*notcot in travel , 10:27

11 days in 100 Instagrams: Winter in Alberta- 03.02.15

winter0.jpgThis post is part of our special NOTCOT Alberta Great Escape series thanks to our friends at Travel Alberta. In Part I, we roadtripped up from LA for a fall adventure. In Part II, we are experiencing all that Alberta Winter has to offer! Follow the series to see what inspires us along the way!

First things first - THANK YOU, Travel Alberta! I’m sad to say our Alberta adventures have come to a close. It has been a fantastic journey - exploring incredible places, meeting amazing people, doing new things, and road tripping to clear our minds, and get reinvigorated for the second decade of NOTCOT! Shawn (and Bucky) and I had a blast - with amazing animal encounters, feeling tiny amongst the stunning Rockies, climbing walls of ice, and so so much more… So a huge thank you, for helping for me to step out of my comfort zone, and get out of my head a bit while still simultaneously working. It has been so much fun to explore and share it all as we went! And we’ll definitely be back! (Canmore, Jasper, and one day catching those northern lights are on my list…)

So while there are proper feature posts on our adventures - for the super preview with all the crazy little details and inspiration along the way - see it as we shared it in real time on the NOTlabs Instagram. You can see Part I rounded up here - 8 days in 100 Instagrams - Alberta Summer, and Part II - 11 days of Alberta Winter in 100 Instagrams on the next page!

1 - Looking cold down there… #exploreAlberta Part II starts now! winter1.jpg

2 - Hello, Edmonton! winter2.jpg See the full post about YEG - Edmonton Airport.

3 - Hard not to smile when there’s a green wall upon arrival #YEG winter3.jpg See the full post about YEG - Edmonton Airport.

4 - Waiting for bags is more fun with tvs and impressive sports dioramas (hint hint LAX) #YEG winter4.jpg See the full post about YEG - Edmonton Airport.

5 - Cheers! Thanksgiving + Pelanque Refuge @ampersand27yeg winter5.jpg

6 - A taste of Edmonton originals -thanks @exploreedmonton :) winter6.jpg

7 - … & magique! @ampersand27yeg last night as she wafts the smokey aromas of the pastrami pork cheeks!

8 - Hehe… Good graphic. winter8.jpg

9 - Woke up and this is what @rshawnsims and I imagined the flower saying at the foot of our bed… winter8a.jpg

10 - Dog sledding + skating at @silverskatefest as we #exploreEdmonton winter9.jpg See the full post about Edmonton Silver Skate Festival.

11 - Snow beast sculpture @silverskatefest winter10.jpg See the full post about Edmonton Silver Skate Festival.

12 - This kid knows how to stay warm @silverskatefest winter11.jpg See the full post about Edmonton Silver Skate Festival.

13 - Bucket of stress bison at elk island national park!!! winter12.jpg See the full post about Elk Island National Park.

14 - Lone bison at elk island… Saw a few dozen on the side of the highway! winter13.jpg See the full post about Elk Island National Park.

15 - Nothing like a maple hot toddy + bbq @meat_yeg to warm up from running around in the snow. winter14.jpg

16 - Anyone else see a face in the shadows? winter15.jpg

17 - My stress bison came individually bagged… Like pastries? winter16.jpg See the full post about Elk Island National Park.

18 - Brrrr - good morning! winter17.jpg

19 - Funky architecture @youraga winter18.jpg

20 - [Shawn says] The @youraga building by Randall Stout winter18a.jpg

21 - Seeing these pretty birds all over - what type are they, @exploreedmonton ? Magpies! winter19.jpg

22 - Inspiration @startupedmonton winter20.jpg

23 - Fun chalkboard drawing @startupedmonton winter21.jpg

24 - [Shawn says] Build It!! Walls full of fun stuff @startupedmonton winter21a.jpg

25 - [Shawn says] My kind of wood shop @oliverapt winter21b.jpg See the full post about Making Cutting Boards with Oliver Apt.

26 - Waiting for glue to dry as we make cutting boards with @oliverapt winter22.jpg See the full post about Making Cutting Boards with Oliver Apt.

27 - Checking out @concretecat pieces - fun to feel them in person! winter23.jpg

28 - Look! @rshawnsims is riding down to the basement @oliverapt

See the full post about Making Cutting Boards with Oliver Apt.

29 - Might need a branding iron… Just branded my cutting board @oliverapt winter25.jpg See the full post about Making Cutting Boards with Oliver Apt.

30 - Here’s @rshawnsims checking the facets! My favorite picture from cutting board making with @oliverapt winter32.jpg See the full post about Making Cutting Boards with Oliver Apt.

31 - Wow. My cutting board all oiled up + wrapped! If in Edmonton, you’ve got to catch an @oliverapt workshop! winter26.jpg See the full post about Making Cutting Boards with Oliver Apt.

32 - All this time I thought I needed a rolling ladder for a bookcase… Even better for a bar! @woodworkyeg shelves + bar by @oliverapt winter27.jpg

33 - Neon sign museum of @exploreedmonton - so many incredible new + old #neonsign all over the city! winter28.jpg

34 - Any ideas? Nice stencil found while we #exploreedmonton #explorealberta winter29.jpg

35 - Amazing assortment of hard to find baking ingredients @duchessbakeshop provisions! winter30.jpg See the full post about Duchess Bake Shop & Provisions.

36 - Picking up delights @duchessbakeshop for our roadtrip to #MyJasper - from what we hear, you can’t #exploreedmonton without a stop here! winter31.jpg See the full post about Duchess Bake Shop & Provisions.

37 - Back in the Canadian Rockies! @fairmontjpl winter33.jpg

38 - Mmmmm best way to break in the @oliverapt cutting board I made… @duchessbakeshop #macarons curled up @fairmontjpl winter34.jpg See the full post about Duchess Bake Shop & Provisions and Making Cutting Boards with Oliver Apt.

39 - Stunning breakfast lake views @fairmontjpl winter35.jpg

40 - Ice walking!!!!!!!! winter36.jpg See the full post about Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

41 - [Shawn says] Wandering Maligne Canyon and walking on ice shelves with our crampons. winter36a.jpg See the full post about Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

42 - Always look up! Ice walking thru the caves in maligne canyon winter37.jpg See the full post about Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

43 - Squeezing thru walls of ice… So fun! winter38.jpg See the full post about Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

44 - How beautiful is this ice? Delicious ice + water coming out of the ground… winter39.jpg See the full post about Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

45 - [Shawn says] There are constant waterfalls that pour out of the canyon sides from underground rivers. They splash on the canyon bottom and form these ice patterns. winter39a.jpg See the full post about Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

46 - Bridal falls - it really is this loud! Running strong regardless of season.

See the full post about Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

47 - Surreal!!! winter41.jpg See the full post about Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

48 - Missing bucky, but finally got to meet Stanley! The @fairmontjpl canine greeter winter42.jpg

49 - Most unique #MyJasper souvenir - @mountainsandmonsters locally made plush mountains! winter43.jpg

50 - Snowy morning outside our cabin @fairmontjpl winter44.jpg

51 - Stanley is just basking in the sun @fairmontjpl winter44a.jpg

52 - Off we go down the ice fields parkway… winter45.jpg

53 - Skywalk floating over the canyon winter46.jpg See the full post about Athabasca Glacier + Skywalk.

54 - Wow! Ice climber! See the speck on the lower third of the weeping wall? We watched him climb for a bit. winter47.jpg

55 - Just got to our little cabin in the woods before sunset - adorable aspen tree house at the Prairie Creek Inn. winter48.jpg See the full post about The Prairie Creek Inn.

56 - Beers in the snow around the fire outside our cabin at the Prairie Creek Inn winter49.jpg See the full post about The Prairie Creek Inn.

57 - Morning! Bed views of snowy trees all around at The Prairie Creek Inn winter50.jpg See the full post about The Prairie Creek Inn.

58 - Wish we could stay longer! Heading out of the treelined driveway of The Prairie Creek Inn. winter51.jpg See the full post about The Prairie Creek Inn.

59 - Breathtaking!!! Ran into these big horn sheep lakeside… winter52.jpg See the full post about Rock Mountain Bighorn Sheep.

60 - Watch the big horn sheep dig in the snow!

See the full post about Rock Mountain Bighorn Sheep.

61 - The Post Hotel knows just what you need after a long snowy drive winter54.jpg

62 - The fireplace moose looks like he’s smiling… At The Post Hotel #lakelouise winter55.jpg

63 - House on an old international truck at #lakelouise winter56.jpg

64 - I had no idea this is how you transport dog sled teams! winter57.jpg

65 - How awesome is this huge railway plow? winter58.jpg

66 - #LakeLouise pond hockey classic semifinals - what a backdrop! winter59.jpg

67 - [Shawn says] It’s been 15 years too long since I played some hockey…messed around on the beautiful frozen Lake Louise. winter59a.jpg

68 - Nice clean font for the Post Hotel winter60.jpg

69 - Good morning, #LakeLouise from the Post Hotel. winter61.jpg

70 - Road tripping to go climb some ice!!! winter62.jpg See the full post about Ice Climbing Johnston Canyon.

71 - Ice climbing is awesome!!! Here’s @rshawnsims going up… winter63.jpg See the full post about Ice Climbing Johnston Canyon.

72 - [Shawn says] Tough as hell! Going through photos of our ice climbing adventures yesterday. This is me about 1/2 up the Upper Falls at Johnston Canyon. winter63a.jpg See the full post about Ice Climbing Johnston Canyon.

73 - [Shawn says] Go Jean Go! @notlabs ice climbing the Upper Falls at Johnston Canyon. winter63b.jpg See the full post about Ice Climbing Johnston Canyon.

74 - Into the Banff cave and basin - the start of Canada’s national parks! winter64.jpg

75 - A history of Canada national park logos! winter65.jpg See the full post about Parks Canada Logos

76 - The @rimrock_resort key image matches our room view! winter66.jpg

77 - [Shawn says] After a long day just checked into The @rimrock_resort in Banff. What a view from the room! winter66a.jpg

78 - That is some view to wake up to. @rimrock_resort winter67.jpg

79 - Maple latte before dog sledding!!!!!! winter68.jpg

80 - Let’s go puppies! @snowyowlsleddogtours winter69.jpg See the full post about Snowy Owl Dog Sledding in Canmore.

81 - Got @rshawnsims all bundled up and it’s my turn to drive! winter70.jpg See the full post about Snowy Owl Dog Sledding in Canmore.

82 - C’mon frodo! Not to play favorites but frodo and legolas in the back are awesome brothers @snowyowlsleddogtours

See the full post about Snowy Owl Dog Sledding in Canmore.

83 - [Shawn says] Well that was rad!!! Spent the morning with @snowyowlsleddogtours

A video posted by Shawn Sims (@rshawnsims) on

See the full post about Snowy Owl Dog Sledding in Canmore.

84 - Gucci kept either carrying or picking up sticks during our dog sledding! Huggiest dog on our team @snowyowlsleddogtours winter72.jpg See the full post about Snowy Owl Dog Sledding in Canmore.

85 - While some sled dogs are bred for racing - @snowyowlsleddogtours they are bred for loving. When not running, this is all they wanted. winter73.jpg See the full post about Snowy Owl Dog Sledding in Canmore.

86 - Another adorable pup ready to go (last pup, I promise! But way more in the NOTCOT post to come!) @snowyowlsleddogtours winter74.jpg See the full post about Snowy Owl Dog Sledding in Canmore.

87 - Helicopter is the best way to get perspective! Looking down @canmorekananaskis is stunning! winter75.jpg

88 - [Shawn says] Then we jumped in a helicopter back to Canmore and got some incredible views of the Canadian Rockies. winter75a.jpg

89 - Heli view of The Revenant set in @canmorekananaskis - new film of Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu. Town seems excited about DiCaprio being around winter76.jpg

90 - [Shawn says] Another view from the helicopter. winter76a.jpg

91 - Heading out of @canmorekananaskis to #captureCalgary ! winter77.jpg

92 - Awwww… @theliveryshop is a must stop in #captureCalgary ! He’s rocking the @campbrandgoods cap! winter78.jpg See the full post about The Livery Shop, Calgary.

93 - It’s all about those circles. @theliveryshop counter! winter82.jpg See the full post about The Livery Shop, Calgary.

94 - Happy Camper!!! These tees are ridiculously soft @campbrandgoods :) and I’m totally learning the mini harmonica thanks to @coutukitsch - yay for #captureCalgary #explorealberta adventures. winter79.jpg See the full post about The Livery Shop, Calgary.

95 - This. Lemon meringue deliciousness @corbeauxbake winter80.jpg

96 - Happy tiles @corbeauxbake winter81.jpg

97 - This cabinet of bitters @silkroadspices is gorgeous! So many options! winter83.jpg

98 - How well do you know me? … Guess how these two will be used together when I get home… winter83a.jpg See the full post about the Ice climbing screw as apple corer and my Alberta inspired Apple Ribbon Galette.

99 - Farewell, snowy adventures! winter84.jpg

100 - Home!!!!!!!!! winter100.jpg See the full post about Flying in over the LA coast.

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