It's cold out there...

I just posted a photography post by the same name on braving the elements for my photography. While I love photographing in any weather, the other reason we were outside was to play and explore. I am a firm believer that we need to get outside everyday for a bit of outdoor play - though yesterday was limited and today even more so as the temperature dipped to -34C/-29F and colder with the windchill. My son and I had was the huge amount of fun in the snow and cold... we went for a walk and listened to the birds, we looked at the tracks from the neighbourhood hares in the snow and we used the diggers and dump trucks with snow instead of sand.

What do you do when it's cold outside?

Looking Forward, Looking Back

In the past few days, I've started planning some of our adventures for the coming year. As I was compiling a list of potential people, places and things for us to see and do it occurred to me that I should look at the adventures of 2011. From dozens of fantastic day, weekend and week long trips, there some that stood out right away such as my son's birthday at the lake with friends and our trip up to Jasper with my in-laws. There was joyous trips such as my mom's surprise party in Vancouver and sad trips such as my uncle's funeral. The weather was hot, cold, dry, snowy and everything in between. There was snow, rocks, sands, trees, mud and water. In the end, I've chosen to share with you five trips which demonstrate values that form "The Big Picture" - things that made us happy and healthy as a family and as individuals. I've listened them in order they occurred as it would be impossible to rank them otherwise.

#1 Family Day Weekend in the Okanagan

We headed down to Vernon for Family Day weekend to visit my mom and stepfather, go skiing and enjoy a weekend away.  I'll always be thankful that we took the time to visit my aunt and uncle nearby while we were there. Not only was it a great visit with them and a multitude of cousins, it was the last visit I had with my uncle who passed away not a month later. I'll always look back on the weekend with bitter sweet fondness. Family is important, and while they may drive you crazy, it's important not to miss opportunities to spend time with them.

#2 Winter Hike at Mount Lorette Ponds

This was a typical day out in the mountains for us. We often pack up our gear, pack some snacks and head out with no fixed plans. This particular day was snowy and in Kananaskis. We stopped at the ponds for a short hike and we had a blast romping in the snow and enjoying winter at it's best in the mountains. And as a photographer, I was also able to get some great photographs of my son and the landscape around me. This trip demonstrates that some of the best memories don't have to be planned or grand. We have to seize the moment and look around us.

#3 Upper Kananaskis Lake Photo Hike

I took this hike in June with a local outdoor meetup group and I look back fondly at this day out with fellow photographers. A beautiful sunny day, it was a day filled with laughter, photography and new friends - it was rejuvenating to spend the day out.  It was a solo trip but I feel that it clearly belongs on the list because it demonstrates that needs of the individual in a family dynamic... and individual trips for all of us should be on this list for the coming year.

#4 Back country camping trip to Laughing Falls
We joined two other families for the August long weekend for a back country camping trip into the mountains. Six adults, three toddlers and a baby in the back country of Yoho National Park, camping beside a raging river fed by glacier water. The weekend wasn't without its challenges - missing juice, clogged filters, night terrors, thunderstorms, etc. - but we proved it possible and had a great time doing it. A back country trip is a definite for 2012.

#5  Camping at Dinosaur Park

This was a short weekend trip that we decided on literally at the last minute. Within about an hour Saturday morning, we had packed up and were heading out into the crisp fall air. We avoided the main highway as we meandered to Dinosaur Park, stopping at several small provincial parks along the way to explore. We took the time to catch frogs, have a picnic and I got some photographs. At the park, we took turns playing with our son and making camp. We watched the sunset over the badlands and ate dinner as the sky darkened. Our son fell asleep quickly and easily in the tent. We enjoyed a last cup of tea under the stars. The next day, we hiked the hills of the badlands and learned about dinosaurs. We learned to camp simply and to play with our son instead.


Now what adventures lay ahead for us this year? Only time will tell.

The [selfish] photographer rejoices

It's a Sunday morning and Matt's finally feeling better. After a week of taking care of a sick child, I have cabin fever and the despite the blustery weather I'm determined that we're going to explore the lower part of Kananaskis Country before the area is closed to traffic for the winter. Thank goodness my husband loves the area as much as I do and readily agrees. The car gets packed with food, drinks, toys, snow, hiking and photography gear and we head off into the mountains (no we're not light packers). 

As we're leaving the winds are picking up steadily and there's a wind warning issued for Calgary - heavy snow is expected in the mountains. As we near the mountains, the rain starts and we know that it'll turn to ice before it turns to snow. This is an inevitability living in Calgary and the mountains where the weather changes every five minutes and around every bend of the road. It's going to be an adventure. Everyone was happy to be out. Matt is busily playing trucks on his tray in the back (or was it colouring at this point?) and looking for trains and horses out his window. So with the gas tank full and the car prepped for winter condition, we make the turn onto the 40 and head into K-country.

After a quick stop at the information to get an update on the area (high avalanche warnings have been issued - hmm guess we won't be hiking Ptarmigan), we continue to head south, and the weather does indeed become icy. We hope that it'll change to snow after the next valley and indeed it does. By the time we get to Highwood Meadows, the area is a winter wonderland. We gear up and have some fun in the snow.

When Matt is done, we pack back up, grab a snack and head further down the road. Now I have to admit that part of my reason for wanting to go to this area was to find a specific spot that I took this picture last fall.

We knew the general area but we hadn't been able to find the exact spot... it's down the hill from the road and we remembered stopping on the way north on the road when we had seen a women photographing the scene with her phone. This time though I had printed off a contact sheet with several photos that showed the topography of the spot. With the visibility poor it was hard to see the topographic markers I was seeking but conditions improved slightly just as we got to the area - and my wonderful husband stopped and turned around the car several times looking for the exact spot. Finally, we find it!

I'm ecstatic and head down the embankment to the ice covered wetland below. Despite the grey weather, I'm in photographic heaven. Selfishly I leave my husband on the roadside watching not only the truck with our son still playing in it but also myself as I descend the slippery snowy slope. For almost half an hour, I scamper around the ice and snow (and water) taking photographs. When I finally return to the truck, I'm cold and a little wet (my boots aren't waterproof as far up as I thought) but I'm happy. It made my day, my week. 

Onward we drive and head back to Calgary where we learned we had missed hurricane force winds. It was the end of another weekend.  Saturday had been spent ensuring that Matt had completely recovered - calm and lots of rest - frustrating to see such a nice day pass us by but for the best we hoped. Sunday despite the weather and despite (or perhaps due to) indulging in a little selfishness at the roadside in the middle of nowhere, ended with everyone was happy and healthy. That for me is the key to The Big Picture. 

How was your weekend? How do you balance everyone`s needs?

Alberta: More Than Mountains - The Foothills

There are some people who may argue with me but there is more than mountains to Alberta. While our initial plan had been to head to the mountains for some winter fun, we decided that with five or more months of winter ahead of us we weren't quite ready to embrace it. Instead we headed south into the Foothills both Saturday and Sunday. 

On Saturday, the weather wasn't the best but we headed to Millarville Christmas Market any ways. It was a little windy and chilly but we browsed the exhibits, bought a couple of gifts and grabbed some fresh baked goods for the ride home. However, the best part as far as Matt was concerned was the hay ride! Horsies!!! The reindeer were AWOL but we enjoyed our morning out, getting back to the city in time for afternoon nap.

On Sunday, the weather was predicted to be mostly sunny - perfect for exploring! We decided to head down to Pincher Creek as they have an outdoor store we love. We find they have a great selection for the whole family - including what we wanted to complete our little ones winter wardrobe (more on that in a future post). But you don't just go to Pincher Creek to shop at one store. For us it's a day long adventure.

On the way down, we decided to stop at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. If you haven't been - go - it's great even for toddlers. It's open all year round and is a spectacular exhibit highlighting an important part of Alberta's history. And while you're at it, if you don't already have one, get the Experience Alberta's History Annual Pass - it not only allows you to get into Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump but many other of Alberta's historic sites such as the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller (Dinosaurs) and the Reynolds-Alberta Museum (Airplanes). This is where my hubby gets a big huge "Thanks". He wandered around the exhibit with Matt while I spent a good amount of time outside in the wind and cold being a photographer.

From there we meandered down a few back roads to Pincher Creek, my patient husband stopping at the side of the road so that I could jump out and take photographs of the windmills that line the ridges and fields in the area. After our shopping trip in Pincher Creek, we wound through the Foothills on the 22 and some back roads home to Calgary. A few of the stops we had thought to make on the way home were nixed as Matt fell asleep but what was missed can be seen on another trip. It was a great day, everyone was enjoyed themselves. I was able to be photographer, mom and wife all while enjoying a beautiful part of Alberta. That is The Big Picture.

How did you spend your long weekend?