How To Spend A Wednesday

[TreeGuy]

It's been a long winter and there's been a serious case of 'cabin fever' setting in here in the Treehouse. After 10 consecutive days on snow patrol, it was time to hit the road for a much needed break.

We went westward, and then took the Sibbald Creek Trail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_68) to the Jumpingpound Interpretive Forrest Loop (http://kananaskisblog.com/snowshoe-moose-loops/2010/ )

I had worked in there a few years ago doing a trail clearance gig and got to spend a bit of quality time with a small grizz and a pair of wolves. I was hoping to at least find some animal tracks in the snow to show the 'Shrubs'. We were in luck! :)











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Although not ever getting a glimpse of the nearly extinct Alberta grizzly ( :rolleye2: ), we had only missed by minutes. Further on we also encountered tracks in the cut from a pair of cougars. Overall, tons of animal activity despite the deep snow.

To be continued...

[hal53]

Ain't Alberta great??... you can see stuff like that with your kids a reasonable drive from a major city??? wonder if thecity is in line to get an NHL team??? will PM one of the mods and ask...:sHa_shakeshout:

[TreeGuy]

Continuing on, we soon met up with highway 40 and headed south to the Upper/Lower Kananakis Lakes ( http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/44951/dda66/ ). The amount of snow was shocking!









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We parked at the Upper Kananaskis Lake, and hiked the south shoreline to where the creek runs in. We were there fishing in the summer and thought that a winter visit was in order. Lots of snow and the 'Shrubs' had a ton 'o fun. :)









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To be continued.........

[TreeGuy]

It was then onward northbound on the Smith/Dorrian Trail ( http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=13145 ) to an early supper in Canmore. And incidentally, passing our 4th man-made lake along the way (Spray Lakes http://sunsite.ualberta.ca/Projects/Alberta-Lakes/view/?region=South%20Saskatchewan%20Region&basin=Bow%20River%20Basin&lake=Spray%20Lakes%20Reservoir&number=115 ).

Lots of guys out ice fishing along with a couple of guys zipping along kite skiing ( http://kitesurfingschool.org/kiteskiing.htm )

The road is wide open, but lots of potholes in places. The 'Shrubs' delighted in me hitting each and every puddle full blast......Mrs Tree, not so much! :lol: Needless to say, my truck is in serious need of a wash right now!








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^^^^ Ha Ling Peak (Formerly Chinaman's Peak. I've climbed it.) http://hikealberta.com/hike/ha-ling-peak


One more.....

[TreeGuy]

After an exclusive and high-brow supper stop at McDonalds............:lol:

(Didn't think I could type that with a straight face! lol)

......we took the 1A through Exshaw to Cochran then home. Great little day trip to beat the urban blues. We left home at 10:30am and were back by 5:30pm with ~350km travelled.

The Exshaw area is a proven winner for observing wildlife. :)









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The Bow River leading into the headwaters of the Ghost Reservoir ( http://www.albertaparks.ca/siteinformation.aspx?id=50 ). There were still guys on the ice and even a truck. Looked pretty dicey to me, but it wasn't my truck. :D

So that's it. Thanks for reading. :wave:









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[BrownBear416]

Great Pics tree...

The amount of snow is simply amazing..

[outdoors forever]

I was down in Banff in mid March for a seminar, and there was hardly any snow at all! WOW, some of your pics show a TON of it.

Awesome day for you guys, Tree. I have 4 girls under the age of 7, and we are gonna have to go do SOMETHING soon to break the cabin fever. Maybe a big bonfire at the Park, or a hike somewhere.....................

[TreeGuy]

I have 4 girls under the age of 7, and we are gonna have to go do SOMETHING soon to break the cabin fever......

Make a boy! j/k :lol:

[Albertadiver]

^^^^ Ha Ling Peak (Formerly Chinaman's Peak. I've climbed it.) http://hikealberta.com/hike/ha-ling-peak


One more.....

Met my wife on top of that mountain. Literally! Bumped into friends of friends on the summit, and she was one of them.

Great road trip! That is a ton of snow for that area, more than I've seen in Peter Lougheed in a long time.

[mudbug]

Those are great pictures :) Definately a good way to spend a Wednesday :sHa_shakeshout:

[Jwood 456]

He,he I saw that crazy snow pic and am now rethinking that the amount of snow where I live is crazy.lol

[The Fisherman Guy]

Nice write up Tree! Nice find with the grizz tracks too.

That group of Bighorns in Exshaw was my go to wildlife when taking a Peruvian collegue on a trip to Banff, two weeks ago. Funny, those sheep are in the exactly the same place they were when we went through!

You got to wonder about the Diver; Almost for sure at this time on any given Friday he's three fingers deep in his rum, and his motives would make Ha Ling himself pucker.

[Albertadiver]

You got to wonder about the Diver; Almost for sure at this time on any given Friday he's three fingers deep in his rum, and his motives would make Ha Ling himself pucker.

4 fingers. And tonight it's wiser's....

[Stop Staring at my Rack]

Great pics tree Im getting cabin fever too, time to go chase some bears with my bow.....

[Steven Noel]

Making me crazy Treeguy, I've been seven months without my Kananaskis fix and I'm dieing on the inside. Oh well, just three and half months till the alpines will be ice free and I can get back at those cutties.

[horsetrader]

We were in banff and jasper last week stopped and barbecued burgers for lunch at the ice fields beautiful place on a beautiful day

[Rockymtnx]

TG,
Looks like it was a heck of day to be in the outdoors. Sure beats sitting at home. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the day.

[thumper]

What a great place we live in, where you can do a day trip like that and see the wildlife and sign with your kids - all from the biggest city in the province.