A west aiming for Johnston Canyon.  It recently reopened after extensive repairs and clean ups and I was curious to see what that was all about and besides I do love that place when it looks wintery.

After thoroughly enjoying everything about Johnston Canyon this morning it was time to head for some afternoon delight.  I stayed on the 1A all the way to Lake Louise.  It was slow going given the road conditions but I was also keeping my eyes peeled for wildlife.

The nearer I got to Lake Louise the clearer it became, but along with that, the colder it became too.  I don't mind that, I have the hat and boots to keep me warm.  For a cold wintery week day this place was happening.  I worked my way to the skating rink, hiked to the side of it then wandered along the entire stretch of Lake Louise pretty much keeping to the center.  The whole while I admired the beauty and captured seconds in time.  I was feeling fortunate to be right here right now.

                                       

 

   

Being in the middle of this beautiful mountain playground it is so easy to "remember to breathe" and that takes me to a whole new mindset place.  It feels so good and it feels so right, I'm letting it take me there.