I visited Banff National Park with my family in early June. Since I was suffering from arthritic pain in my left foot, I was able to do borderline adventurous activities that children and seniors could undertake.
Author: K2, the great white Kuvasz, and me
Thank you for visiting my blog while I was out hiking with my dog. Yes, many of my articles are about forging a working partnership with humans' best friend.
I am a civil engineer by education, regulatory compliance executive by profession, and an environmentalist and nature lover by choice. I admit, I am not an activist and a tree hugger in the strictest sense of the phrases. For example, I support eradication of invasive species that cause damage to local flora and fauna. I support several conservation organizations because I believe we have a duty to animals.
I have a degree from Columbia University in New York city with an individual major in financial, managerial and legal issues in construction. This major ultimately took me into the world of credit risk management, internal auditing and regulatory compliance. I started writing for Columbia's Engineering Newsletter, which was called 'Pulse' and I have been writing ever since then, mostly for organizational newsletters and magazines. I also completed Executive Management Program at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.
My Smith Magazine's Six-Word Memoir: Embracing diversity, outward bound, supporting causes.
My life revolves around my family, siblings, nieces, and nephews, according respect to all groups of people, reading non-fiction adventure books and articles, being outward bound (hiking, canoeing, kayaking, dogsledding, etc.), wildlife conservation, nature photography, listening to blues based hard rock music (yes, I am a soft head banger), and writing.
I hail from Pakistan where I was a country boy at heart, growing up close to wilderness and with many farm animals. I never came to terms with city dwellers and city life. I am mostly living out of my country of origin since 1980s.
Jasper National Park, Alberta – a land of mountains, glaciers, canyons, lakes and wild animals
Just before the wildfires of summer 2024 that burned down vast swaths of forests and part of Jasper Town itself, we had a 2 days blast at this park that offers trance inducing ethereal landscapes and concentration of mega wildlife of north America.
Kootenay National Park, BC in pictures – exploring the land of ice and grasslands of fire
My son and I drove on Highway 93 from south to north of this national park exploring 8 attractions.
My top 5 most difficult hikes
Let me take you along to my top 5 hikes from the least difficult to the most in terms of length and difficulty of the trail, and my stress level while traversing it.
Wildlife photography of Greater Toronto Area during the winter freeze and tricky light conditions
My adventure for capturing wildlife and landscapes during winter freeze. With few people around, outing in the winter freeze allows time for self-reflection.
December: K2 visits Niagara Falls as we admire Winter Festival of Lights.
Memorable hike for the month of December when K2 and the entourage of 7 family members visited Niagara Falls to enjoy the Winter Festival of Lights.
November: An all boys hike with K2 at Hilton Falls, Ontario on a cold day
Memorable hike for the month of November when K2 and the boys hiked to the Hilton Falls. In this blog, sedimentary rocks and geological features creating waterfalls are explained.
October – K2 with his entourage went to Dorset and Algonquin on a cold and rainy autumn day
The reasons for fall colours explained as this outing with K2 to observe fall colours exposed the family and relatives to cold and rainy conditions.
September – a pleasant day-long hike with K2 through Caledon Hills in early fall
Memorable hike for the month of September when K2 and I hiked initially on the Caledon section of the Bruce Trail, followed by Forks of the Credit Road and then finally on Mclaughlin Road.
August – Hiking with K2 along Credit River on Culham Trail and setting a record
I am 100% positive that I am the only person who has hiked through various trails, parks after parks, roads, and sidewalks between Steels Avenue and Dundas Street along the Credit River. K2, our Hungarian Kuvasz, was with me.
K2, the Kuvasz, and me 