Lake Louise March 20, 2025

Cross country skiing the newly groomed tracks at Pipestone was my choice way of heralding in spring!  Mother Nature’s choice of weather was for cloud cover giving way to off and on flurries as the first day of spring progressed.  The wide open vistas were not offered up yet the silence and solace of the tree-lined tracks were a perfect option.  The Pipestone parking lot is just a hop, skip and a jump across from Lake Louise Village.  The track starts after a climb up stairs, swing open a door then down the stairs on the other side.  Ready! Set! Glide!  

 

The one and only time I skied here was in 2016 so today felt new to me. After a herringbone start up the steep hill, it was cross country to a round-about, picking the correct turn off then up and down and up and down along the winding track.

Upon a return section, I opted to remove my skis 

and walk down a narrow, winding, steep slope which happened to be icy. 

Nearing the end!

gliding along towards the open exit gate 

After completing a loop, I arrived at the exit at the opposite end of the parking lot.  Off with the skis, up the stairs on the left, swing open the door then down the stairs then a short walk back to my vehicle.  

After some sips and snacks in my vehicle, it was time for a drive up to Lake Louise.  I was curious what the area looked like now compared to when I was here the end of February.  People were skating which was nice to see on the first day of spring.  

As you can see, the Ice Castle is gone. 

There are markers around where it was. 

I found pieces of the Ice Castle off to the side in the snow banks. 

They beckoned to be photographed!

By late afternoon, I was back at my home away from home watching the flurries steadily fall.

This is my latest knitting project!  I brought it with me to work on at each days’ end. It’s based on a pattern I saw but I am switching up the pattern and adding tweaks here and there to make it my own.  Not sure my idea will work, only time will tell as I progress along.