By mid-February the colder temperatures gave way to better conditions for outdoor activities.    I drove north through Lac du Bois Provincial Park to the upper end of the grasslands just south of McQueen Lake.     I snowshoed an old cart track through an open bowl, then a forested section (douglas fir and aspens), to the open grasslands of the Lac du Bois Conservation Area.    My goal for the day was to get to a viewpoint on the southwest side of Clapperton Hill. The winter sun shone bright through thin clouds as I followed stomped-in tracks to the ridge. I crested the ridge and stopped to enjoy views over the grasslands, to Mount Mara, and over to Wheeler Mountain. … Continue reading →