By Valentine's Day, I was back in the land of ice and snow, but the sun was shining and it was on track to be a beautifully sunny day. I decided to make my way back to
Abraham Lake, as Google was promising the legendary frozen bubbles were on full display.
But first... Canadian traffic stop.
A little further along the highway, past another herd of bighorn sheep, around a corner, and atop of a hill, somewhere near Cline River.... a stop the car moment of pretty epic proportions.
Complete with people for scale. Can you see them? Holy cow!
It was also the clue I needed that what I was looking for was probably just below me. I drove to the bottom of the hill, pulled over, and piled on a few layers of clothing. Cross the highway, hop a guardrail, slide over a little embankment to the shore, and there was this...
Where the sun and the moon meet for a secret rendezvous.
As well, there was this guy, and I knew when I saw him that I had found what I had come here for.
I really like the "barren, frozen tundra" feel of the shots.
Finally, I made my way to the lake surface. The ice was a few feet thick and I had no fear of walking on cracks or snow-covered invisibility or....
frozen bubbles!
I wandered the ice for a couple hours before starting to make my way back.
It was mid-afternoon and the light was changing and there was another spot I wanted to try to hit before dusk. But I couldn't resist another couple of captures on the way.
The second viewing area I had read about was blanketed in shade from the mountains as the sun started to lower in the sky when I arrived. I didn't stop. But as it turns out, my timing was impeccable.
Further along the highway, I came to a bridge spanning a river that fed into the lake. I can't even remember exactly where I was because as I casually turned to admire the lake from the vantage point the bridge provided, I saw... PEOPLE. But not just people... vehicles. And... dogs? Is that DOGS? And all of it was ON THE ICE. Stop the car, we're going in!
Sure enough, I was able to drive right down a short dirt road I hadn't even noticed when I originally went by and right out onto the ice. I ignored the looks I was getting from the group of people working there. I didn't know why they were there, but I was driving on a frozen lake in the middle of the Rockies, dang it, and nobody was gonna tell me I couldn't!
Happy, happy day!
Eventually my curiousity got the best of me and I wandered over to what turned out to be a dogsled company. Doggos, doggos, everywhere! "Can I pet them?!?!?!" "Sure!"
I had only taken a few shots, though, before I was told I had to put my camera down - the team was there on some kind of secret dog mission and I was not to promote their visit.
The employee of the dogsled company, (shout out to you,
Snowy Owl Dogsled Tours!) however, encouraged me to pet and love on the dogs for as long as I wanted as they were being fed, and told me they are based out of Canmore and yes, you were allowed to take all the photos you wanted when you were on a tour. Dogsled tours are still a thing?!?!?! I had no idea. Bucket list item? Oh, I think so.
It turned out to be a Valentine's Day of the best kind - full of adventure both expected and unexpected - and the best way to spend a glorious day off with my camera exploring the unparalleled majesty that is Alberta.
