Marty

If you can’t find inspiration, create it.

My son and some friends made this film a few short years ago.  Would love it if they did more.  Check it out and if you like it spread it around:

When to Kill

It is amazing what your parents can leave you with.  Remember this when you consider your children.  Me mum worked at least a couple of jobs raising us and still tried to do volunteer work a couple of evenings a month(don’t remember exactly how often).  She said that she thought it was important to do something to give back to society.  Something outside self and family.  Give without expecting something back.

I’m kinda glad that I was left with that ‘desire’ or ‘need’ or whatever you want to call it.  I try and spend some time each week (or at least each month) doing something to help somewhere that is not for me or family.  A volunteer activity.

If you are reading this you are likely not sitting in front of the TV but you may be spending an inordinate amount of time on the computer.  If you have children they may be following your example.  They will you know, even if not right away.  You could set an example by doing some kind of volunteer work.  I know no one that does not have time to do this.  Cut out a couple of hours of TV or time on Facebook and get out of the house and work with some organization for a couple of hours a week.  I guarantee that you will feel more complete.  After a while you will become quite selfish about helping for the feeling that it gives you.  Try it for a couple of months.

Here is an absolutely beautiful hike that I’m sure is great all summer but spectacular in the Autumn!  It may be a bit late now but if you can get up to Moraine Lake when the colours are full, it is a wonderful hike. 

I suggest going during the week if at all possible.  From what I have heard the parking is next to impossible on the weekends.  Even so, we got there on a Tuesday afternoon about 1 – 1:30 and the parking lot was full.  It was emptying out though.  We were pretty close to the last people going up.  Take note though that there is a sign at the beginning of the trail warning you that you will be fined for groups less than four.  We were fortunate that there was another couple waiting for ‘us’ and as their pace was close enough to ours it made for a pleasant and safe hike. 

It is a pretty steady uphill hike – I think about 750 feet up from the Lake. The work was so worth it though.  We were not but if you have the time and energy, there is a trail up the gravel to Sentinel Pass. 

How you get there: Take whatever route you need for going to Lake Louise.  As you are going up the hill take the exit on the left for Moraine Lake.  It is a few kilometers along here.  Park.  Walk along the right of the lake and you will see the trail head.  Have fun.

This past Tuesday we hiked up to Rawson Lake.  We had done the circuit around Upper Kananaskis Lake last year and had notice the trial up to Rawson Lake but it was a little late in the day and we had already done 10 miles or so.  We did not get up there and start until about 3:30 but the days being as long as they are right now it was no problem.  First of all, if you are going from Calgary go along Highway 1 to 40 and go south about 30 minutes.  Follow the signs to Upper Kananaskis Lake and go to the furthest parking lot – most southerly.  Walk in about a kilometer to get to the trailhead for Rawson Lake.  It is a fairly steep climb for the first 80%.  Levels off near the top.  It is well worth the climb however.  It is not that long – 2.7 KM from the turn off to the lake.  It is quite beautiful up there.  There was a cloud that just hung around the mountain near the top all soft and puffy like.  Even though there were pretty strong winds it did not move.  The green section at the top was mostly in sun so there was quite a dramatic difference depending on which way you were looking. 

We took the path to the far end of the lake through a few snow patches.  It was pretty windy and my hands were getting a little chilly by the end of it.  There are some paths to the top further around on the ‘green’ slope and we spoke to some that had gone up there.  They said they did not quite make it to the top as it was too steep.  We were at the top for about an hour and the whole hike start to finish from the car was only 3 hours.