Snowy – Soothing – Stunning: Splendor of the Canadian Rockies

We always had an intrigue to visit Calgary and the Canadian Rockies in the wintertime. How would it all look when snow and ice cover everything in white? When Timish and Alpabhabhi invited us, the fun of family time made it a no-brainer. Prajay and Preet came over from Toronto. I am sharing family moments and the breathtaking views we captured on our phones.

Note: You might want to see slideshows in this blog post on a laptop or an iPad for bigger screen size.

The glaciers melt, creating lakes with incredibly scenic backdrops and stunning yet soothing views. I think one lake in particular – Lake Louise – is an icon of Mother Nature, capturing the essence and beauty of it all. Our experience of seeing Lake Louise in the summertime is etched in our memories and Nilay’s oil painting at home.

It was quite an experience on this trip to walk on the frozen Lake Louise and see from there the awe-inspiring glacier peaks.

There was a beautifully crafted ice castle sculpture on the frozen Lake Louise. With temperatures ranging from 15 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (about -8 to -25 degrees Celsius), the snow doesn’t melt, making it possible for this incredible ice artwork to remain intact for at least a few weeks, if not months, during the wintertime.

We drove around different spots in Banff and Lake Minnewanka. The sky was clear, crisp blue on that day, enabling the stunning views of the glaciers and lakes. I think words or pictures can’t do them justice. Following are glimpses from the day.

We got the opportunity to go to the peak of the Kicking Horse ski resort. It was quite an experience at the top, seeing snowy white all around as far as I could see. The temperature that day was close to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. I had a neck warmer also covering my nose and ears. It also served as a mask. The moment I stepped outside the gondola at the top, though, my breath going up the warmer, condensed on my glasses. Before it got a chance to disappear, the cold temperature froze it creating a frost layer. We were inside the giant freezer of Mother Nature. The pine trees were all snow-covered, and looking into the valleys on all sides, they would look like tiny white dots.

The majesty and splendor of Mother Nature were overwhelming, stunning, breathtaking, and yet soothing.

The roads wind through the mountains bringing incredible views all around. It is frigid and dry weather conditions, making the snow dust/powder blow with the draft of the passing cars and trucks. It was quite a symphony of the white playing on the road right before our eyes.

While driving up, we saw the sun going down, playing hide and seek with clouds, and the mountains’ contours creating a kaleidoscope of colors.

We were being so embedded in nature and yet being able to drive and move crisply inspired a sense of gratitude for me: what an opportunity to explore it all within what felt at the moment as comforts of roads, cars, and Maps application on our phones guiding, protecting, and smoothly flowing us around.

Losing myself in the beauty and awe of it all felt so healing and nurturing. I am deeply grateful for an opportunity to soak up the Canadian Rockies’ snowy, stunning, and soothing splendor embedded with the comfort and fun of family time.