Author Archive

Because of the Lewiston overthrust (where the mountains were forced eastward, sliding over the lowland prairie), at the southwestern point in Alberta, along the United States border, mountains meet prairie. This spectacle of unique landscape became a national park in 1895, Waterton Lakes National Park. Across the border is Montana’s Glacier National Park.

Strong cooperation between Canada and the United States protects the diverse environment of the parks that meet at the border. In 1932, the area was designated as Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park—the first international peace park in the world. In 1995, this international park area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Few or no foothills rise gradually higher toward the mountains, unlike most parts of the Rocky Mountains. With a sharp transition from prairie to mountainous environments, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, although relatively small, has a combination of habitats ranging from prairie to alpine conditions. The flora is unique in that Waterton-Glacier has many plants that are typical of northwestern USA, as far south as California. Many of these plants reach the northeastern limit of their geographic range in, or near, Waterton. Here, there are some of the oldest rock of the Canadian Rocky mountains, the deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies (the upper Waterton Lake), and in addition to the unique flora is also the greatest diversity of Alberta wildlife (mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, bear, …) in the province. Mountain goats disappeared from parts of this region in the past, but are gradually returning. Find them at very high elevations. There are more than 200 bird species. The variety of birds reflects the variety of habitats. Prairie birds such as western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) and savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) occur on the grassland. At lower elevations in the mountains, one can find gray jays (Perisoreus canadensis), mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli), and dark-eyed juncoes (Junco hyemalis). Watch for white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus) and American pipits (Anthus rubescens) in alpine habitats. At higher elevations in the subalpine forest, one can find hermit thrushes (Catharus guttatus) and Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri).

This is an environment that brings a sense of peace: a panoramic view of colourful scenic sights, majestic mountains, cool glacial streams, therapeutic nature sounds, glacial fresh mountain air, evergreen pine scent, friendly relaxed tourists, abundant hiking trails.

Blakiston Falls, Waterton International Peace Park

Blakiston Falls photo taken August 2000. Common fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) was blooming everywhere along the Blackiston Falls trail.

As soon as I closed off my last post and I quit trying to remember my 2012 resolution word. Thus, it came to mind. It is “empower”. In 2012, I will empower myself. In doing so, this means not being afraid or ashamed to make mistakes. It also means upsetting people (even myself) who feel slowed down as teaching someone takes more time than letting someone who already knows how to perform a task.

2012 Word of the Year

This is my first post of the New Year. I used to spend holiday time to build a focus for the New Year. I had an easy time creating or reinforcing a previous resolution.

For some reason, I didn’t find the time to think about the New Year. Yet, it is now over a week into the New Year and last year still feels incomplete without a resolution for this year.

Yesterday, a word came to my mind that helped me feel strong and more able to focus on my life’s plan and I immediately wanted to adopt it as my work for the year. Today, I forget the word. Couldn’t have been that great of a word, you think? However, it was so appropriate and right for me that I find it unbelievable that today it isn’t coming to my mind.  I can’t think of it! I would have wrote it down, but it didn’t feel necessary—I didn’t think that I could forget it.

I have forgotten it. The more the I try to remember it, the more inaccessible the word feels.

So, today I’m going to try not to remember it so that it will surface in my mind.  While I can’t think of it, I know that when I hear it, I’ll know it or if I think of it, I’ll know it. Next time, I’ll write it down before it has time to get buried among the business of my day!

Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here

Lullaby

Watercolour and other media