Christina's take on Emerald Lake 9.9.09

I am a detail photographer.  I'm not really into landscape photography like Quent is.  And I don't need to be because he's awesome at it!  We are a great team!  I found my photographing groove when we were at Emerald Lake.  There was a light rain, but that didn't stop four photographers from snapping photos!  Here's a few photos I snapped:

I love this sign!  Especially the part on the bottom!

Lake Louise 9.10.09 (Quent's 30th birthday)

Now this is a place I wouldn't mind spending on my birthday!  Except my birthday is in December so we would definitely have to stay in the Lake Louise [gigantic] hotel where it was nice and warm.  I could sip hot cocoa while Quent went skiing.  Ok, I better get back to reality.  So this is what we did on Quent's 30th birthday:

Lots of smiles before our hike.  But first we needed to find water.

And find water we did!  We felt so out of place with our hiking gear on in the fancy hotel.

I believe it was at this point I caught Quent daydreaming about skiing.

I just love this picture of Pat and Sara.

The hike was challenging!  I went on this same hike with my dad, Kelly, and Matthew when I was younger, but I didn't remember how challenging the hike was.

We finally made it to the teahouse!  We enjoyed lunch together and the beautiful view!

I was very happy to be going *down* the trail.  But I was sad to leave the teahouse.

Lake Moraine 9.10.09

After our hike at Lake Louise we drove over to Moraine Lake.

Peyto Lake, Alberta 9.11.09

Once I saw this lake, I remembered a photograph my dad and Kelly had in their house from their honeymoon trip. I always thought the lake looked like a dog's profile. And that's what I saw in person. Maybe I just have a really weird imagination.

Glacier 9.11.09

The Columbia Glacier reaches out toward the Icefields Parkway.  I found it very interesting that a snow flake that falls on the icefield above the Columbia Glacier has options.  It can go to the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, or surprisingly, the Atlantic Ocean via Hudson Bay. 

Waterfalls 9.11.09

After the glacier we found some roadside waterfalls that needed photographing.

Morning 9.12.09

Quent got up at the wee hours in the morning to hike up a mountain. I love this photograph!


After an attempt at startrails the night before, I made my way up to a ridge opposite the Columbia Glacier for some early morning photography.  I was in the alpine before the sun came up and watched the alpen glow gently caress the rugged mountains.  A beautiful sight indeed!  This photo was taken a bit later in the morning. 

Jasper Sky Tram 9.12.09

We drove to Jasper and bought tickets for the sky tram.  It was a short wait.

Pat & Sara are in the sky tram.

What a gorgeous view from on top of the mountain.  The tram employees were saying that it was the first time they had seen it this clear the whole summer.  We felt very fortunate.

Crazy Animals 9.12.09

We pulled into the 500-700 site campground and the lady at the registration warned us about the elk that were in rut. She said that we *would* see them and to be careful. And it was quite comforting to see a bear trap rearing and ready to go. That's the great outdoors for ya!



We found our site, got out, and were about to get the tents out when we heard an elk bugle. We saw two cows come toward our site with the bull not far behind them. I think Quent was using the restroom, so Pat and Sara gave me Quent's camera. I stood on top of the picnic table to get a better view and because it felt more safe there. Following the elk was a man with a gun and what looked like tranquilizer equipment. The elk walked through and the man asked people to move their vehicles. After the excitement we set up our tents (I was rather hesitant because I was picturing being trampled by elk in the middle of the night). A little while later the elk returned, but this time there were 3 humans following close behind with guns and tranquilizers. We aren't sure what they were doing, but we didn't see the elk or those humans after that.

After all of that excitement we drove to some hot springs. I don't remember the name of this place either. Maybe it was Cheeko? There were some crazy goats or sheep licking the asphalt in the parking lot of the hot springs. Some people were trying to leave, but the animals were just really enjoying whatever it was on the asphalt behind their van. I didn't know who to feel more sorry for, the people or the animals.

Unfortunately we don't have any pictures of the hot springs, but it was fun to sit in the warm water for a couple of hours. After 15-20 minutes we would go dip into the cooler pools because that's what was recommended. Quent and Pat would see who could stay in the longest. It was SO cold in those cooler pools!

Turning south 9.13.09

The end of our trip was drawing nearer, so we traveled south to Kalispell. It was a beautiful journey with lots of conversation with great friends!

Randy & Laura 9.14.09

Years ago I told myself that the next time I was in Montana, that I would look up my dad's cousin Laura. We had visited her in Whitefish, Montana years ago and I thought she was such a neat person. I remember being envious of her not having a television in her home. She now lives in Kalispell with her husband Randy. Quent and I spent the evening with them. We went out on their boat with them for about an hour, had dinner with them, and just really enjoyed catching up on life. We felt so welcome there! Her parents, my dad's Uncle Bill and Aunt Midge, were flying in the next day, about the same time we were flying out. When we were in the airport they saw us and waved. I left the "secure" area to say hello. It was so neat to be in Montana and see family!

When we visited Laura those many years ago Matthew and I spent time outside playing. Matthew made/carved her a walking stick. She said she had something to show me and she brought out the walking stick. I almost started crying. It touched my heart that she kept it after all of those years.