Jasper National Park, Journal Entry
May 2006
Landscapes
The Canadian Rockies are all about grand landscapes. Wherever you look the vistas are stunning. Perhaps nowhere else in the world is there such a high concentration of scenics than the drive from Banff to Jasper.
Which way do I go, mom?
The inexperience of youth shows through as this baby bighorn sheep faces a dilemma. Having easily reached a new height it is unsure of how to get down. It thinks for a few seconds and decides the route down looks pretty steep. Okay, then how about if I go up? Nah, how about down and to my right? Eventually it does make it down having learned a valuable lesson. Notice how well the animal blends in with its surroundings.
Transitions
May is a time of transition in the Canadian Rockies from winter to spring. In a place where snow and ice are constant companions in the high country, it becomes apparent that spring is a temporary lifting of that vail; how hard fought and fleeting it is making it all the more special.
The Power of Water - Agent of Change
From rushing torrents to more graceful descents, water, more than any other element, changes the landscape leaving behind a legacy of sculpted rock and deep canyons.
Colors
Colors boldly declare the spring season has begun: to be surrounded by budding aspen trees and blue skies, the stark witness of a life passed against the verdant forest floor, the natural rust ochre of the Paint Pots used by an ancient people for adornment, the artificial colors of modern society’s recreation, the purples and yellows of an emerging orchid.
Wildlife
Jasper was alive with animals, especially the ungulates - elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and woodland caribou. It was evident that no sooner had the ground become clear of snow and begun to green, than the animals were busy feeding during the short growing season, building up their reserves for the next winter, all the while shedding their coats from the previous winter. It heightened our appreciation of the seasons and the cycles of life.
Landscapes
The Canadian Rockies are all about grand landscapes. Wherever you look the vistas are stunning. Perhaps nowhere else in the world is there such a high concentration of scenics than the drive from Banff to Jasper.
Which way do I go, mom?
The inexperience of youth shows through as this baby bighorn sheep faces a dilemma. Having easily reached a new height it is unsure of how to get down. It thinks for a few seconds and decides the route down looks pretty steep. Okay, then how about if I go up? Nah, how about down and to my right? Eventually it does make it down having learned a valuable lesson. Notice how well the animal blends in with its surroundings.
Transitions
May is a time of transition in the Canadian Rockies from winter to spring. In a place where snow and ice are constant companions in the high country, it becomes apparent that spring is a temporary lifting of that vail; how hard fought and fleeting it is making it all the more special.
The Power of Water - Agent of Change
From rushing torrents to more graceful descents, water, more than any other element, changes the landscape leaving behind a legacy of sculpted rock and deep canyons.
Colors
Colors boldly declare the spring season has begun: to be surrounded by budding aspen trees and blue skies, the stark witness of a life passed against the verdant forest floor, the natural rust ochre of the Paint Pots used by an ancient people for adornment, the artificial colors of modern society’s recreation, the purples and yellows of an emerging orchid.
Wildlife
Jasper was alive with animals, especially the ungulates - elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and woodland caribou. It was evident that no sooner had the ground become clear of snow and begun to green, than the animals were busy feeding during the short growing season, building up their reserves for the next winter, all the while shedding their coats from the previous winter. It heightened our appreciation of the seasons and the cycles of life.