Sit. Stay.

There were five on the trail down to Surveyors Lake. While they weren't too timid, they didn't want to pose for the camera either.

I think this one is mooning me...

Shot with a 7D & 70-200 @ 170mm, f2.8, 1/100th, iso 100.

Over the Mountain

Real "wildlife".

Right by the side of the road just south of Jasper, Alberta.

Stay in your car...

Shot with a 7D & 70-200 @ 130mm, f3.5, 1/400th, iso 100.

Pot 'O Gold

Back in Banff for the night - and we've found the pot.

Shot with a 7D & 12-24 @ 24mm, f5, 1/100th, iso 100.

Bilingual

Parlez-vous français ?

If not, you might be able to pick some up by reading the signs quickly as they pass.

Too bad there isn't a units conversion too...

Shot with a 7D & 12-24 @ 15mm, f6.3, 1/320th, iso 100.

The Watchman

Somebody ahead of us had some time to spend on the river. While there, they got creative with the materials at hand.

Shot with a 7D & 12-24 @ 16mm, f5.6, 1/200th, iso 100.

Jasper

We made it!

If you EVER get a chance to drive up the Icefield Parkway, well, just do it.

Looking for Falls

We can hear 'em from here - but no glimpse of the falls just yet - we'll have to trek a little further around Moraine Lake to find 'em.

Shot with a 7D & 24-105 @ 28mm, f6.3, 1/400th, iso 400

True Love

My sweetie will go places - and I love her for that. She's happy to see the world from her bike, on foot, or paddling there.

Out on a hike around Moraine Lake, and she came up with our own bumper-sticker: "I Love My Dweeb".

Shot by a friendly passing tourist with my 7D & 24-105. (hold it this way, the button is here, get some of the mountain and lake too - thanks!)

Mt. Rorschach

What do you see in the snow?

Prancing Horse?

Surfer Dude?

Leaping Cat?

Shot with a 7D & 70-200 @ 200mm, f5.6, 1/800th, iso 200

Wildlife

We've been on the lookout for wild animals - there are signs along all the roads to be watchful for Elk, Bears, Mountain Goats, Bighorn Sheep, and Deer.

We've discovered that a gaggle of cars pulled off the side of the road is a good indicator that a wild animal was nearby.

So, far, we've only managed a picture of this little noisy fella.

Shot with a 7D & 70-200 @ 200mm, f3.5, 1/2500, iso 400.

Assension

There's more than one way to skin the mountain around here. Lifted serenely in your own little windowed cube, or under your own power on the switchbacks.

My knees made my decision for me...

Shot with a 7D & 70-200 @ 105mm, f2.8, 1/1250th, iso 200.

Minnewanka

A walk along the lake - more turquoise water around here than you can shake a paddle at.

Shot with a 7D & 24-105 @ 24mm, f5.6, 1/800th, iso 100.

Campsite Time-lapse

The view from our campsite in the Tunnel Mountain Trailer park, Banff Alberta

415 photos shot with a 7D & 12-24 @ 15mm, f13, 0.6 seconds each, 1 second apart - using a 4 stop ND filter.

5 Day Home

Our site - with a view of the mountains...

Vermilion

Banff! We made it!

And a little paddle on one of the Vermilion lakes to celebrate.

Scat

We stopped along the way at a boardwalk trail (Skunk Cabbage Trail? - don't remember) and followed the bear sign to see where the best berries could be found.

Here's Jan confirming that there are no whistles nor pepper-spray - indicating it's not a grizzly bear in the area...

Cotton Headwaters

My bro, Tim, has had a fascination with slow shutter speeds and what they do to things that move. Moving water has been one of the subjects for him to experiment with.

So, here's a photo honoring his pursuit...

Shot with a 7D & 24-105 @ 35mm, 2 seconds, f22 with a 4-stop ND filter.

11:08 PM

Ok, here's the reality. We pulled up to the gate at Herald Provincial Park at 11:08 and learned that the gate is closed and locked at 11:00. How about that?

So, since we towed our hotel along with us, we found a quiet place off the road and slept soundly anyway.

In the back parking lot of the Salmon Arm Best Western. Right next to an RV for sale, and just through the trees from the busy railroad.

When you're tired you can sleep through anything.

Heading out!

We're on our way to Banff & Jasper! It's been a while in the planning, and on Jan's bucket list for longer still.

Here's our first night at Lake Shuswap - our designated half-way point. There's nothing like clear skies, trees & water to smooth the transition from work week to vacation week.

Reflection

A thoughtful moment after running the drill team through their paces. It all went smoothly - they looked really good and "together" this time around. I guess practice pays off after all.

Shot with a 7D & 70-200 @ 165mm, f2.8, 1/800th, iso 100