Snow Kiting – Wilcox Bowl
Wednesday, March 29th, 2017
Photo by Ian Graham
I’ve been interested in kite boarding for a few years. In September of 2015, I took a lesson in Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island … with a fierce determination that I would learn. That day I kited 50 km … and the passion began.
I have yet to water kite in Alberta. I never thought I would. Kiting to me was just going to be something I do, while on vacation. However, while my son Jacob was home from school in Victoria at Christmas, we discovered snow kiting on Weed Lake, East of Calgary.
On Saturday, March 25/17 … Patrice, Ian, Michael and Ryan and I traveled to Wilcox Pass in the Columbia Icefields near Jasper.
After a 3.5 hour drive, we ski toured up about 50 minutes before reaching the less steep entrance to Wilcox Pass. (Feeling we were quite ‘out there’ it was a bit of a surprise to discover two Adirondack Chairs placed and steering out into the Valley.) Jasper National Park Red Chair Program
As we were about to Launch our kites at about noon … the wind died.
It didn’t matter … it was amazing just to be in this location.
I struggled trying to launch my kite … then rested taking in the sites for an hour or more.
Finally, at about 3:30pm … the wind picked up and grew a bit more consistent.
We kited until 5:30, before packing up, and skiing down to the car … we were all in bliss.
