Photography

It's an amazing thing when you can hang out in a place like this in between shifts at work.  Moraine Lake made the old $20 bill famous... or wait, did the $20 bill make Moraine Lake famous?... either way, it's spectacular and I'm freakin' lucky to be able to see this everyday.

 

Skoki Lodge was built in 1930 and became the first commercial back-country ski lodge in Canada. It is located in Banff National Park and is only accessible by hiking or skiing the 11km trail from the Lake Louise ski area. At an elevation of 7100 feet, the lodge is surrounded by spectacular high alpine lakes and glaciers.  My last experience skiing into this historic place was back in 2001. With very little experience on cross-country skis, I was a little wary skiing 11km to the lodge, stopping in only long enough for a cup of tea and then skiing another 11km back out. It wasn't only the distance that had me worried but the fact that I was accompanied by four men that had been born on skis...for some reason I thought my skill level just wasn't up to par with the rest of the group! That trip did end with a few tears, many face plants and having to ski out in the dark, but as the saying goes, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. It's the morning of January 2nd 2007 and my husband and I are on the trail again, this time with a lot more confidence, some wider skis, and the reward of two nights at the lodge.