There are places on this Earth that look like they were plucked straight out of a kids fairy tale story.

This ice cave in the East Kootenays of British Columbia is one of those magical places.

Reaching this cave involved a 2 hour hike through deep snow while carefully avoiding the treacherous snow shelf along the cliff edge to the canyon.

This was my second visit to the cave during the depths of that long winter and I decided to bring Brent along for the journey.

To say that he was blown away would be an understatement.

After about an hour of creating test shots I decided I wanted that human element in my image to provide more of a story as well as some much needed scale.

Brents bright orange jacket provided that pleasing warmth among so much coldness.

I had to shoot a long exposure while Brent carefully exhaled so that his breath caught in the light of his headlamp.

The entire scene reminded me of sci-fi movie 'The Thing' from 1982 which has always been one of my favourite films.

After a brilliant shoot we hiked back out of the canyon and all I could think about was the other half of my Subway sandwich patiently waiting for me in the car.

You can imagine my crushing disappointment when finally we arrived at the car starving and exhausted only to discover a rock hard frozen sub covered in ice crystals.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I ate it anyway.

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Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Tags:   hoar frost ice cave cold frozen winter freezing icey bc british columbia haffner creek caving icicles Fototripper gavin hardcastle brent henderson

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This shot was taken during a blue hour that was almost completely dark.

It was so dark at Maligne Lake that I completely missed the three giant rain spots you can see on the lens.

It never stopped raining during the 4 hour paddle to reach Spirit Island, but I still felt it was one of the most magical places I've ever seen.

Happy New Year
Gavin Hardcastle

Tags:   spirit island jasper national park banff alberta maligne lake gavin hardcastle Fototripper reflection september rain cold

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From my one and only Christmas in the mountains last year.

I love the warm heart of the boat house set against the frigid waters of Lake Louise during blue hour.

Fond memories of days gone by.

Merry Christmas
Gavin Hardcastle - Fototripper

Tags:   lake louise reflections christmas day winter snow ice cold hour blue mountains canada canadian rockies xmas christmasy wonderland gavin hardcastle Fototripper

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From my last fun day in Alberta. Happy memories of days gone by.

This was shot up at Larch Valley just before the start of winter. I expect this is all under heavy snow right now.

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle

Tags:   larch valley banff national park lake louise moraine mountains fall september autumn lakes gavin hardcastle Fototripper

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I can't count the hours I've spent waiting for something to happen in this very spot.

Wait long enough and something magic will happen.

Thanks for looking
Gavin Hardcastle

Tags:   emerald lake lodge yoho national park mist clouds astrophotography nightscape reflections stars night dark water gavin hardcastle Fototripper

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