April Fools Day

So wishing that a broken arm was an April Fools Day joke but it wasn't. But we all had to soldier on and not feeling disheartened we had a quick drive around Fernie and definately hoped that we could make it back there - although Ali says she won't be skiing. It is a beautiful little town.

Fernie's main street.

Back in Alberta we stopped at Lundbrek Falls - we thought they may still be frozen but it had all thawed. It was very windy so Ali with her broken arm had to view the falls from the car. It would be a nice place to come back to for a picnic and relax on a long trip.

Images at Lundbrek Falls, AB

From there we wanted to visit Head-Smashed in Buffalo Jump. We had read about this place before we had left Australia and were curious to find out more. So we went. Ali full of pain killers and the boys frightened for her, we found out about how the first nations who inhabited the land would herd buffalo off the cliff to their death. They would then use all of the buffalo for their homes, food and tools. A very interesting place.

The 5 hour drive was a long one but a few scenic spots along the way kept us enjoying the drive. The wind farms, the grain silos, the wildlife (namely gophers and a few deer) and the Candy store at Nanton were highlights.

Thankfully home and the next week involved doctors visits, x-rays and sleep.

Fateful weekend in Fernie

A long weekend. YAY. Having now got the ski bug we are once again keen to hit the slopes. Friends from school Matt and Ange invited us to spend the weekend with them in Fernie. Reports had been done, PT interviews had finished and Book Fair was over so off we headed. We decided to take the 'cowboy trail' to see some sights along the way.

Black Diamond at Black Diamond

Cowboys at Longview along the cowboy trail

The jerky store at Longview

The jerky selections.

We had elk and bison jerky for something completely different.

Some awesome sights along the way. We really did feel like cowboys and such beautiful countryside.

Reminded us of a summer drive between Wello and Dubbo

Hats along the fenceline.

Still a little snow

As we got closer to the mountains the snow was back. We stopped at Frank where in 1912 there was a massive landslide off turtle mountain and buried nearly the whole town. We all enjoyed the interpretive centre and it made us realise the impact of coal mining in such a fragile environment. Weirdly enough there are still a number of coal mines in the Rocky Mountains.

Where the town of Frank used to be.

We crossed through the mountains via Crowsnest Pass and past Sparwood where Joeys Grade 3 teacher grew up - she asked us to take a picture of the World's largest truck - so Tracey, here it is.

We arrived in Fernie and had a good nights sleep before hitting the ski slopes early Saturday morning.

The adventure is now on hold. At 12.09pm on the Saturday Ali gets brought down the mountain by the ski patrol with a suspected broken arm. She had mastered the bunny hill at Fernie and felt slightly confident about attempting a green run. Unfortunately she made it about 200m down the slope before she fell on her arm. A sled ride from the first aiders down the slope, an ambulance ride to the hospital, copius amounts of happy gas and a shot of morphine confirmed the worst - a fractured humerus.














In the ambulance she suggested that the family keep skiing as it cost so much money to be there.
















Ali was very brave and didn't cry one tear the whole time. Trying to keep it together so that the boys were not too scared. Ange and Matt took them home so that no more injuries could have occurred that day. They had lots of fun building forts and playing air hockey in the meantime.

Skiing adventures - Canyon (Red Deer) and Lake Louise

The snowfall in March has meant that we have been able to go skiing. Greg has had a few lessons with the ski club at school so is feeling quite the professional. Ali and the boys took an afternoon off and went to Canyon Ski Resort near Red Deer for some lessons. A great family adventure.

Joey

Paddy

Greg

Paddy

Joey - had enough

Lake Louise lodge

Our friends the Coopers who are awesome skiers offered to take us to Lake Louise for some skiing fun. A relatively easy bunny hill for Ali to practice her falls and gentle blue and green ones which the boys had mastered by the end of the day. We didn't want to go home. After all of us mastering our specific runs (Ali still the bunny hill), beautiful scenery, great company and 6 degrees what a perfect day!

Joey, Keegan & Paddy

Greg, Ali & Cyril

The boys

The clan at the summit

Lots of skiers enjoying the day

Coming down on the gondola - Ali wasn't skiing down that mountain but the boys all did.

Cyril helping Paddy after a fall (taken from the gondola)