Photos by: @AllisonSeto
The Drive
An early-morning journey to the mountains never disappoints, and this trip was no exception. As a farewell to our winter, @allisonseto, @rockywanders, @adrienne_rovere, @theresaaz, @ddusska, @tenzinjay and I went for a snowshoe at Peyto Lake, AB. With sleepy eyes and a coffee in hand, we pulled onto Highway 1 in the midst of a Sunday sunrise. Thereโs something about that feeling of familiarity on the drive to the mountains that brings with it a sense of awaiting adventure. We were promptly warned that for the last leg of the drive through the Icefields Parkway, only vehicles with snow tires were suitable to travel the terrainโโโcertainly grateful for this heads up! Even with snow tires, we still had to strap on our snowshoes much earlier than the trailโs parking lot, as the snow was too deep to drive any further. Our snowshoes, of course, kept us afloat.
The Trek
It was pretty well impossible not to be in awe of the perfectly-wintered surroundings that were offered to us by the snow-covered trees and Rockies. The temperature allowed for wearing just a sweater, while the snow was continuously falling and just about as deep as us. Aside from the crunching snow and sporadic comments about the nature of our surroundings, we were also offered a powerful sense of silence, reminding us just how vast the landscape was.
The View
As we reached the vantage point overlooking the dog-shaped Peyto Lake, we of course took a moment to absorb and document our surroundings. We were lucky enough to be the only people on the trail and, from what it felt like, in all the Rockies.
The Peak
We settled in to enjoy a hot cup of coffee amidst the snow. Itโs humbling to know that these beautiful opportunities and views are offered right in our own backyard.
The End
An awkward and unsuccessful attempt at a snow angel in the piled-high snow was a must on our way out. Having the opportunity to adventure in the midst of the snow-speckled trees is a reminder of just how important and generous these environments are. The notion that theย TreeEraย community plays a role in contributing to these kinds of landscapes is so encouraging and excitingโโโa huge thank you to everyone that has planted trees with TreeEra thus far. We are at the beginning of something great.
