Flying into Chicago on our way to Alberta we almost didn't get to land because of dense fog! It was amazing to see Sears Tower piercing through the low clouds.

I took Flat Stanley to Canada for one of the 3rd grade classes in Knoxville. He ended up going on to Holland!

Goat's Eye Mountain, left, has some nice long blue (intermediate) and some challenging black diamond (advanced) runs. I left my "Ski Utah" pin near the top of that mountain when I caught an edge on my ski and took a spectacular tumble the first year we skied there! Delirium Dive is a double diamond run through a chute in the dip below the cloud on the right side of this photo. We left that one to the experts and daredevils!

In March Lake Louise is frozen; at over 1-foot thick, you can walk on it!

Highway 1 runs through Banff National Park which can cause dangerous conditions for elk, bears, cougars, and other animals. This animal bridge allows safe passage over the busy highway. It has soil and plants on top to help the animals feel more comfortable.

Don't go down that slope Kenny!

The black diamond trail named "Waterfall" lived up to its name, at one point on the trail we hit solid blue ice under the snow! Although we often have to ski on ice in the southeast, we still had a tough time on this trail!

The resort's namesake, Lake Louise, is the flat white spot in the center of this photo. It is formed from meltwater from the glacier above it on the mountain. In the summer the lake is a lovely milky aqua color due to the glacier flour. Can you see the famous Chateau in front of the lake? The white stripes down the mountains are avalanche chutes. Trees can't grow in these chutes because they are knocked down each winter.

Kenny and I enjoyed a nice break with a spectacular view in the middle of the mountain at Lake Louise Resort. My Dale (pronounced "dah-lay") sweater is from Norway, this pattern was for the Norwegian Ski Team during the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

A lovely scene with rare untracked snow.

Our son Curtis (left) and his friend, Rob are standing on Lake Louise in front of the Chateau Lake Louise.

Mt. Rundle and the Bow River. This is one of my favorite sights in the Banff area!

A stiff breeze unfurls the flags of Alberta, Canada, and British Columbia at Sunshine Village. I took this picture through the dirty windows of the ski shuttle bus.

A forest fire killed these trees on Goat's Eye Mountain.

Lake Louise Ski Resort is located in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is a very large resort covering two sides of one mountain and one side of another. The large base lodge is a good place to warm up and grab a bite to eat in the middle of the day.

To ski at Sunshine Village, near Banff, it requires a 12-minute gondola ride to the top. The views are breathtaking, so the ride goes pretty fast. I like to look for animal tracks in the snow when we ride up in the mornings. It is common to see tracks from snowshoe hare, lynx, squirrel, and elk.

A view of Mt. Rundle and the townsite of Banff. The upthrust mountains in the Canadian Rockies are very different than the Colorado Rockies.

I couldn't resist taking this photo in the reflecting ball on the bank of Lake Louise!

The views of the distant mountains from the highest point at Sunshine Village are incredible! The partially obscured mountain in the center of the picture is called the "Matterhorn of the Rockies". For those who have the money to burn, heliskiing services take people to backcountry ski areas like this.

The "Goat's Eye" is a large hole in the top of the mountain. It is visible from the road as you drive up to the parking area.

The Three Sisters greet you as you enter the town of Canmore just outside of Banff. We skiied at the resorts of Lake Louise and Sunshine Village in 2001, 2002, 2003.

The slopes of Lake Louise seem to go on forever!

The top of the gondola at Sunshine Village.

The drive through the Bow Valley in Banff National Park is incredible! The trees grow so thick it would be difficult to walk through them.

Curtis and I enjoyed seeing what was left of the ice sculptures on the shore of the lake.

Kenny and me at the top of the mountain. Sunshine Village is located along the Continental Divide and the borders of Alberta and British Columbia. Skiers who like long cruisers above the treeline will love this resort!

An avalanche chute near Sunshine Village. Trees get mowed down by the heavy, rapid-moving snow in these areas. I took this photo from the ski shuttle bus on the ride from Banff to Sunshine Village Resort (that explains the reflections!).