hike

Hiking the Continental Divide, Canadian Rockies

One of the best things we did was go to Sunshine Meadows, a hiking and ski area just outside of Banff. We rode a gondola up the mountain for about 30 minutes and then got onto a chairlift that took us the rest of the way up the mountain to about 7,000 feet. The views were spectacular. It was a beauty day. We hiked back from the top down to the gondola station, along the Continental Divide.

Back at the lodge we stopped for some after hike refreshments. It had to be Poutine, of course.

On the way down we saw a purple gondola.

All in all a very good day.

Sunfish Lake Park

The City of Lake Elmo in Minnesota purchased 254 acres of land in order to keep out new housing developments in the area. The result is Sunfish Lake Park, a “regionally significant ecological area” including a 17 acre prairie restoration project. The park is home to over 13 species of birds with declining populations, deer and other small animals. We came across a deer staring right at us as we strolled through the woods.

The park is lush and green this time of year.

We were looking for the Sunfish Lake and it did not disappoint.

On the way back we stumbled on this nest that must have fallen from a tree.

The Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center is also on the grounds and includes this oversized birdhouse.