I’ve been out on the ice after a spell of warm weather and the melting can actually create some gorgeous pools on the surface of the ice (see video below). At those temperatures the high winds at Windy Point will break the spirit of even the most hardy photographer. I’ve been at Windy Point during -29 ☌ conditions with all of my winter gear on and I just wanted to quit. The bad news is that it can get so windy out there that you’ll have major challenges capturing sharp images, not to mention the hellish temperatures. The blessing is that the wind blows away any snow and also leaves the surface of the ice like a highly polished mirror. Those high winds are both a blessing and a curse. -10 ☌ to -20 ☌ temperatures to avoid melting.The ideal conditions in bullet points would be The good news is that Abraham Lake is infamous for its high winds, so even after a couple of days of heavy snow you might still get great ice conditions if those snow days are followed by a couple of brutally windy days. For that you’re going to want to avoid arriving after a heavy snow fall. When it comes to photography at Abraham Lake, you’re looking for specific weather that’s going to give you the ideal ice conditions. Ideal Weather Conditions for Abraham Lake Photography Most people that visit Abraham Lake from outside of Alberta tend to stay in Lake Louise as it is much closer to the lake than Calgary or Edmonton. Preachers Point is your first stop which you’ll reach about 30 minutes after making the turn on to HWY 11. At Saskatchewan River Crossing take a right turn on to Highway 11 towards Nordegg. The most popular route is from Lake Louise where you’ll head North along the ‘Icefields Parkway’ towards Jasper. It’s just outside the boundaries of Banff National Park. Where is Abraham Lake?Ībraham Lake is about a 1.5hr drive North of Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada. It’s still quite pretty when this process just starts to happen but it can turn ugly in just a few days under certain conditions. It’s the snow that really ruins the best looking ice because if it gets enough time to fuse with the surface it will turn the ice opaque and has a rough texture. Wait until the ice is at least a foot thick so that the bubbles have the chance to build up and the deep cracks have the depth to create that fascinating prismatic look.ĭon’t go too late or you’ll end up with ice that’s been trashed by ice cleats and mature snow. If the ice is thin you’re risking your life and equipment. If you want to be guaranteed the ideal conditions I advise keeping an eye on the weather conditions and keep your travel days flexible.ĭon’t go too early. I’d say that there is a 6 week window of opportunity when the ice looks its best.Īrrive too early and the lake won’t be fully frozen, arrive too late and the ice might become opaque and slushy. The best time to capture this phenomenon is from mid December to late January. With these free Abraham Lake photography tips I’m assuming that you’re most interested in the trapped methane bubbles and epic ice formations that occur during the winter. Let me share my knowledge and experience of this magical place in my free ‘Abraham Lake photography tips’ blog post. For just a few weeks in the darkest reaches of the Canadian winter, Abraham Lake becomes a spectacular winter wonderland that offers beautiful photo ops for the adventurous photographer.
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