Lake Louise March 21, 2025

The last item I threw into my vehicle before hitting the highway west to Lake Louise on Tuesday was my pair of skates.  They had been retired to my basement on February 25th when local ice conditions were no longer worthy for skating.  This escape west was for cross country skiing yet it took no effort to bring along my skates just in case.  When I saw people skating yesterday on Lake Louise and seeing the ice conditions looked quite nice, my thought turned to maybe I can fit in a skate around the Lake.

It snowed last evening and into the night which meant the skating surface would have a new layer of white gold covering it. My hope was being Friday, the sweeper would be out working his magic to prepare the ice for the weekend crowd.  As I crossed the little bridge at the foot of Lake Louise, the only things I noticed were two climbers crossing the lake with their gear, the sky had a tinge of pink as the sun had just come up and everything was dusted with that wonderful white. 

 Then I saw this as I rounded the corner, the sweeper was working the outer edges of the ice. 

The ice looked perfect!

I quickly laced up and skated away.  The ice was as it looked, perfect.  

Not long after hitting the ice, snow flurries began to sprinkle down. The sweeper was finishing up working his magic.  A few minutes after recording this video, the dark clouds came in, the snow began to heavily fall.  They were those big fluffy flakes and in a matter of minutes the ice surface was once again completely covered in snow. 

He's doing one last loop around before driving off. 

my selfie in the middle of an almost white out

the snow banks continue to grow 

It was so dreamy skating while the snow was falling.

 I enjoyed etching hearts and smily faces in the snow covered ice.  

following my etchings 

Almost a month later since I last skated on February 25th and retired my skates to the basement, I can now add another 8.25 kms to my previous record total of 241.5 kms skated this season.  249.75 Kilometres sounds like 250 kms to me.  Once again, I will retire my skates to the basement until next season! 

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.

Lake Louise. March 19, 2025

Being the last day of winter, I savoured every single second of it enjoying a winter day as my kind of winter should be! It was a perfectly cold start to my cross country ski trek around the Bow River Loop adding on a tour throughout the groomed campground route. The sun just peeked above the peaks as I arrived at the track head. Ready! Set! Glide! 

 

Early starts give the opportunity to capture selfies before others glide along in my direction.  I wish this was a video rather than a photograph! I obviously took on more than I could chew when two seconds after this photo was snapped, I accidentally fell into the snow. About ten minutes later I was finally upright and exhausted! Exhaustion not from trying to get up but from laughing too much! 

view of the Bow River from the X-C Ski track

crossing the short bridge to the short steep hill on the other side 

now on the opposite side of the river 

One lap was not enough so I went for a second, 

this time noticing views I didn’t see the first time.

I am sensing this last day of winter could be the last time I get to sport frosty fringes until next winter!  While skiing throughout the morning, I heard four occurrences of avalanche control, each startling me. I could not see any evidence of them.  I am sensing there could be more avalanche control as we head into spring especially if there is more snowfall.  

Back at the big bridge and as I glide across back to my vehicle, I can’t help but stop and admire the clouds.  They are springing up and outwards!  I wonder what spring will bring! My hope is for things to be  on the up and up in every positive way possible!  

 

Banff March 18, 2025

When the stars line up I listen intently to what they are telling me!  They said “Go West!”  So here I am!  I have been feeling restless, wanting to be on the go, my big trip is not until May, I don’t want to wish my life away waiting for May.  My city is mostly brown, very icy or muddy on paths, it’s not pretty. I looked at a friend’s photos of the beauty to behold in Banff and Lake Louise since the big snowfall on the weekend. As I was doing so, an email popped in from a home away from home in Lake Louise with a further discount on top of the discount offered in a previous email.  I love retirement and the fortune of spontaneity that comes with it. 

On my way to Lake Louise I stopped off in Banff to cross country ski and do a short hike.  Before heading up to Tunnel Mountain to the groomed trails, I stopped off at Cascade Ponds. These three guys were hanging out near the facilities which prompted me to take my bear spray in with me in case I needed it for defence as I exited. They just waited and watched until all was said and done and I drove away.

Ready to hit the trails throughout the Tunnel Mountain Campground, a place I have never skied before.  Snow had fallen since the tracks were groomed. It was mostly a slow go on flat trails with a few short hills throughout the loops.  

The views were gorgeous.  It was me and a few deer.  The snow was deep in places so I blazed my own trail. It was minus double digits Celsius but the mid March sun added heat.  

It was time for lunch so I drove to Johnson Lake to dine before hiking around the Lake. These three guys were now making their way from Cascade Ponds along the road to I don’t know where.  I just had to patiently wait for them to cross the road.  They were in no hurry!

walking the trail around Johnson Lake

stopping for some sips

As I was driving the road, leaving Johnson Lake behind, I once again had to wait patiently for him to cross the road. I don’t believe this is one of the previous three. Once he crossed, he stopped and starred me down while I drove by.  I stopped long enough to capture this gorgeous photograph!

Once on the main highway, 

there was nothing stopping me along the drive to Lake Louise!