The Lost Sheep

The Canadian Rockies are known for many things.  They are comprised of rugged mountains, icefields and glaciers, alpine meadows, and turquoise colored lakes.  All are spectacular and very much why we keep coming back.  But there is one more thing we look forward to – critters.  In the past we have seen elk, moose, deer, bear (black and grizzly), bighorn sheep and even a wolverine.

This year we have seen very little – just one fat porcupine.  Maybe, it is too warm for the animals as the temperature has reached the mid-80’s during the day. Maybe, they are hiding from us. Or, maybe we just don’t know where to look.  Well, by happenstance, while driving in search of photo-ops, we came across a drove of bighorn sheep (yes, drove is correct – I looked it up).  Finally, some wild critters to shoot. And, it was a golden opportunity to try out my super zoom lens (150-500mm).

Ain’t he handsome?

The sheep were not in the most picturesque scene as they were on the side of the highway, but they didn’t stay there for long.

Bighorn Sheep Grazing on the Highway

The next thing we knew they were in the middle of the highway, stopping traffic.  They seemed to be fascinated with the taste of the road.  One sheep broke away from the flock (I could have used drove here, but I used it before) and wrecked havoc on the thoroughfare. Large semis were stopped in their tracks. Cars honked, trucks bellowed, drivers gawked – nothing could make that sheep move. Finally, sated, he moved to the side of the road. Catastrophe averted.

This guy literally stopped traffic

After countless shots,  I guess countless is the wrong word here.  After over a 100 shots and bored of sheep, we set off for a beautiful lakeside scene to shoot.  This is what we came up with.

Beautiful lake at the side of the highway, just outside of Jasper

Now I’m ready to shoot a bear – from far away…

Thanks for reading.