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Abraham Lake ice bubbles are a stunning winter natural phenomenon that occur on Abraham Lake, an artificial reservoir on the North Saskatchewan River in western Alberta, Canada.

Beneath the surface of the frozen lake, methane gas bubbles get trapped in the ice during winter. These bubbles are produced when organic matter at the bottom of the lake decomposes without oxygen. As methane rises toward the surface, it becomes frozen in place by the forming ice, creating layers of white, rounded bubbles. The result is a surreal pattern of white, disc-shaped bubbles suspended at different depths — often in concentric rings or columns — against the crystal-clear turquoise ice. From a distance, they resemble floating pearls, jellyfish, or frozen fireworks.

Scott has been visiting Abraham Lake and photographing frozen ice bubbles since 2007, returning year after year as the lake revealed new patterns and moods. Recently, Scott has started creating ultra-high-resolution photographs of the ice bubbles and surrounding mountains. However, due to the specialized equipment and techniques required, the normally high winds in the area make creating such images an immense challenge. This means that such images can only be made during short opportunities with ideal weather, and that the creation of these high-resolution images will be a long-running project.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

While light, fluffy hoarfrost is common on the prairies, the thicker, heavier rime ice is less common, typically occurring once a winter, or sometimes not at all. Rime frost forms when supercooled water droplets in freezing fog come into contact with surfaces (like trees, power lines, or fences) and freeze instantly. These events are often associated with high-humidity mornings, low wind, and temperatures between -4 and -7 C (25 and 19 F) or lower. A significant rime ice event occurred around Jan. 3–5, 2026, in parts of Southern Alberta when heavy, persistent fog in the region left a thick layer of rime ice. It was during these days that Scott set out to document this rare meteorological spectacle, with thick layers of rime frost transforming the prairies into a crystalline kingdom.

To achieve ultra-high resolution, Scott employed a technique known as "focus stacking," combined with a panoramic stitch, capturing thousands of individual frames that were later merged. He set up his ultra-high-resolution camera and equipment with meticulous care, knowing that each frame would hold millions of tiny details—details that most people would never notice in the fleeting cold, but which he felt compelled to preserve. Scott moved with practiced precision, knowing that the delicate rime frost was as fragile as spun glass. Every skeletal cottonwood branch or spruce needle had been thickened by inches of icy plumage, creating a monochromatic world that felt both silent and infinite. Every crystalline spike and delicate fracture in the ice was rendered with such staggering clarity that the final composition felt less like a photograph and more like a tactile window into the frozen landscape.

Over 3 days, Scott worked in the cold conditions from dawn to dusk, moving from one breathtaking scene to another. With rime frost everywhere, some locations that might normally be passed over as not being very photogenic had been completely transformed into frozen wonders. Scott was proud to have created these wonderful images during the fleeting moments of a rare winter event.

Scott stood alone in the brittle dawn, his breath crystallizing in the air as he set up his camera on the frozen ground. The cold bit through his gloves while he carefully adjusted the settings, determined to capture every minute detail in ultra-high resolution. Before him, a small grove of cottonwood trees stood perfectly still, their branches thickly coated in hoarfrost that glittered faintly as the first light crept over the horizon. The frozen landscape felt timeless, and Scott knew the photograph would preserve more than just the scene—it would hold the quiet intensity of the morning, the silence of the cold, and the fragile beauty of a world paused in ice.

Narada Falls is a stunning waterfall located in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, with a total height of 168 feet and two distinct tiers. It is a popular attraction, easily accessible from the Mount Rainier Highway, and offers beautiful views, especially after mid-morning on sunny days.

Located a short drive from the Paradise area of the park it has a nice large parking area.

At the end of the short but steep trail, the entire 168-foot-high waterfall is visible. The vista is not only about dramatically falling water but also the rock that creates the steep drop. Here the Paradise River plunges over the edge of a relatively recent flow of hard Andesite lava that abuts much older rock. This lava’s cooling was accelerated by contact with the icy surface of the glacier that once filled this valley. The Paradise River runs clear, not milky, because it originates from snowfields, not debris-laden glaciers.