“We travel not to escape life,
but for life not to escape us.”
– Anonymous
Fisherman at sunset in Playa Larga, Cuba. (Photo Credit: M. Kopp)
Travel – for life!
Snagmore Trail
What’s in a name? Inspiration – perhaps!
Snagmore – snag more time outdoors. That’s what I did this weekend.
Overlooking the Elbow River from Snagmore Trail. (Photo Credit: M. Kopp)
Snagmore is one of the dozens of new trails that have been developed within the West Bragg Trail System in Kananaskis Country just west of Calgary, Alberta in the past few years. Built as a mountain bike trail, it’s still multi-use and the winter hiking options are brilliant.
Spending time outdoors feeds the soul – and for that reason, alone, I’d like to thank the volunteers who maintain this network of trails.
Thanks!
Did You Know?
The Great Bragg Creek Trails Association (GBCTA) is a volunteer organization designing, building and maintaining trails in the area. They groom winter cross country ski trails; build mountain biking routes; and maintain trails – such as Snagmore.
P.S. GBCTA is always looking for extra hands to help with special projects.
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On Writing
Scrabble: the act of scrambling for something. (Photo credit: M. Kopp)
“This is how you do it:
You sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another
until it’s done.
It’s that easy, and that hard.”
– Neil Gaiman
Where to Stay in Ireland?
Getting excited! (Photo Credit: A. Kopp)
My girl and I are off to Ireland in the not too distant future. She sent me a link today for a possible place to stay – glamping in a country manor garden. ‘Glampers’ receive a ‘glamping box’ on arrival with matches, water, specialty apple juice, a jar of homemade chocolate cookies (sold!), maps of the estate and a torch and head-lamps. Cool!
Yes, it’s time to start the planning phase of where to stay in Ireland. We already know we don’t have enough time to explore Northern Ireland this go ’round. For now it’s a few days in Dublin before working our way west towards Killarney and north toward Galway before completing the loop back towards Dublin.
What are our accommodation preferences?
1. Budget… but does that mean a hostel? Possibly, especially if it includes an element of number 2.
2. Unique... not a chain… but not so quirky we can’t sleep.
3. A place with intriguing backstory. It could be something about the building’s history or the owner/manager’s background and how they came to be running the place.
Okay travellers, I’m asking for your advice.
Where would you recommend we stay? Why is this the place not-to-be-missed?
Looking forward to your brilliant suggestions!
Winter Birds: Gray Jays
Gray jay on the hunt for food. (Photo credit: M. Kopp)
Members of the crow family, gray jays are cute and crafty. It doesn’t seem to matter where you ski or hike in the winter, these little beauties track you down. They do make an escape from the office feel quite natural! Watch out though, they aren’t nicknamed camp robbers for no reason.
The Writing Life
“In order to write about life first you must live it.”
– Ernest Hemingway
EH forever sharing drops of wisdom in Havana, Cuba. (Photo credit: M. Kopp)
Parks Canada: A Rosy Welcome
Parks Canada initiated a fun program last year called The Red Chairs Experience. The idea was to place red chairs in special places within Canada. Visitors are then encouraged to discover their locations and share their experiences with others via social media outlets. It’s a cheerful way to help spread the wonder of our landscape.
Imagine my happiness when I stumbled across said chairs in Kootenay National Park. The pop of colour mid-winter is a boon. My guy and I were taking the short, but scenic stroll up Marble Canyon’s interpretive trail to the 40 m/130 ft deep gorge of Tokumm Creek to check out ice formations when we spotted this rosy pair.
A duo of red Adirondack-style chairs at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park. (Photo Credit: M. Kopp)
Although I was aware of the program before our discovery, this is the first pair of chairs that I’ve come across. Quick research suggested that 11 of these rosy duos can be found in different locations in Banff, 2 along the Icefields Parkway, 2 in Yoho National Park, 2 in Kootenay National Park, and 6 in Jasper National Park (as well as other parks across Canada).
If You Go: Marble Canyon can be accessed off Hwy 93 (17 km/10.5mi south of the Trans-Canada Hwy). The trail which criss-crosses the canyon is a short 0.8 km/0.5 mi one-way. Note: Stairs can be icy in winter; boot grips recommended.
Where have you discovered the red chairs?
Winter Hiking: Alberta’s Boom Lake
We had to search farther afield than normal – heading out near Lake Louise – to find winter for a mid-week nature fix. But when skis skitter, clatter and refuse to obey direction, I’m more than happy to swap out skinny skis for the hiking boots and ice grips my guy had the foresight to pack. It’s been a strangely warm winter. Recent rain turned the trail rock hard. Winter hiking never looked so good!
Boom Creek almost ice-free in February is a sure sign of a warm winter! (Photo Credit: M. Kopp)
Close to the Continental Divide, Boom Lake trail is an easy 5 km (3 mi), gentle jaunt uphill through a thick evergreen forest. Total elevation gain is only 175 m/575 ft, but the resulting lake view is worthy of much steeper ascents.
Soaking up the views at Boom Lake. (Photo credit: M. Kopp)
If You Go:
The trailhead can be found 7 km (4.3 mi) south of the Trans Canada Hwy (#1) on Hwy 93 (heading towards Radium, BC).
Write Smart, Write Now!
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”
– Albert Einstein
In my spare time, I’m always looking for ways to improve my freelance career. The path wanders and it includes everything from searching for new markets, to learning to be a better blogger, to brushing up on my writing skills.
Be a Better Writer is a new site for me. It’s geared toward fiction and I write non-fiction, but one of the posts caught my eye. I had to take a closer look. “Tight Writing Gets Published” is a perfect primer (or refresher) for self-editing – no matter if you are penning a novel or drafting a travel article or editing a children’s book. Get rid of those things, somethings, and somehows. Use strong verbs and resist adverbs. Cut the excess and your writing will improve.
In the words of Elmore Leonard, “try to leave out the parts that people skip.”
What sites would you recommend for improving your writing?