Lake Louise February 26, 2026

 

As I was getting ready to drive to the Great Divide trailhead to cross-country ski, I saw a few snow flakes fall.  I became excited believing I would get to ski while it was snowing.  Those were the only flakes that fell, it never did snow anytime throughout the day even though it was forecasted to.  It stayed grey all day.  

ready to ski

off I go

The track had been recently groomed, 

that’s the reason I picked this location for today.  

Last year the Great Divide was closed as the Lake Louise Community Fire Guard project was underway. The area opened at the end of last year and today was my first time seeing the area since the work was done.  There are wide open sections now. That line of grey in the middle shows the tips of mountain peaks.  The ski tracks along sections like this had snow drifts over them from the recent wind.  I was the first skiing there today so I created skier set tracks.

that’s Mount Fairview 

on a not so grey day, these open sections would offer amazing views

I did not ski all the way to the border, I did not want the long ski uphill on the way back. As I was skiing back, along came the dog sled teams, there were four teams. They were on their groomed track and I was on mine, we had about two feet between us.  This was the first team.

This was the third team.

After skiing, I drove to Lake Louise to have another look around. This time I noticed another ice sculpture.  This one is called “The Podium” it’s three Mountain Sheep.

I decided my afternoon project would be to add bright colours to the day.  Recently I purchased a new paint palette and sketch book.  I like the pre-made paint pans rather than making my own from tubes of paint.  I brought this setup with me, with hopes I would have time to put them to use.  Well, I did put them to use and…..

…..this is the outcome!  While googling, I came across a tutorial of how to paint crocuses in snow.  An actual sight like this is far out of reach right now which I am OK with, I still want more winter!