August 2015-present

Mountains like jewels.

Alberta is a vast, frigid land where sparkling mountains glimmer in the brief summer. The wilderness is unparalleled, filled with bears, crystalline streams, storms, and vast pine forests.

I've been privileged to visit many times, the first time for some day hikes, and the second time for rock climbing and mountaineering. Now I mostly return for caving.

I'm always down to return. A word of caution: plan your trip in advance. Wilderness areas and trails are increasingly moving towards permit systems, which sell out months in advance. The Albertan government is taking admirable steps to limit the amount of human traffic in the mountain wildernesses, as visitor numbers increase. These permits don't excuse the exorbitant oil sands operations killing the pristine environment in the north, but that's another discussion.