Waterton

We didn't have much turn around time since Brent and I arrived back from Peru, and then heading off to Waterton for our first camping adventure of the summer.  We spent eight days down in our favourite National Park,  and had an absolute blast!

The kids spent a good part of an afternoon, tubing and floating down Cameron Creek, which ran right past our site.  There were a few "roller rapids" at the end of the creek before it emptied into Upper Waterton Lake - many a giggle was had here.  Be sure to check out a few videos at the end of this post to see how much fun the kids had!

The following day was a tad cooler, drizzly, and cloudy - perfection in my mind for hiking - so we spent some time hiking up in Red Rock Canyon and Blackiston Falls.  This is my absolute favourite weather to hike in - the kids thought I was nuts, until they experienced what it's like to hike in hot temps and loads of bugs, later in the week!  Turns out, mom's not so crazy afterall!

We made a day trip down to Many Glacier as well, as we heard that the hiking in that area was amazing.  We decided on a little hike up to Red Rock Falls (not to be confused with Red Rock Canyon) and were rewarded with a mother moose and her calf hanging out in the lake.  A great way to spend some time enjoying a lakeside lunch and observing these two from a distance.  This hike would have been much more enjoyable if the temps were about 10 degrees cooler, and the flies were non-existent!  Hence my point as to why I like hiking in the rain! Oh....I should also mention, that we ran into our first bear on the trail while hiking - both a terrifying and exciting experience at the same time.  For the number of hikes we have done over the years, this was our first encounter with a bear. This area is very well known for it's large grizzly habitat, so sightings aren't uncommon.  A good way to get the heart racing I can tell you that!  (No pics by the way - safety first!)

No trip to Waterton would be complete without the yearly tromp up Bear's Hump and back.  I had to pass, as my knee wouldn't take it, so I hung back with Bree at the playground, and enjoyed a few "bear" treat's of my own!

If someone gave me the option to spend all of my time in a canoe or kayak here in Waterton, I would totally jump at the chance!  A good couple of hours was spent paddling around Cameron Lake - as shown below - and we also lucked out with some great weather to paddle the shores of Upper Waterton Lake on more than one occasion.  The kids are becoming strong little paddlers, and I am already trying to figure out how we can get all of us out on the water!  A few more boats needed I am thinking!

One thing that we wanted to do last time down in the park, was horseback riding.  Bree and Jenna are still a bit young for the longer rides, but Aidan, Maelle, and Brent ventured out for an afternoon jaunt with Alpine Stables.  Next year, we are hoping that Bree and Jenna (and me) can go as well!

One thing about Waterton, is it is notorious for its windy (very windy!) conditions.  Towards the end of our stay, we had a good couple of windy days!
All in all, we had a very busy eight days in the park.  Aside from all of the above activities, we also managed to squeeze in countless bike rides, geocaching, interpretive shows, junior explorer programs, swimming and playing in Emerald Bay, a few ice cream cones, tennis, and we enjoyed sampling some of the delicacies the town of Waterton had to offer.  Phew!
And that my friends is a wrap!
Our next camping adventure takes us back into British Columbia and MacDonald Creek for two weeks of camping at another one of our favourite parks.  We'll wrap that adventure up in Lake Louise, and then....then my friends, we are off on are biggest adventure to date!  Time is ticking!!!

And, as promised, here are a few video clips of the big tubing adventure!

Machu Picchu

There is good reason that Machu Picchu is one of the new Wonders of The World, this place is beyond amazing! 

Our final, full day in Peru, consisted of saving the best for last.  A day trip from Cusco, to the world famous Machu Picchu.  We boarded an early morning train in Cusco, and made the three hour journey to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu.  The train meandered through the farmlands of the Sacred Valley, turning into more of a jungle like environment as we neared our destination. 

The town of Aguas Calientes serves as the jumping off point for trips up to Machu Picchu.  Most people take a bus service up and down a series of steep switch backs that seem to cling to the side of the cliff.  It’s a bit of a “white-knuckler” of a drive, but the drivers seem comfortable…a little too comfortable in my opinion!  One can also take a hiking trail that cuts the switch backs with a series of steps and pathways.  The other means of access is the world famous Inca Trail, which takes approximately four days to complete, and ends with an impressive view of Machu Picchu high above the site and the Urubamba River Valley.

The bus drops the tourists off within a five minute walk to the site, and after getting your passport stamped you are awarded with that million dollar view which seems to loom up in front of you as you round the corner. 

Machu Picchu is an amazing place with so much to see and learn.  We were lucky enough to have Ballantino as our guide, and his knowledge of this place was incredible.  To be honest, I went into Machu Picchu, without a whole lot of background knowledge, other than a few basic facts.  After spending a good amount of time touring the site and staring at the view, I was intrigued with the mysteries that this place offers.  I have since purchased a few books and novels with the hope to expand my knowledge and understand the intricacies of this wonder.  In all honesty, I really hope to take the kids back here one day.  Currently, there is a lot of discussion around the tourist industry and how much of an impact it has on Machu Picchu.  There are limitations placed on the number of people that are aloud into the site each day, and efforts are underway to further preserve this wonder of the world. 

So…..I will let the pictures tell the story of our time at Machu Picchu.  It was truly an unforgettable experience.  I did however, learn that walking around Machu Picchu is much steeper than it appears!  I think the sheer cliffs that line the edges of Machu Picchu are somewhere in the vicinity of 450 metres above the Urubamba River below.   I am not gonna lie…some of these terraces and steps, were terrifying!  Looking back though, it was totally worth that fear factor.

Peru was awesome.  I loved the food, I loved the people, I loved the culture.  It is a place where I would love to visit again one day, and see more of the Cusco area and what it has to offer.    Someone told me that Cusco has a way of capturing your heart, and after the time we spent there, I can totally agree. 

See you again (one day) Peru!