The wrong way is still okay

Okay, so the dumb human didn't see the nicely packed snowshoe trail that would have been ideal for Big Boot People and Four Legged Folks to beetle up to Chester Lake until we got back to the bottom . . . . . but hey, it worked out okay anyway.

We were going to ascend to Chester Lake in Kananaskis Country, west of Calgary today but found only a cross-country ski trail and almost a foot of new snow . . . . so, rather than breaking etiquette walking on the packed ski trails, we struck out on another trail that no one had used, the 6-8 inches of new snow overnight hampering our progress. We throught we'd go a little ways and have a look, knowing we probably wouldn't make the lake, but it still turned out to be a nice walk, although breaking trail was tiring.

We'll come back in a few weeks, on a sunny day, to do it right.

Below, Abby listens for a sound in the surrounding forest. We were quite alone on this trail. It's snowing even as the sun is shining, the weather confused to say the least.

http://www.goldentales.ca/CSC_2908-edit1.jpg

Nobody here but Keeper and Abby and me . . . . . and some rather menacing large prints that crossed the trail twice. Since the snow was new overnight, the beast, whatever it was, had to have been there in the previous few hours.

http://www.goldentales.ca/CSC_2870-edit1.jpg

Below, wrong turn but still a beautiful walk in very snowy surroundings. Rick especially liked the part on the drive in when the very wide (think four lanes of blacktop, only gravel) hadn't been cleared, allowing some free-wheeling four-wheeling with the Durango at 50-60 mph. Keeper looked a little nervous. Wheeeee!!!

http://www.goldentales.ca/CSC_2804-edit1.jpg

Below, LUNCH!!! Abby gets some biscuits and Keeper gets her special allergenic food in a bowl.

http://www.goldentales.ca/DSC_2835-edit1.jpg

Below, a bend in the road, on the way down.

http://www.goldentales.ca/CSC_2917-edit1.jpg

A shocking contrast on the prairie, brown, with no snow, desert-like. This is one of our favourite horse subjects, photographed through several years, in this same field south of Okotoks.

http://www.goldentales.ca/DSC_2629-edit1.jpg

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

OMG these are breathtaking ! I love the first one best , postcard material , or painting material ....

Rick - they are truly breathtaking photographs! Absolutely beautiful - especially with the Goldens to brighten the shot :D

Do you have any idea what the "beast" might have been? A cougar maybe?

OMG these are breathtaking ! I love the first one best , postcard material , or painting material ....


You took the words from my mouth. Amazing.

OMG these are breathtaking ! I love the first one best , postcard material , or painting material ....

I would buy a postcard of any of these pics.

I wish i had scenes like this to photograph. ( and the talent too)

DQ

Do you have any idea what the "beast" might have been? A cougar maybe?

Maybe a Lynx too. Not sure.

or painting material ....

Heheh . . . . well for amusement, using photshop elements, below, rough pastel . . .

http://www.goldentales.ca/CSC_2908-edit2.jpg

. . . . . and, below, dry brush . . .

http://www.goldentales.ca/CSC_2908-edit3.jpg

. . . . and, for a bonus, a plain picture, Abby lays down for a rest at a fork in the road.

http://www.goldentales.ca/CSC_2740-edit1.jpg

Thanks for the comments. It was a beautiful day . . . . but it often is back there. Smith-Dorrien Trail, a little north of Upper Kananaskis Lake area.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

POSTER even! I'd cover an entire wall in my gym with one of these!

Okay, so the dumb human didn't see the nicely packed snowshoe trail that would have been ideal for Big Boot People and Four Legged Folks to beetle up to Chester Lake until we got back to the bottom . . . . . but hey, it worked out okay anyway.



:laughing::laughing: So even an experienced hiker can miss these things eh? You got some dazzling pictures regardless. The goldens really stand out in the pics too. Looks so peaceful.

Cindy

OMG :eek: Those pictures (and paintings) are absolutely breathtaking.
... and it's not just cause of the beautiful scenery. They are so perfectly composed and the dogs are a perfect subject! :lovestruck:

and did I mention the lighting?? (I guess not), so special! (and i'm told lighting is the most important thing)

I have seen some spectacular photos from you Rick C, but I gotta say, you would have to do some pretty fancy photography to top this lot. I am bedazzled

I love the "bend in the road, on the way down" shot w/Abby & Keeper looking back @ you :D

Incredible pics just incredible :thumbs up

Ever thought of a shopping for a publisher to put out a photography book? (If you don't already have one out :o)

I always love looking at your pics....they are truly beautiful. :cloud9:

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that takes wrong turns :D

the pictures are :cloud9::lovestruck: heaven

I keep coming back to those pics ... RickC, have you thought about sending them to National Geographic ?

I keep coming back to those pics ... RickC, have you thought about sending them to National Geographic ?

I'm a little too lazy to do anything too serious. Sadly, that's true . . . . since the evidence is clearly that nothing has happened to date.

However, it does look like Abby & Keeper will be having a book published via Blurb.com, a site I saw in a Toronto Star article, likely in March/April if I can get to it. I've got a good start on it already, experimenting with different formats and concepts.

I like the fact I can lay it out as I see fit in my own spare time. Among various duties in the newspaper industry, I was an editor at one point, including page layout. I'm also an anal-retentive control freak about a very narrow range of things, this being one.

At this juncture, I would likely be offering up any initial profits, if there are any, to some rescue organizations I have in mind.

Thanks for asking.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

How adorable. meanwhile in nyc, no snow. not a drop. in fact it's about 55 degrees today.

I love when there faces are covered in snow.:)

As always, fantastic pictures in snowy AB, your dogs are beautiful too!!! :lovestruck:

I always shake my head in awe when we leave the big city and not 10 minutes away are the most breath taking scenes....love it! Now, if only we had water like those folks in Ontario....

I'm a little too lazy to do anything too serious.



So we get them all to ourselves ! :p :thumbs up

Now, if only we had water like those folks in Ontario....

I would be in absolute HEAVEN :cloud9::cloud9: Your mountains, "my" water (Lake Superior), it would be awesome beauty overload :D:D

I keep coming back to those pics ... RickC, have you thought about sending them to National Geographic ?

I was thinking today about how RickC's pics would look awesome as calendar pictures.

great idea, Byrd! I would buy a calendar of Rick's golden photos in a heartbeat!