Year: 2015

Headed up to Lake Louise for a hike yesterday.  Normally, if we go up there it is in September when it is not so busy.  It was pretty packed but we arrived around 2:30 so people were beginning to leave so there were a few spots available in the parking lot and we didn’t have to walk a mile to the trailhead.  Suspecting that the trail to the Teahouse may be busy we decided to go up the one on the other side of Lake Louise (to the left when you are facing the lake).  I think it said it was about 4km or so to the top from where you had a choice: up to the top of Fairview or Saddle or the third choice being a longer trail to Moraine Lake. The signs to that trail(photo below) require a minimum group of four due to the presence of bears.  We did meet one couple that had hiked from Moraine Lake – they looked pretty beat.  Mom, dad and a young child.  Still alive though – not chased by bears.  

Last month(June 2015) on our way to the coast we were traveling Highway 1, through the Fraser Valley.  Much prettier than the Coquihalla.  We saw smoke for miles before we came across the actual fire.  The helicopters were dropping water gotten from a river close by. I watched for a while thinking that there efforts were noble but such a small amount of water against such a massive fire.  I thought it would evaporate before it hit the ground.  Such beauty at the expense of such beauty.  

This is one of our favourite spots.  It is not a terribly difficult hike.  The pass is 7200 feet and the hike starts there.  It is about another 700 feet to the meadow.  If you want to go a bit higher, you can go back up the rocks – I did yesterday – another couple hundred feet. 

Took us about an hour and 20 minutes from Signal Hill area in Calgary to get there.  Highway #1 to #40 then south.  There is a parking area and washrooms at the trail head on the opposite side of the road.  Take your camera.  Usually lots of mountain sheep – they will ask you for food.

I’ve been shooting Rodeos in the general Calgary area for the last few years. One of the things I particularly enjoy watching and am fascinated by is the pickup guys.  These are the horsemen that catch the bucking bronc after he has thrown his rider.  They will, at a full gallop be laughing and chatting while catching the runaway horse.  This is Keith Pengelly.  I have lots of shots of him from previous years but here are a few from Dogpound Rodeo the other day and Water Valley rodeo in June of this year.