Summer Snow - Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta

One thing about visiting Banff National Park in June that is for sure -- the weather is unpredictable. You can experience beautiful sunny days with cumulous clouds or you can run into the winter's last gasp with snow. This past June, we experienced both. On our first visit to Moraine Lake, it was snowing reasonably heavy, and when we got to the parking lot, only a few of our group braved the hike up the "rock pile". I was not one of them as it was difficult to see through the falling snow, plus I had shot there many times before. I also suspected that the snow would stop falling and I would make my way up also. After about a half hour, the snow did stop and this was the scene that awaited me.

Now, Moraine Lake is my favorite stop in Banff with its pristine emerald water amid the surrounding Canadian Rockies. It's location says it all -- The Valley of the Ten Peaks". I have shot it in a lot of conditions but this was a treat. The light snow gave me a look that I hadn't seen before. The fir trees had just enough snow to accentuate them. Surprisingly, the lake was relatively still, giving a very nice reflection. The ever present canoes (in the lower right corner) had a nice layer of snow on them. All in all, the experience just added to my love for this place.