Photo- Finish Friday -- The Ridge Where the West Commences

In case you were wondering.

Gratitude Monday–This Tree

Me under a tree, where I belong.

I had a few lovely quiet moments Saturday under this magnificent tree out west.
It was important I do this and absolutely necessary for my well-being.
Thank you, tree, for being you.

From my perspective.

Photo-Finish Friday -- Morning in the West Country

We left early enough on our drive out west last Saturday that we got to see morning coming to the mountains.

Photo-Finish Friday -- A Rock in the Rockies.

This is on a hillside out west of Rocky Mountain House near the Banff National Park border. It can be seen from the highway.
I'm looking forward to summer and hiking.

Fire Trail

A controlled burn was done in the West Country this past summer. There were several reasons for it including an attempt to stop the mountain pine beetle.
The forest regenerates all on its own after a fire, but years of fire suppression messed up the cycle. Another reason for the burn was to sort the cycle out.
Life has started again out west and in respect of this, and to explain why fire is good, an interpretive trail has been set up at the start of the Landslide Lake hike, about an hour and 45 minute drive west of Rocky, or just a few minutes east of Saskatchewan Crossing along the Icefields Parkway.
Two trails, one 400 m the other 2km have been built. We took the shorter one on Sunday.
Here's what it looks like.

 The start of the hike.

 It looks eerie, but it has a good feel to it.
 

 This is what you see on the way back to the parking lot. The trees are touched by fire, some killed, others charred. Either way, it's closer to natural than not having fire.

 A moody, almost ghostly look.

 Life comes back for a brief moment. This blossom to the right is paint brush.

Heading to Fall

The yellows this season really stand out against the Rockies.

We went for a drive out west of Rocky on Sunday to have a look around.  I thought the contrast of yellow and green was quite striking.

Tranquility And Oneness

Expand your horizons and embrace the world.

Gratitude Monday – Soul Restocking

It’s Monday again and I am happy. Another week starts full of hope and possibilities.

The past week ended with a lovely walk in the West Country yesterday and lunch in Nordegg. It was once a thriving coal town on the edge of the Rockies, but the mine has been closed for more than 50 years. Tours of it are available in the summer, but mostly the area is devoted to recreation.

It’s in the mountains with plenty of camping, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and most anything else you want to do right at it’s doorstep. It’s also got a hotel, restaurant, gas station and small store and it’s very busy during summer and hunting season.

It’s about 50 miles west of Rocky and an easy, scenic drive. I’m grateful for that. A trip out west restocks the soul.

So another week starts and anything can happen. Events are good, bad or indifferent depending on our perspective. I’m going to make an effort to keep mine focused on good.





From the walk around Goldeye Lake