I’ve got to say that I’m quite happy to see the backside of January and February. I’m looking forward to the optimism of spring – a rebirth, renewal and recharge.
Saw a loon on the river yesterday – one of the few stretches not ice-covered it would seem. What a wacky winter this has been, but the rhythm of a season beating to a close has begun.
As the promise of change continues, I’m finding myself creatively inspired and willing and able to take on projects that were daunting a month ago. Part of this is no doubt due to an escape south for a week of desert glory – in Big Bend National Park, Texas. Birds sang, sun shone and water flowed. We camped, hiked, explored, talked, laughed, gazed, and stole precious time to rest weary souls.
No matter that we came back to a slam of winter; we tasted spring and it was delicious.
“Wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity of the human spirit,
and as vital to our lives as water and a good bread.”
– Edward Abbey
“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Writing is not enough, we must do.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
September has been a month full of trips close home. From one day hikes to weekend canoe trips to five days along the Cowboy Trail, I’ve had the good fortune to experience a few of the unique stories Alberta has to offer. This province is rich in natural and cultural history and I’m going to do my best to spread the word!
Sitting on a Brahma bull at Fantasy Adventure Bull Riding is an adenaline rush! (Credit: Megan Kopp)
Meeting a mountain man named Bear at Wild Horse Mountain Ranch and Outfitters had me reliving the past. (Credit: Megan Kopp)
Awakening to a sunrise on the Red Deer River is a magical experience. (Credit: Megan Kopp)
Hiking Big Beehive above Lake Louise is a golden opportunity this time of year. (Credit: Brad Kopp)
We hiked in B.C.’s Invermere Valley these past days off and re-visited Lake of the Hanging Glacier. Our first trip to the area was an overnight backpack trip years ago with our five-year-old daughter. Back then, it took us most of the day to wind our way through the forested trail alongside Hell Roaring Creek, up the switchbacks, across the avalanche slopes and out onto the subalpine meadow camping area.
After setting up our tent, we strolled the 1/2 km or so up to the lakeshore. The Commander and The Lieutenants stood guard at the end of the glacial blue lake. Jumbo Glacier flowed over the mountaintops and down the valley, one finger reaching into the water. My daughter was captivated by the icebergs bobbing in the lake.
“Do you want to try a piece of ice?” my husband asked her.
“Yes!”
He found a longer stick in the avalanche debris littering the shoreline, waded out in the frigid water and started to pull a small berg closer to shore. My girl was dancing beside me.
“Why are you so excited?” I asked.
“I’ve never had wild ice before!”
This adventure came back in a flash as we stood on the shore a few days ago, watching the icebergs bob and dance in the waves. It put my mind to thinking about all of the mini-adventures and stories that have come out of our travels. “Wild Ice and Other Adventures” – sounds like a book title. And why not?
“Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants; cant’s into cans; dreams into plans; and plans into reality.” – Unknown
Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.”- Henry David Thoreau
Sitting on a knoll above Carthew Ridge, I wasn’t counting the footsteps it took to climb 650 m (2132 ft) from Cameron Lake. I was soaking up the views; laughing at the antics of resident marmots; and juggling story ideas that were flooding my head.
Waterton Lakes National Park – tucked in Alberta’s southwest corner – is wildflowers, wildlife and wickedly good hiking during summer months. Relatively small (0.07% of Alberta’s landbase), the park boasts 50% of the province’s plant species. With an unusually cool and moist spring, the wildflowers are blooming a few weeks later than norm – a boon for us! A seasonal story on Waterton’s wonderful wildflowers wouldn’t be amiss.
Up on Carthew Mountain, my hubby paused in wonder as he investigated wolverine tracks left in a snowdrift. What brought it up to this barren summit? Where was it going? Do wolverines appreciate the view as humans do? Research into these cool creatures in Waterton Lakes would be a interesting tale to tell.
On the drive back down Akamina Parkway towards the townsite, we slowed to snap a quick picture of a cinnamon-coloured black bear and her three wee cubs as they grazed on dandelions in their own roadside restaurant. Waterton is well-known for its grizzly population, but I wonder how many black bears are in the park? Or how many deer? It seems like there are hundreds of these brazen creatures wandering Waterton’s streets with impunity. Wildlife management in parks is always topical. And surely there’s a story in the success of salamander migration tunnels leading to Linnet Lake?
And there’s the hiking. Early July in almost in any other national park is prime season. Trails are packed with adventurers throwing off the chains of work and school and setting off to explore the wilderness. Now don’t get me wrong, Waterton is a popular destination, but the trails we visited were refreshingly uncrowded. When I asked about the name for the whitish-coloured lily with three petals (the Mariposa), parks staff said I must have been on the Buffalo Paddock Trail because that’s where it was in bloom. Made me think there could be a short article about walking for wildflowers, e.g. want to see avalanche lilies and bear grass, hike Carthew Summit trail.
Thoreau is so right – taking a break from the computer keyboard and stretching the legs is always productive.
“Writing comes more easily if you have something to say.” – Sholem Asch
These past few days have been busy with travel writing projects and short turn-around times for articles. There are times when a hectic pace and looming deadline can cause a brief moment of writer’s block, but not this weekend. I was immersed in the culture of the Blackfoot people at the 3rd Annual Chicken Dance World Championships at Blackfoot Crossing on Saturday and uncovered more story leads than I could have imagined.
What is it that inspires writers?
I can’t speak for everyone, but for me, motivation to write often comes from people and their stories. It the tale of the four-year-old chicken dancer who captured my gaze the moment he entered the dance ring. Talking with his mom, I discovered that he was wearing the outfit his father had danced in as a child and that his two-year-old brother would have danced as well if he wasn’t feeling under the weather. I was intrigued by the family and then needed to know more about the choice of beads, feathers and cloth used to create each outfit, by the language spoken in the dance steps, and by the songs sung by the drummers.
One person, one little chicken dancer, opened my eyes to a world of potential stories.
