It's all worthwhile!

Ever have one of those days thats makes you take a step back and think that all the crap you put up is worth it to be exactly where you are right now? I left powell river this morning on a chartered water taxi, so there was only my partner and I on board, and it was just the most beautiful spring day (in January). The water was calm, the sun was rising through the fog and clouds and the wildlife was out.

Because we were the only ones on board, we made a couple quick stops- the first to a sea lion colony that I had been to the previous summer and had been really dissappointed with my photos taken with my old camera. Well today's pics put a HUGE smile on my face. We got to within about 10m on a large sea lion that was not giving uo her place on the rock and sat and posed for me for several minutes.

Snow capped mountains were gleaming in the early morning sun, and our next stop was to see the mountain goats on their sunny south facing cliff face. While they were pretty far away, I'm happy to say that you can at least tell that they are goats in my pics!

Alas I forgot my camera cord at home, so you will have to wait until next week for pics, and i will have to wait until then to see them on the full screen, but I am already thrilled with them! I love my new camera!!

Eagles at Donkersley

2009 Favorites!

Bears and Glaciers

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Maya Angelou


Mama (Maggie) and baby (George) watching a big male move up river


Baby hiding behind Mama


Mama fishing

Eating a stinky rotten fish

Baby George right below us

Glacier behind Jimmie creek

Mountain reflection

Glacier behind East Toba river

Glacier behind Raccoon Creek. Amazing ice formations!

One of my favorites so far...

Triple Peaks Hike

On Oct4, 2009 Jordan, Kyra, Pat and I climbed Triple Peaks. It was beautiful day with fresh snow at the top. It took us about 3 hours to get all the way up to the middle peak. The other two were too treacherous with snow and ice. The view was defiantely worth the climb!

Autumn in Ontario

I headed to Ontario with my family after the passing of my grandpa the day before my birthday. While the trip was under sad terms, it was also a chance to visit with relatives that I don't get to see often enough. It was also my first time in Ontario during autumn and the leaves were just starting to change color. They did not disappoint!


Grandma and Aunt Lori making Grandpa's favorite- Chicken Spaghetti


The fam on the dock at Bruce and Linda's Cottage



Beautiful Georgian Bay

Matt and Mom on a stroll through the woods

My cousins Ian and Ben on a frog hunt.

The bears are back!

After weeks if not months of seeing very little wildlife in the Toba Valley, this last week marked the return the salmon to the streams, and therefore the bears to the valley bottom. There is something pretty incredible about seeing something so natural and so powerful, and feeling pretty vulnerable and insignificant next to it. So here are some shots that I took on my last shift September 8-15th.

Beautiful sunrise in the Toba Valley

This little guy was sooo cute. He was imitating his mom, standing up on his hind legs. Poor mom was pretty skinny, hopefully she finds a good fishing hole pretty soon.

Nice little buck hanging out on the power line