Fireweed blankets the floor of a burnt forest in Kooteney National Park in British Columbia. The plant is not named because of its association with previously burnt landscapes, but because in autumn the leaves turn a brilliant red-orange colour resembling flames.
The mountain parks have received a tremendous amount of rain this year, resulting in very high rivers and even mudslides that have caused numerous road closures. Here, a huge uprooted tree comes to rest along the banks of the swollen Bow river, as Castle mountain emerges from the clouds in the distance.
On a recent trip to British Columbia for work, a colleague and I stopped in Radium for a quick pit-stop to take some photos. This was one of my favourites.
Spring in Banff National Park. One of my favourite times, with long days and lots of wildlife activity around the valley bottoms.
This clump of feathers appeared almost like a ground nest, but in fact the feathers are all that remain of a grey jay that was likely consumed by a fisher or a pine marten.
This photo is from last year as well. The cliff swallows routinely nest under the bridge just before the main gate and whenever I heavy truck goes over the bridge they on mass, fly out from underneath. For a few minutes they circle from above to make sure it is safe to return to their nests so I set up on the bridge with my wide angle lens on a bright sunny morning and didn’t have to wait too long before a truck went past and I was able to catch them in flight with the mountain range in the background.
An early morning start paid off when the dense fog lifted just in time for a beautiful sunrise with Mount Rundle reflecting in the calm waters of Vermilion Lake in Banff National Park.
Spring in K-country is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen! It certainly makes up for the long, harsh winters. Thousands of wildflowers (mostly indian paintbrush in this photo) in the valleys with the backdrop of mountains and coniferous trees. The best part…only an hour away from where I live.
One of the great things about Waterton is the wildlife and once you get to know the park it is relatively easy to see a lot of wildlife without having to travel very far to see it. On this trip it was like none of the animals had moved since I was there almost two years ago. The elk were still below Mt. Vimy hiding in the trees during the day and then would make there way out onto the plains at around sunset, the great horned owls were raising another clutch near the main gate and were perching in the dead trees in the marsh, the black bears were wandering around Red Rock Canyon Road, etc. etc. It was so great to go back…my favourite place in Alberta!
Owen Slater Photography 