the Great Canadian Adventure

Long time no hear!

mgregg87 — Mon, 5 Mar 2012 14:12:00 GMT

Good Evening All!!

It has been a while since an update has been posted,so I thought I'd better do something about that!

Lets just say the past few months have been nothing short of interesting, fun and at times breathtaking. To say that I live in an awe-inspiring environment is nothing short of an understatement. I've seen some pretty amazing sunrises, been on some quite amazing hikes to frozen waterfalls and lakes, snowboarded down some challenging runs but have loved every single moment (even if at times I may not have looked like it at times)

I have been having the time of my life out here with some awesome people, so much so that I have got a job in the Kananaskis valley for the summer at the golf course. I really do enjoy the area, looking forward to the summer hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, wildlife spotting and of course playing golf.

Thats it for now, will talk to you all soon :)

update number 2

mgregg87 — Thu, 3 Nov 2011 07:15:00 GMT

Wednesday 02 November 2011

I guess I could start this off by answering the most asked question that I have had since arriving here; How is everything going over there and are you having a good time? In 3 words, Awesome and Yes! I have been having an amazing time here in Kananaskis, even if there are more things to do outside of the valley (as I have been doing) than inside the valley, and the people here are pretty damn good too. Have been keeping myself busy on days off, I get 7 days off each fortnight, by going out with friends to places like Lake Louise for hikes as well as into Calgary for Ice Hockey games (am about to go to my 3^rd and 4^th games for this season, against Minnesota and Ottawa respectively) and into Banff and Canmore for days out. Have been having a few days to myself also just so that I don’t drive myself crazy with cabin fever. Helps when I have friends living outside the valley to go out with also.

Went to a film festival in Banff last night which was really good as it showcased the Rocky Mountains in all their glory and just makes me want to get out and see more of this amazing corner of the globe. Still got plenty of time and plenty of space left on my camera to get out to do just that and share the scenery with everyone.

The hikes at Lake Louise are pretty much described in one word, Breath-taking (in more ways than one). Best day I have had so far was when Carla, Kev, Kellie and myself went for a walk from the base area of Lake Louise up to the glacier field at end of the lake. It was about a 13km walk but worth every minute. Being out with friends + awesome scenery + fresh snow = nature and humanity at its’ best J

Work has been challenging but the way I am looking at it is they are paying me to get fit by walking up and down the mountain and lifting snow gun sleds and hoses along the way. The views from the top of the mountain at sunrise and sunset really are worth doing 12 hour shifts for. Have a new-found respect for mother nature and have realised just how lucky I am to be able to wake up and be living in what seems to be a picture postcard every day. The valley looks even more amazing the morning after a fresh snow day. I can say that because we have had about 6 inches over the past week, which may not seem much for every other resort but for Nakiska it is especially when the annual snowfall is less than 2m for the entire year.

I don't want to freak anyone out when I say that it is supposed to be getting to minus 15 this weekend though. On that cold note I will leave you and hope that everyone is well :) Take care and talk to you all soon

Vancouver-Edmonton

mgregg87 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:56:00 GMT

There have been times when I thought this trip would bring out the very best in me... I’ve only been away just over 2 weeks and I can tell you now, it has done so. I never thought I would have had the opportunity to see some of the most amazing scenery this world has to offer, yet in the past week and a half since starting the road trip I have been to some pretty amazing places and seen some awesome works of Mother Nature...

I will start off with the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler. The day I left there was not a cloud in sight, and the scenery was awesome. Even though I was driving I still tried to get pics as I was leaving the city behind and moved into a comfortable driving pattern. Although the road is more like a zigzag along the coast until entering Squamish country it is still highly recommended to do as it is so easy. Numerous times along the way I had to look for places to pull over and take a few pictures but in the end I resorted to pic-while-driving... not safe by any stretch of the imagination but it did work.

The first stop I made was at Shannon Falls, which in comparison to Brandywine Falls further up the road is a mere trickle, where you can see the waterfall from the carpark but that would be the lazy thing to do. Had to get out as I was getting pretty restless. A good walk up to the waterfall soon had me wondering what would be next. Little did I know that the best was yet to come at Brandywine Falls about an hour up the road. At this particular waterfall it seriously looks like Mother Nature has carved a circle out of a valley and decided to put a large waterfall in there, which then flows through said creek and over to Brandywine Lake.

Had a good night rest in Whistler, after having a tour of the local brewery funnily enough named ‘The Whistler Brewery’ and going out for dinner with a couple of other aussies that were staying at the same hostel. Next morning I went into the township and began imagining what it would be like with 10,000 other Australians living there at the peak of winter... Lets just say I want to be one of them next year...

From there the drive to Kamloops took about 7 hours to go 400km as the roads were very winding, but also passing through some amazing countryside. Lakes in the middle of mountains, mountains in the middle of lakes and everywhere you go... rain. It is hard to believe that the particular road is shut off from the world for up to 7 months of the year due to snow and avalanches as it is a really nice drive (if you don’t mind going up slopes that are on about a 30 degree incline that is). At one stage I was worried that my car (which I am still yet to name) was struggling a little too much but as it turned out all was ok.

After a night in Kamloops, BC, I made my way to Lake Louise in Alberta (AB) which was about an 8 hour drive but none-the-less spectacular. I had a great view of sunrise in the Rockies while I pulled over in Salmon Arm for a much needed break only an hour into the trek. From there it was more winding roads and sweeping bends with some awesome views of lakes and valleys along the side of the road. Too bad i wasn’t able to stop in some places as it would have made for some really good shots. Overnighted in Lake Louise and rose early for what was to be a long but definitely worthwhile day.

The drive along the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper generally takes about 3-3 ½ hours. It took me 7 hours as I was stopping every few kilometres to take photos. The first photo opportunity came about due to people stopping in the middle of the road for what I thought was wildlife crossing the road. It was people stopping to take photos at Lake Nelson which was perfectly still for the reflection shots. From there it was Peyto Lake, Athabasca-Andromedes Glacier and then finally Jasper, just to name 3 of the many stops I made.

Will keep you all updated with more news once I get there... where-ever ‘there’ may be J