Mountains a magnetic draw as they call us outdoors and into adventure
Sometimes I take a moment to imagine what it would have been like to arrive in the Canadian Rockies 100 years ago.
Would I have chugged into town on a steam train from the east, dog tired after a cross-country journey that revealed glimpses of a nation in its mere infancy? Or would I have taken an arduous motoring trip, perhaps in one of Henry Ford’s first models, over the mountainous route west from British Columbia?
As it happened, I first arrived at my Canmore destination by Toyota Corolla in a January snowstorm on the heels of a 12-hour cross-province journey from my home province of B.C.
Even before I got out of my car to take a look around on that frigid afternoon, I knew I was at the beginning of an adventure.
My first glimpse of the sparkling Rundle Range, looming closer through some kind of optical illusion commonly found in a crisp winter sky, was magical — a moment frozen in time as a reference point for the rest of my life.
That first glimpse of the stunning mountain environment I now call home was not unlike the feeling that strikes most visitors when they first arrive.
Many visitors to our fair town arrive in darkness, pulling into town in rental cars, on the bus, or by taxi from the airport. (And contrary to some Americans’ belief, not usually by dog sled!) Our visitors’ first look at the Rockies often occurs when they draw upon the curtains, coffee in hand, at first light in the morning.
The mountains and the blue of the sky can be almost shocking in their brilliance when seen for the first time — and, without a doubt, exert an almost magnetic draw for people who can stay only a short while, or who choose to remain for the rest of their lives.
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This issue of SolaraLife takes you outside to see the Canadian Rockies in an entirely new light. Indeed, light is central to a story by Amanda Follett, wherein she interviews some prominent professional photographers in the area for their insights on taking the very best pictures in the mountains.
We head outside again to take a wildflower hike, enjoy time in the mountains with small children, and take an educational foray into the mountains with a guide from the Alpine Club of Canada.
While there is certainly an impressive list of indoor options for visitors — check some of SolaraLife’s archived editions — early summer is the very best time to head outside for maximum light and a multitude of adventures.
Locals in the beautiful Bow Valley love this time of year the most, I think, because we can all enjoy a long day of outdoor activities and still enjoy some patio time late into the evenings.
- Shari Bishop Bowes, Editor, SolaraLife
Information and contributions for Solara Life can be requested via email: contact@solaralife.com
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