Strap a pair of snowshoes to your feet and let the topographic boundaries of winter in Alberta drift away. Step away from the resorts and the paved pathways to discover solitude and silence in some of the best untracked snow in the prairies. Best of all, Alberta has a lot of snow to spare – so you can pretty much go in any direction!

We can’t count the number of activities you can get up to in the west central region of Alberta this winter – and all of them good for the mind, body and soul. 

Winter 2020-21 can be one of two things. It can be long and dreary, or we can make the most of it. Let’s take advantage of the situation.

Waking in the middle of the night to a dwindling fire, a few hours’ ride by horse from civilization in a small cabin in the bush, photographer Steve Van Diest was struck by the sudden insight that he was essentially alone in the wilderness and that he had only himself to rely on for his own comfort.

As someone who lives in an area known for mountain biking, I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived in Hinton to ride the local trails. As a passionate rider, I love exploring new trails and seeing how communities have been embracing the sport. Well, after my visit, I can tell you that this town on the edge of the Northern Rockies has the mountain bike scene dialed and then some.

Nestled below the towering peaks of Alberta’s Northern Rockies amid the rolling foothills, you will find the town of Hinton. Surrounded by dense forest, endless lakes and powerful rivers upon the traditional territory of the local Indigenous First Nations, the region holds mesmerizing beauty.

How can we act as good allies when we travel and explore in Western Canada?

With all of us staying home from work and school because of the pandemic, we have more free time on our hands than ever before. While some work from home and others try their hand at new hobbies, like baking and painting, our canine companions are living in the lap of luxury.

In today’s world, many of us are arriving at a new understanding of what matters. The reality is we are moving through some challenging days. Being optimistic means that, yes, these are challenging days, but there is a brighter future on the other side of it all. 

Bob Vedan is living the active lifestyle dream in Vernon.

“My trifecta is skiing in the morning, golfing in the afternoon, and curling at night,” the 20-year Silverstar Mountain Host Bob Vedan told me over a cup of hot chocolate in the village on a snowy Friday afternoon. He completed his trifecta last year, and he’s going for it again this year.

CROWSNEST PASS - Exploring the Crowsnest Pass three ways by water last spring gave us the inspiration to do it all again, only in winter. There’s excellent downhill skiing, some amazing opportunities for switching to the skinny skis for cross-country skiing or sledding amid 360-degree magical mountain views.

Winter is definitely sinking in. Boots instead of flip-flops, jackets instead of T-shirts and toques instead of ballcaps. Depending on where you live, the season settles in differently. For instance, the prairies may be -20 C and sunny like the Bahamas. Meanwhile, the Okanagan is warm but overcast. How come?