Family Adventure Day #2 - Crandall Lake

Crandall Lake Hike

This weeks family adventure took us to yet another good fishing lake in Waterton - Crandall Lake.  

It had been a few years since we'd been here and we were all looking forward to another Family Adventure.  (Really, most of us were;)

 Sam led us up to the lake in the most comical way he could muster.  (Picture every single cub scout you've ever met and times it by 10.  Sam was 10x more annoying than that;)

I should have known that once we reached the lake, John would not be content to sit and rest until we had first made our way all around it.  One of the things he believes most passionately in life is that "the fishing is always best at the head of the lake."   This meant we had to do some serious bush hacking, as there was absolutely NO defined trail, or really (aside from the remnants of a rusty 100-year-old Pepsi can) any sign that humans had been there before us.  

A weaker person may have complained about that extra rugged jaunt, but no sir, not me.  

Jess, Nate and Sam all caught fish!

Not necessarily at the head of the but I suppose that doesn't need to be pointed out. 

We loved being the only ones up there and we wait as long as possible before heading down  (aka: we waited until John was ready to pack up his rod) which meant we got to enjoy our decent at the perfect time of day.  

Any day is a good day when you get to watch the sun go down on it.  

Family Adventure Day #1 - Miner's Path and Chinook Lake

This past month I created a new "thing" in our home. 

Due to the fact that several of us have summer work/school commitments it has become increasingly difficult to find time to do things together as a family.  

I've snuck away for some hikes with Jess and Nate.

John has snuck away to go fishing with the kids every now and then.

Sam sneaks away to go golfing.
Abby sneaks away to paint.

For the first summer ever...we are not often together and I've been struggling with that, just a little.

So...we now have (drumroll please and thank you) ..."FAMILY ADVENTURE DAY!!!"

Sam thinks it is super cheesy, but that is legit the name I call it.

Abby typically gets 1-2 days off during a week.   From her list of off days we theoretically all agree on ONE day that week that we will spend as a family.  (I say "theoretically" because I doubt Sam would ever say he has agreed to this, but you know how it is...)

So, a couple of weeks ago, we all enjoyed FAMILY ADVENTURE DAY #1!!

Minors Pass and Chinook Lake (Locaation: Crowsnest Pass Alberta)

Sam thought it was cool that Minors pass was a hike that started within the town of Coleman.  (Okay, technically he thought that was lame, but you know how it is...)

Apparently, this 1.6 km trail is the very trail that local minors would walk every day on their way to work.  It is a lovely little trail that follows a creek and ends a darling little waterfall.  

The forest smelled delicious and provided lots of fallen trees for the kids to show off on.   

We may have started this hike with a couple of doubters but we ended with all four of my happy outdoor enthusiasts.   We just had to let them warm up to this whole "Adventure Day" thing.  

After our grueling (not!) stroll to the falls we traveled further up the road to check out Chinook Lake because I suspect that the only way I'll be able to keep John enthused about "Family Adventure Day" is if we make sure it involves a lake for fishing. 

We dined on sandwiches, carrot sticks, chips and cherries and then spent the rest of the night exploring this gorgeous place!  

There is a well-groomed (5km)  trail that takes you all the way around the lake.  Some of the kids and I liked this walk so much, we did it twice!   

Nate took a little dip. (He just couldn't resist).

We all took our turns paddleboarding.

John disappeared for a couple of hours to do his fishing.

We all just pretty much found our own way to be happy ...while still being together....because you know..."Family Adventure Day" and all.  

A walk to the Falls

 I had attempted to hike to Bertah Falls about a month ago and could not get far.  It had been discouraging at that time to turn around and walk back to my car knowing that this had at one time been considered a "stroll."  I took it as a sign that my body still had some recovering to do.

Thankfully, this 2nd attempt that we made this past week went much better and it meant the world to me that Jessica and Nate were willing to spend a morning joining me.  They are quickly turning into my favorite hiking buddies.  

Because we knew the forecast was calling for hot temperatures that day we made sure to start out bright and early.  We were rewarded with cloudy skies, the slightest breeze, great views, a quiet trail, and a plethora of wildflowers including my very favorite - lady slippers!

We made it to the falls in record time and sat there enjoying the view for a good while.  

A winter avalanche had taken out the bridge that once crossed over these falls and I enjoy the view without it much more.  

I am sure grateful to have a body that can do this little stroll.  It's one of my favorites!

Bears Hump!!!

It's open again.

The famous (or infamous?) Bears Hump hike has reopened!  (Woot Woot!)

This is the hike everybody has a love/hate relationship with. 

It is relatively short in distance and offers a spectacular view at the end, but is a straight-up climb to the top and a real grunt on the knees coming down.  Still, it is one of those hikes that we absolutely have to do every season.

Parks Canada finally got the trail cleaned (post 2017 wildfire) and groomed and after three long years, it is looking better than ever.  Jessica and Nate were the only ones who could join me on this maiden voyage (curse you summer work!) but they were more fine to come along...so long as I agreed to reward them for their efforts.  

The price?  

Fresh baked Beavertails and gelato - a fee I was more than happy to pay. 

 It seemed steeper than I recalled and left me a little more winded than I remember getting in the past.   (could it have grown on me over our years apart?) 

We were delighted to find my sister Crystal and her family in the parking lot, preparing to start their own ascent.   It helped Nate (okay...and me) to have family to talk with as we climbed.

Life looks better from way up here.  It always does.

Redneck Summer

When it is 100 million degrees outside and the kids are bored...

Exploring Beazer

This has been an interesting summer. 
John has been doing a lot of building.   (Fences, decks, patios - you name it!)

Abigail has been working full time at Beavertails in Waterton.

Sam has been mowing lawns for several residents in town. 

I have begun studies through UofC in hopes of obtaining a degree in Education.

Jess and Nate?   They have been patiently trying to enjoy the most of their summer days despite the fact that most people are in some form of quarantine/isolataion and for the first summer ever, everyone else in their family has flaked out on them.   

There was one afternoon when we just had to get away from the work (those of us who could, that is) and so we found ourselves a little spot along Lee Creek.  

We found a nest with two eaglets and watched their two parents perched protectively nearby.  

We found a few eagle feathers too, but made sure to leave them there.  Did you know it is a federal offense to keep an eagle feather, even if just found on the ground?  

 Well, now you do;)

John was happy as a clam as he walked up and down the creek with a fishing rod in hand.  Jess and Nate tried their best to enjoy the cool water, despite the fact that Abby and Sam couldn't be with them but I could tell it just wasn't quite as fun.

I think we are going to have to be a little more intentional with their next days off.    

These summer days are meant to be enjoyed together!!

Red Rock Road

The day we learned that the road to Red Rock was finally open (after being closed for three years) we made plans to check it out.   

Thanks to a particularly rainy spring and summer things have been super green and I think we've seen more spectacular rainbows this year than any other.   

Twenty minutes into this drive and we had to stop to watch a baby bear climb a tree, while its mother foraged for food down below.    This road never fails to disappoint. 

Though we could see evidence of the Kenow Wildfire all around ys we were delighted to take in the familiar colors and sights of this amazing part of the park.  Oh, how we have missed this!

Note- Three minutes after I took this photo another rainstorm rolled in causing us to hurriedly pack up our food and run for cover, which we didn't mind one single bit.

Rainstorms make for exciting drives along Red Rock Road.

Livin' the dream

Some friends of ours invited us out to their home for an evening of horseback riding. 

Um...fresh hair, horses, beautiful scenery and conversation until way too late...?

Yes, please!

Look at that Nate - conquering his fear of horses and riding like a cowboy!

Look at John sitting there like he rides horses every day, and there I am smiling like a tourist. 

Look at that view!!

Oh and look at Jess. 

A dog and a horse.

We're all just spent an evening living the dream!

Third family photo shoot of the year

One of these years I'm going to pay a fancy, professional photographer to take our family photos.  

We're all just practicing still. 

A Payne-ful evening

This evening was anything but painful.  

It consisted of paddleboarding,  being motored around the lake, visiting with the kids will sitting in the bed of a pickup truck, and searching for wildflowers.

We sure do love our Payne Lake nights!

The joys of June

In case anyone ever wonders if Jessica ever gave up on her "Puppy Campain" rest assured - it is still going strong.   One day after leaving work, I approached my vehicle in the parking lot to find notes pasted all over the van.   And with a darling pros and cons list like this one, how have John and I not gotten her a dog yet?   Sigh...hearts of stone, obviously. 

As mentioned above - I worked in June!  Like, got dressed and spent full workdays at the school again.   After a month off for surgery and then three more months off for unexpected recovery time - it felt really good to be back.  Granted, due to COVID restrictions there wasn't a student insight, but I was there!  That mattered to me, if not to anyone else;)

Nate spent his days in June teaching himself to bake and playing outside with a few select friends.   Golf has been the activity of choice this year and its just so cute to watch these guys meet up for a round.   Nate even learned hot to drive his friend's Dad's cart!  haha

June brought a very unusual, but beautiful graduation celebration.  My niece Mya was among this group of lovely girls and I was glad I got to photograph them one evening.  

John's sister Rachel came down one evening and we were just so happy to see real, live company that we just had to make a party out of it.  We celebrate my nieces upcoming birthday with chicken wings, fires, cake by Nate, and watermelon!

One evening we revisited the nearby Jensen's pond.  (A stocked pond off the Waterton Highway)  It had been years since we had visited this charming little fishing hole.  

Here's a picture of our first visit to this pond pretty much a decade ago!  (I'm a little sad my kids don't dress up anymore;). So much has changed over these past 10 years.  It makes me happy and sad, all at the same time. 

I'd have been perfectly happy to have stayed right here in June forever.