Family Adventure DayS #5 - Banff/Canmore

I am so happy that this trip could happen.  

We have been to Banff and Canmore a few times over the years but it is usually quite busy and crowded.  With international travel being restricted right now we heard rumblings that Banff was a little less busy than it has been in years past.  I saw this as an opportunity to finally be able to make it up to see the much-acclaimed Morraine Lake.  Located in between Banff and Jasper, this lake has become one of the most visited and photographed lakes in Canada!   A couple of years back we tried to visit this lake and were turned away because of a high volume of traffic.   I remember feeling devastated that we'd traveled so far and gotten up so early and still couldn't beat the crowds.  

As we made preparations for our two-night stay in Canmore, we felt a little more optimistic that this year would be different.  I did schedule in three different times in which a visit to Morraine would be attempted, so the odds were automatically better.

We left home on a sunny Tuesday morning and drove through the Kananaskis parks on the way.  We were in awe of this beautiful part of Alberta.  The Kananaskis is massive, rugged, and full of both wildlife and gorgeous scenery.  

We saw five bears while driving through the park, including a collared grizzly bear and her two cubs.  We also made sure to stop at Upper Kananaskis Lake.  The sand and the color of the water was stunning though the wind kept us from enjoying it for too long.  Perhaps we just knew we were close to our hotel and felt and urgency to finish the drive for the day.  Whatever the reason, we didn't stop at any Kananaskis location for long.  I think we all felt as though we should have better researched this area and planned for more time here.  

As we approached Canmore, Abby and I made John pull over so that we could show the family a cool cave we'd hiked to while on the student council trip last year.  Heart Creek Bunker is a cave that (during the Cold War) was going to be used to store some of the countries most important documents.  The hike up to this hidden spot was minimal and it was fun to walk through the cool, dark corridors of this cave.  

We reached our hotel around 4 pm and Nate immediately went straight to the pool.  (He is a sucker for those hotel pools)!  My initial plan had been to make the one hour drive by myself and try to see Morraine lake that night.  On a whim, though the rest of the family decided to come along too and I am so glad they did.  As it turns out the evening is DEFINITELY the best time to make the trip to this lake.  We weren't turned away, we found a great parking spot, and the crowds were small!  

(7pm = Magic time.)

I almost cried as we drove up to this beautiful scene. It was more breathtaking than I could have imagined.  There were a few others at the lookout point, but they all seemed to look and move on quickly.   I could have sat there forever.   Look at that water!!   

We set the paddleboards out and had the opportunity to float in the prettiest sea of blue ever.  We stayed until it was too dark to see clearly.  My heart was so happy and so full of gratitude that night I thought it would burst.   

What a fabulous day this had been.

Wednesday was a lot less busy (we'd checked off all of our "must do's" the day before) but we did hike Heart Creek Trail all the way up to a very cool waterfall, the kids swam again, and we went out for dinner at Boston Pizza.  

It was really nice to get away with the kids.  If I have to spend hours each day in a car, or exploring unfamiliar terrain - these are the people I would like to do it all with.     

 

Just some July

How have I not shared some of these updates from earlier in the summer?  

(tsk tsk.). Now I'll have to try my best to remember some of these highlights from July, which seems like forever ago.  

Camada Day was definitely a quiet one this year.  With restrictions still heavily in place, there could be no community-wide celebration.  Nate made sure we did not forget about it entirely though by making these cute Beaver cupcakes.  He's really become an excellent little baker during those months of quarantine.  

We found a nearby U-pick and gathered enough strawberries to make a year supply of jam.  (Or a four-month supply of jam if you live in my house;)

John spent a large part of the summer building fences for others and I was busy with schoolwork, which meant that the kids were left untethered for hours on end.  Sigh...

We only got out to Walleys beach once this year (I suppose there is still time) but we did all the things that make Walleys so special.  Sand, water, paddleboards, mosquitos and all!

Jessica decided this summer that daisies were her favorite flower.   A very important discovery indeed.

Nate's primary president and her counselors brought their "ice cream truck" by one day so Nate could pick out a treat.  It has been interesting to see how creative some people have been as they try to maintain valuable connections.    Thank goodness for them!

Our front lawn struggled a bit this summer and we struggled to know what it needed.  more water, less water?   Mowing too much, not enough?  Thankfully, I discovered this lawn testing kit at our local hardware store and after conducting our chemistry experiments, what needed to be done became a little more clear to us.  

Abby has worked so much this summer.  Soo.Much. She usually has a day off each week and without fail, she finds something new to create or paint.   This was a fun piece for her and I love walking into her room now and seeing all of her masterpieces on display.  

My niece Ava returned home from her mission.  Jewel asked us if we could set up a welcome home sign for them as they anticipated being home in the early morning hours.  It has been fun to see her around a bit more often and to see how happy she is because of the gospel.  She's been a great example to my kids. 

Abby and I tried out a tranquility float.  

We each climbed into one of these pods and for 90 minutes laid in a sensory deprivation tank that held 10 inches of water and 1100 lbs of Epsom salt.  You kinda just float with little effort.  It gave me time to think (too much time maybe) and even nap a little.  The lengths we go to for a little quiet time.

This summer brought some of the prettiest rainbows I've ever seen. 

Jessica was given the opportunity to participate in a horse camp last month.  She was the only town kid there, and she had to borrow a horse and saddle from the organizers, but she had such a fun time and learned so much. She is always chiming in now with facts about horses and saddles.  She's determined that her future consists of three dogs, six horses, and twenty acres of land.  I don't doubt she means it.

This picture pretty much sums up my own personal July.  Blueberries (by the case, thank you very much) and more time spent reading articles and textbooks than ever before.  This school thing is going to be more challenging than I initially thought, but I hope to be able to finish three years from now.

If this summer has taught me anything it is that the time is going to fly by no matter what.  May as well try to get a degree out of it.

Family Adventure Day #4 - Red Rock Canyon

I really love Red Rock Canyon in Waterton National Park.

It is the perfect place to go when the temperatures are high and that has certainly been the case these past couple of weeks.  With the forecast this day calling for 31 degrees and no wind, it seemed that hiking the stream up Red Rock canyon would be the only logical thing to do.  

It has been years since we've been able to do this and I was surprised at how much easier it is and how much further we could go now that our kids are older.   

This is the kind of hike that offers a to do along the way.

There are fallen trees to balance on, rock formations to stop and admire, natural waterslides to play on, and deep pools of cold water to swim in.  

Sam definitely led the way for this hike, always making sure he was far ahead of the rest of us.  Too embarrassed to be seen with his family perhaps?  Or maybe he just wanted to see if he could walk all the way to BC before being called back.  At any rate, we hiked up Red Rock Canyon until the red rock was far behind us.  For all, we know this could have been BC!

It was:

Gorgeous

Rejuvenating

Fascinating

Refreshing

and...

Perfect.

 Family Adventure day always seems to be.

Family Adventure Day #3 - Willow Creek

We were delighted one day this summer when my brother and his wife called us to tell us that they were headed to Willow Creek, in case we wanted to join them.  Uh...yes, please!  

It worked out perfectly because this particular day had been slated to be our third Family Adventure Day, but we had yet to determine what our adventure was going to be.  (Sam had been put in charge of planning it and up to that point had dubbed it a day where we all just "chill."  We're still not sure what he meant by that, but whatever.)

We bought some new tubes for the river, loaded up the truck with water, fixings for sandwiches and licorice and headed down.  I hadn't been to Willow Creek Provincial Park since I was a kid.  It was fun showing this part of my childhood to my kids.  

After watching a couple of their daredevil cousins, Abby, Sam and Jess each took turns cliff jumping.  Nate swam like an otter for hours.  John wandered downstream to fish a little while I found a nice pocket of shade to lie in and did precious little else.  

That evening we returned to Chad's farm for dinner (tinfoil meals- yum!) and a bit more visiting.

We love it when we get invited to the farm.   

It makes for a perfect Adventure Day!

 

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!!