Travelling in general is near and dear to my heart. But the Canadian Rockies, well they hold a special place in the old ticker. I've been travelling there for summer get aways since my boys were wee little.

Hell I loved being there so much I would pack those little turkey's up, diapers and baby wipes in tow, and haul ass out to the mountains (also Grizzly country) with a tent.

The vast beauty, giant mountain peaks, and towering aromatic pines were worth the risk of being dragged out of our tent in the middle of the night by a deranged and starving grizzly.

Ok that would probably never happen, but in the pitch black darkness of the night your mind does tend to be a little over active. After all there is merely a flimsy wind breaker between myself, my children, (one of which may or may not have had a full diaper), and a 1700 pound carnivorous beast.

Grizzly Bear

I was in the safety of our vehicle with a zoom lens. Apparently the bears are tagged, males on the left ear and women on the right. The conservation officer tells me because women are always right.. He’s a funny man.

Coyote

Ferocious Mountain Goat

Just kidding. Their harmless.

We now have a trailer. A pretty big one at that, and the walls are definitely thicker than that of the old tent. The real perk is not having to hang your ass out in the dark forest at 3am to pee.

Trailers with bathrooms are the best.

So our little family vacations have evolved. It's rare both boys can be there, jobs and holiday time are always an issue as with most families. This particular trip my youngest was unable to make it. But that just makes the times we can all be together that much more special.

Dorian + Holly

My oldest and his lovely lady

the fam jam

Ma + Pa, Dorian + Holly

Abby french kissing Brad

the mountains can be so romantic

Holly

Enjoying the view

Spruce Beatles are evil. Ok not really, but they bite, and hurt like a son of a.. Thank god they are slow as f**k and an easy kill. Sorry universe it’s them or me.