Newsletter October 2002

Goats at last !!

• English four spy mountain goats!
• Campers caught by shock snow!
• O'Hara winter wonderland!
• Fantastic fall shades!

Hello!

Here I am again, writing another newsletter. Much has happened since the last instalment.

Both Sonia and I have had visits from family, who have been duly impressed with the size and beauty of the place. Most of you will have seen the photos - if not click here.

Mum and Dad were here in July, and definitely had the better weather. Explored much more of Canada than I have so far, including the sunnier climate of British Colombia.

Anna (Sonia's sister) and her husband David were here more recently, in September, and also had a great time, including a trip to lake O'Hara. This is a beatiful spot in Yoho national park, where access is limited to 3buses per day. We had planned a camping trip for this part of the holiday, but had forgotten about the mountain weather. It had not forgotten us! We stayed for two nights in the tents in 6-8" of snow.

Sonia clearing a space for the tent!

However things were not as bad as they may seem, as we all had the right gear - and camping in Canada is a slightlydifferent proposition to the UK. There were shelters with wood burning stoves, and a large fire pit.

Toasty warm!!

Lake O'Hara was indeed a winter wonderland - finished on the last night by a phenomenal display of the northern lights.

Northern lights

Earlier in the holiday we had seen mountain goats accompanied by much squawking and general delight - this had been Sonia's stated aim for coming to Canada.

All in all a very successful week.

On returning to Edmonton, we were overtaken by an unatural urge to go shopping for VERY warm clothing - hence a trip to the Mountain Equipment Co-op. Sonia is now the proud owner of boots rated to -70'C, and a new down jacket, while my boots are good for -40'C, and I also have a new down jacket.

The next major event is the start of the ski season - oh, and we have to fit in some work...

Animals

Brown Bears
Black Bears
Hoary Marmots
Ground Squirrels
Red Squirrels
Wolves
Elk
Weasels
Mountain Goats
White Tailed Deer
Coyotes
Lynx
Cougar
Snow Hare
Eagles
Falcon
Chipmonks
Whiskey Jacks
Moose

.....

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3
5
Many
Many
1
Many
1
10
15
3
1
0
3
2
3
Many
Many
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