Winter road trip

As the winter road trip continued, more snow and more coldness came my way along with more adventures, amazing experiences, new friends and great views. 

My friend Lorraine took me on a cross country ski trip to Lake O'hara for the day. The lake is very popular in the summer, without a reservation 3 months in advance you have little chance of staying up there, or even getting there with the shuttle bus. But in winter you can ski up and there is always space in the cozy Elizabeth Parker Hut.

As we went up it was snowing and we couldn't see much of the mountains around us. But even so, the moment that the clouds shift and that one gigantic piece of rock shows it's beauty, those are the moments that are making these trips even in this kind of weather absolutely worth it.   

My car in yet another cover of snow.

Lorraine and I catching our breath on the way up

Time for some holidays! My friend Lenny came over to visit and to share some winter experiences in Canada. We started with showing my friends in Canmore what geocaching is. Although it was freezing cold, we still managed to find a few caches and in the mean time see the beauty of Banff and surroundings. (If you have no clue what Geocaching is, look at www.geocaching.com!) 

Our first search ended with giving up and
hurrying back to the car to warm up!

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

As beautiful as this place was, that's how cold it was as well

Proud finder of the first cache!

We've found another!

Quickly write down our names and
let's move again before we freeze!

Lenny and I were brave enough to go up to Lake O'hara again, this time to stay there for two nights! Packed with all the food, drinks and stuff we needed we headed up the road. Lorraine and some friends would be there as well. As Lenny and I are two newbies to cross country skiing we took our time and let the rest go ahead to start the fire. 

This time, it was a clear blue sky and it was just stunning scenery! 

We made it to the hut.
How nice it is to see the fire already going!

Lots of people to share the small hut with,
but it was a cozy, friendly, helpful ambiance.

Crossing Lake O'hara on ski's

Gorgeous Wiwaxy peak

Beautiful effect of wind picking up snow on top

After two days of roughing it in the cold at Lake O'hara, we thought we deserved a nice breakfast. We found it at the Emerald Lake Lodge and we enjoyed it for sure! 

On our way out of Yoho National Park some Elk were saying hello one more time and posing for some nice shots too. 

As we left Yoho National Park we decided to follow the great weather. The Icefield parkway was in fair winter conditions, so we took the opportunity to drive up to Jasper. I had driven the icefield parkway in summer several times, and some of the points of interests are well known to me. It was great to see them in winter! Canyons are frozen in time, waterfalls have never been so quiet. And best of all, not a single other tourist you have to share this beauty with!

Bow Lake and Bow glacier
(Just -3 degrees, suddenly a sweater was enough, haha!)

The Weeping wall

The sun was strong enough
to make the wall weep a little.

Highest point of the Icefield parkway,
with the immense Athabasca glacier in the background

Athabasca Glacier

Athabasca Falls

Frozen in time

Excited to go IN the Canyon
to walk on the ice!

Do not try this at home kids.

Just put some spikes under your feet
and walk right in!

Wwwww..www..www..warm?!

Maligne Canyon

View up from deep down in the canyon

While we were driving further west, to the coastal mountains, the landscape kept changing. We finally made it to Whistler and enjoyed two nice nights in a hotel and two full days skiing in heaps of fresh snow. 

A rare sunny moment in Whistler

And as this was a road trip, here are some of the views captured from inside the car to finish this post with!:

Field, Yoho National Park

Castle Mountain, Banff National Park

Icefield Parkway

Canyon along highway 99

Seton Lake near Lillooet

On the way to Pemberton.
Lots and lots of snow, careful driving!

I'm back home, in Vancouver and I'm enjoying seeing my friends here again. For those that actually read the whole post and pay attention: I am flying home for a wedding, so I might run into you beginning of April! :D

See you soon!