Banff 2017

Some day I'll learn the name of this peak

 We returned from a few days at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival yesterday. It was a good time, if brief. Very cold and very snowy. How cold you ask? Well, cold enough that even the locals commented upon it. Scott and I both invested in new boots on our first evening there, mostly so we wouldn't slide to our deaths on the paths into town. Unsurprisingly, I took essentially no photos of any of the presentations or people. (The one below of Steve Swenson signing copies of Karakoram was taken by Scott, using his cell phone.) Many mule deer. A small herd of elk that we avoided disturbing. Ravens and magpies. No owls. Good presentations by Doug Chadwick, Bernadette McDonald, Steve Swenson, Kevin Vallely, and others, as well as Geoff Powter's incredibly moving interview with David Roberts.

View from the Lloyd Hall bedroom window

The partially frozen Bow River #1

The partially frozen Bow River #2. I love the way this looks black and white when it isn't.

Close-up of that frozen bit of Bow

Enough river. Make with the mule deer!

Steve Swenson, post-presentation, waiting to sign

Meanwhile, down by the river, some lovely atmospheric trees

Scott modeling his MEC coat

 Last year, I won a drawing for a coat from MEC; this year, Scott was the raffle winner--a $250 gift certificate for MEC. I'm not saying my loyalty can be bought, but I'm pretty partial to MEC these days. And they're supporting "Spirit North," a newish non-profit dedicated to getting First Nations youth out into the wilderness, which also seems a pretty fine thing to be doing.

My only indoor photo, taken at Bear Street Tavern.

Not only does Bear Street Tavern have excellent pizza, they also serve Grizzly Paw Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat beer in bottles!

Another mule deer who was just out and about on the Banff Centre campus