Rebecca M. Douglass, Author

Last weekend I shared photos from the hike in to Skoki Lodge and one of our outings from that base. Today we'll finish off my fall trip to the Canadian Rockies with some amazing peak-top views and the rather wintery hike out. On our second full day at the lodge, the weather was iffy at best, and only two of the three of us were crazy enough to head out for our planned hike up Skoki Mountain. At about two and a half miles round trip and a 1600' climb, it's not a huge undertaking, though a bit steep (you can make it even steeper by taking the "scree trail" which goes pretty much right up the side of the mountain, but we took the longer route).  We lounged around for a bit after breakfast, but there appeared to be some clearing around 9:45, so Tom and I headed up through the trees. About the time we hit treeline, the snow resumed. Still, visibility wasn't zero, and Tom's weather app said we'd get clearing about eleven, so on we went. If you look closely...

I've been away so much I've accumulated photos far faster than I can edit them. But I've made a super effort and have a set of images for you from Moraine Lake and Larch Valley for your viewing pleasure this weekend. I went up there with my brother- and sister-in-law in late September, and we caught the larches turning just about perfectly. As always when I travel with them, I also will direct you to my brother-in-law's web page, Photoseek.com , where you can see the REALLY good photos. I shared photos from our first stage, in Kananaskis Country , a few weeks ago. Then we moved to Banff NP. Our first hike after moving HQ to Lake Louise campground was to Larch Valley, out of Moraine Lake. It had rained on us the day before, which meant snow in the even slightly higher country, an exciting prospect for the photographers. There is no longer any general parking allowed at Moraine Lake, at least during peak seasons (and yes, late September is a peak season, thanks to the lar...

I'm off again to get more trail time and, with luck, some great photos of one of my special places, the Grand Canyon. Meanwhile, you can enjoy these initial shots from my September trip to the Canadian Rockies. We started our trip (the real stuff, not the long drive from Seattle) in the Kananaskis Country, a collection of Provincial Parks east of Banff, but still hanging out in some spectacular mountains. Here are a few highlights from the first few days. For those who like logistics, I was traveling with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. They rented a camper, which gave us a warm place to sit and eat on often chilly (and once or twice wet) days, and provided suitable sleeping accommodations when we were at Lake Louise hard-sided campground later, where tents are not permitted. My little car gave us mobility. On first arriving, I did a quick hike up King Creek Ridge, an excessively steep hike that reminded me that I was no longer at sea level. View SW from the ridge Kananaskis L...