Things really heated up in Canmore, Alberta for me this last week – both in temperature and in activities! I’ve been living the best of both worlds lately – warm spring like weather in Canmore, and fluffy snow a short drive away.
This week, I practically did a snowshoeing/hiking marathon, including a night hike with crampons to Johnson Canyon to see the frozen waterfall and awake my other sense besides sight. It’s amazing what you can hear in the canyon at night. I snowshoed through freshly fallen snow in Lake Louise with the most awesome informative guide Nadine and learned more than I ever imagined about the intricacies of a snowflake. Then I did a long snowshoe hike in Banff to a remote ‘Laura Ingles’ log cabin called Sundance Lodge. And finally I snowshoed up, up, up to Chester Lake in Kananaskis. It was approximately 20 miles in those snow shoes – my quads, hamstrings, and calves burned and the all of the winter activity left me sweating like crazy – what a great active adventure snowshoeing is! After all of that, my aching muscles deserved a spa break – so I made sure to replenish in Banff at Cedar & Sage Spa.
In addition to all of this winter hiking, I also was able to go for a few rides where someone else did all the work and this included a dog sledding adventure on the Great Divide. It’s incredible to see how much the dogs love to run – and I was happy they were doing the work! I also took a ride up on the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain. There motto is “You’ll see more mountains in a moment than in your lifetime.” – and it’s absolutely true. Come and See Snow Differently – as flakes of amazing, endless fun and activities.
Its a great day to reflect here on the Spray Lakes near Canmore. Remember to breathe. #explorealberta
A little Where’s Waldo challenge for you! Can you find me snowshoeing in the pic? A great uphill 4 mi. trail to Chester Lake in Kananaskis Alberta with @jessharcombe today – kicked my butt! #SeeSnowDifferently
After a 10 mile hike yesterday I’m happy these guys are doing the work today! #SeeSnowDifferently
My night in a log cabin in the woods made me feel a bit like Laura Ingles last night. After hiking 10 miles into the remote Sundance Lodge w @leeabbamonte we were treated with a roaring fire and hot chocolate. So happy we made it! #SeeSnowDifferently
My ‘I’m on top of the world’ moment in the Canadian Rockies. Leo has nothin’ on me!
The Bow River from above as seen from the top of the gondola station in Banff. It looks like a snake winding around the valley below! #explorealberta
A blanket of fog rolls over #Canmore down in the valley below. #explorealberta
Want to see mountains? You’ll get your fill on top of Sulphur Mtn. Take the Banff Gondola up to the top and walk the ridge to the Cosmic Ray Station. We had a stunning day viewing the Canadian Rockies & Now Valley from this viewpoint – I didn’t want to leave!
Relaxing way to start the weekend in #myBanff – massage & fresh juice at Cedar & Sage Spa
Snow showing in freshly fallen snow around Lake Louise. Tree tops filled w snow would get too heavy and then snow bomb usas we walked by. #SeeSnowDifferently
Viewing the newly fallen snow at night on the Johnston Canyon night walk w @BanffTours . It was great to engage the other senses and hear the water flowing below the ice!
Sherry Ott is a refugee from corporate IT who is now a long term traveler, blogger, and photographer. She’s a co-founder of Briefcasetobackpack.com, a website offering career break travel inspiration and advice.
Additionally, she runs an around the world travel blog writing about her travel and expat adventures at Ottsworld.com.com.
