Back From Calgary

Oops... I did it again!
The Head Pins

We went to Calgary. This is what we did:

Turned the Jeep on it's side

Fixed the Jeep

Went Shopping

Partied (Well our idea of partying)

Bowled

Walked

Ate way too much

Drove back to Jasper

Wildflower Bloom Begins!

(All iso 100) 1/200, f5.0

1/160 f5.0

1/250 f7.1

Better late than never. I've been chomping at the bit to get out there and try out my prime 90mm macro lens on some wildflower. Yesterday I found my first batch of Pulsatilla patens (Pasqueflower) this season. The patch is probably about three days old, but still a week behind schedule.

I'm very pleased with my new lens! I find it to be very crisp and the depth of field is incredible. No Photoshop used except to crop the bottom photo. I thought there was really nice lighting yesterday. Enough of my rambling, what do you think?

Back from the Canoe Course

My friends (and staff) with me in Kananaskis on our river instructor canoe course.
I completed my Level 1 River Canoe Instructor's course. It was a lot of hard work, more than I expected and was definitely a learning experience. I didn't know if I was going to be successful, especially after Neil and I dumped our canoe three times. It is amazing how much more you learn from dumping a canoe! The course was in Canmore, and I'm heading off to that area again early Thursday morning.

The ACC Majestic Mountain Trip was cancelled, I plan to go climbing tomorrow if the weather stays some-what dry. I'm still waiting for the first wildflowers to appear... so far a fairly late spring... hopefully that means a long hot summer (not holding my breath).

Haha, I'm a fool!

From the pictures above, I'm sure you can figure out what happened.

How deep? Just below the hips.

Worst part? Not a pond but... a slough.

Summer had come...and gone?

Top Photo: Notice my rope to the right, the wind carried it there while rappelling--ultra annoying. Middle Photo: My Cheerleader, Tracey, on the last warm day. Bottom Photo: The NFL Houston Texans Cheerleader on one of my guided trips into the canyon (two on the far right).

I've been busy with work (as usual). Sometimes I feel working in the outdoor industry leaves me very little time for the outdoors. I guess I should remember that I do get out everyday, and it is all at my door step.

We went climbing last weekend of what turned out to be a very windy day. The wind made rope management just plain annoying. I knew the wind was bad news but I had no idea it was going to bring sub -10 degree weather. My bike is fixed, I've caught the climbing bug, and all I can do is ski, so that is what I plan to do today. I hope this weather passes soon. I have a big month ahead so I can't promise many updates. I close our winter location in less than 10 days and am very glad for it. I won't say what I all have planned as that usually brings bad luck and those plans don't happen. Let me rephrase: I have nothing to do this month.