Marissa McGirr Photography and Design

Some adorable kitties at the Regal Cat cafe in Calgary, all the adorable cats they have are up for adoption. I do pet photography, if you're in Calgary area and want some photos of your fur babies, please get in touch! [email protected]... 514-386-7248 See more

This weekend I went hiking in Horse Theif Canyon, near the Badlands in Alberta, Canada. During the early settler years, legend has it horses would go missing, only to reappear with a different brand. The Badlands are known for being home to some of the most significant discoveries of dinosaur fossils. It feels like a Canadian Grand Canyon.

Can you guess where I went hiking today? More photos Monday evening :)

Lake of the Hanging Glacier - BC After hiking roughly 18km over more than 30 fallen trees on a narrow game trail, Tanner and I got to the top of a mountain to set our sights on Lake of the Hanging Glacier. There are several waterfalls and bubbling streams along the way, and alpine meadows where bumble bees make honey from flowers than grow out of the snow. This is a truly awe inspiring hike, but you'll need a high clearance vehicle to get there. Once at the top, enjoy a nice picnic, and go for a quick dip in the lake, if you're brave enough. There's also a free campground at the top.

Calgary Stampede, Alberta / Cowboy Up Challenge I went to the Calgary Stampede, my favorite event was the cowboy up challenge, and event which requires great trust between horse and rider, speed, fearlessness, and skill to perform a variety of difficult maneuvers around and over challenging obstacles. Includes ground tying, sliding stops, turn on the hindquarters, flying lead changes, tight canters, jumps, and more. There's a reason it's one of the fastest growing equine sports. Besides the cowboy up challenge, there's also a variety of agricultural events that are free with admission, such as the chore horse demonstration and various informative booths. There's also lots of good food (best corn dog ever), and games at the Calgary stampede. Public transit is easy and affordable with special rates during the stampede.