“Pic of the Week”, December 6, 2019: Fresh Snow in the Mountains

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I love driving through the mountains.  Perhaps no season in the mountains is more memorable than winter.  The fresh snow on the Rocky Mountains in the Crowsnest Pass and soft light were quite lovely. 

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“Pic of the Week” bonus. October 27, 2013. Larches in their fall colors

Larches 2013 003

I just enjoyed a beautiful drive in Canada’s Rocky Mountains this past weekend, through the Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass and on towards the Elk River Valley in southeastern British Columbia.  The scenery was absolutely gorgeous with the larches in their orange-yellow canopy.  I had no idea there were so many larches in these evergreen forests.

Those who live in milder climates may not be familiar with larches.  They’re deciduous pine trees (conifers) that change color each fall, shed their needles and regrow them in the coming spring.  They add a great variety of color to the mountainous forests in the Northern states and Canada, although these colors are short-lived, lasting only a week or two at most.

Thought you’d enjoy these images!

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“Pic of the Week”. June 14, 2013. Crowsnest Mountain, Alberta

2013-Feb-012 Crowsnest Pass, Crowsnest Mountain

Alberta has many beautiful drives, one of my favorites being Highway 3 through the Crowsnest Pass in the extreme southwest corner of the province, just east of British Columbia.  The area has a colorful western history.  It was one of the first major train routes across the continental divide and in the early days of rail travel many steam trains from the United States diverted into Canada to make the relatively easy climb through the Crowsnest Pass before heading south into the USA.  The area is dotted with lots of abandoned mines; you’ll find the remains of a huge rock-slide (Frank Slide), and many beautiful Rocky Mountain peaks.

The grandest and most beautiful peak in the region is Crowsnest Mountain (2785m, 9138 ft), a very distinctive massif …

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