In Banff National Park, along the TransCanada highway between the townsites of Banff and Lake Louse, is the junction with Hwy 93 south. Driving south on that road, you will not only cross the continental divide but will simultaneously enter both the province of British Columbia and Kootenay National Park. Kootenay NP is one of the seven contiguous parks that form the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.

Kootenay National Park was established in 1920 as part of an agreement to build a new road across the Canadian Rockies. It is a park full of contrasts that include icy mountain streams and hot springs. Unfortunately, Kootenay National Park has had more than its fair share of forest fires. The years 1968 and 2017 saw large damaging fires but 2003 was the biggest with flames consuming 17,000 hectares.

Driving along Hwy 93 there are vast sections of the mountainside where branchless burnt trees stand as far as the eye can see. This somewhat disturbing view is all part of the cycle of nature with lightning to blame for the damage. In the spring and summer, there are lots of signs of the forest’s recovery but in the winter, under a blanket of snow, the landscape turns surreal and it was this view that I wanted to capture with this high-resolution VAST photo.