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  Holy Frejoles, this is actually happening.

It is a rare privilege to spend four-and-a-half months with your octogenarian Mum.  I am sure it is the longest time we have spend together since I started university. It is also a blessing that Mum is so fit and healthy - and oh so intrepid! We do believe that some of this is driven by the chronic FOMO (fear of missing out) from which, we as a family, greatly suffer.  After equipping her with solid walking shoes and hiking poles, Mum was completely unstoppable and came along for every adventure from hiking on glaciers and through Algonquin Park to boating on Lake Minnewanka, and Chesapeake Bay to snow shoeing and making snow angels.  She certainly earned her handle - The Intrepid Mother! The Intrepid Mother balancing on a beaver dam when canoeing down  Twelve Mile Creek from Vermillion Lakes near Banff Riding The Legacy Trail from Canmore to Banff - on the tandem! Hiking on Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park Climbing up The Dorset Fire Tower, Ontario Helming ...

 With the Australian rellies visiting for the holiday season, we dropped into Tour Guide mode.    Visiting the Banff Instagram mecca Walking on a frozen Lake Minnewanka Out for a snowy stroll around Canmore, with Mt. Rundle in the background Jack and Emily at Sunshine Village The oldies show off their snowshoeing prowess Jack and Emily will be snuggled in here for the ride  Sled dogs getting ready for a workout Our soon-to-be Nephew.  Can you guess what his name is? There was snow shoeing, dog sledding, downhill skiing ...  but we also allowed ourselves a unique adventure.  We decided to see the first sunrise of 2023 from the top of Sulphur Mountain. Doing a sunrise hike means you are leaving the house at the coldest part of the day.  January is the coldest month of the year, too.  Pleasantly, sunrise doesn't happen that early on January 1st. Kate, Wendy and I were at the trailhead at the Sulphur Mountain gondola station at 6:15 am.  Wit...