Derek Ryder

@ryderda.bsky.social

324 Followers 122 Following

Skier, hiker, traveler, Former Director - Friends of Kananaskis, K-Country Bear Team member, Sunshine SnowHost, Wildlife Ambassador, and retired.

A forested mountain ridge covered in avalanche paths that cut swaths through said forest.
In the foreground, a rocky beach with willows, lining a blue-green alpine lake. Mountains tower in the distance, under a blue sky filled with puffy cumulus clouds trying to become thunderstorms.
A mom Grizzly Bear and her three cubs nap in the sun in a giant pile on a grassy flat on a field of rocks.
Large rocks in the foreground lead down to a green-blue alpine lake. On the far side of the lake, mountains tower.
Across a green-blue alpine lake, mountains tower, some still with snow patches, all under a sky filled with dark cumulus clouds.
A mostly still but muddy alpine lake is in the foreground, while mountains still retaining snow rise in the distance past forested ridges, all under a blue sky with puffy white clouds.
A tail-less fledgling Robin sits still (and somewhat dazed) after their first flight, which would have been better described as a "plummet".
On the grassy shore of a muddy alpine pond, mountains rise above the pond – some with bits of snow – under a blue sky with cirrus clouds.
Across a large, yet dead calm, green alpine lake, multiple mountains tower. Some small amounts of snow remain in the alpine. In the brilliant blue sky, cumulus clouds are trying to become thunderstorms.
A Merganser stands on a moss covered rock, looking out over the lake, that has gentle ripples and reflections of clouds.
Looking across a bit of gravel and grass with some scattered trees, to a broad lake. On the far side of the lake, rugged mountains tower under a brilliantly blue sky with some puffy white clouds.
Across a large, shimmering, blue alpine lake, a brilliant blue sky above (with wisps of cirrus clouds) illuminates the towering snow capped peaks on the far side of the lake.
A wide angle shot, taken high on a grassy hillside, looking across a valley at the towering mountains on the other side (some still with snow), under a blue sky filled with puffy white clouds.
Across a large green-blue alpine lake, snow capped mountains rise under a cloudy sky.
A view of a not particularly interesting back yard, with fresh snowfall colouring the grass white.
Under a brilliant blue sky with puffy white clouds, rugged mountains tower in the distance over a large, blue mountain lake.
In a maze of branches sits a male Calliope Hummingbird, with his distinctive splayed purple neck gorget.
A wide, blue-green river flows past under a brilliant blue sky. The far bank is lined with evergreen trees. In the distance, rugged mountains rise, still with snow on them.
Across a still, grey lake, under a grey overcast sky, snow capped mountains rise.
A large grizzly bear walks under trees across a lawn towards a driveway
A female Western Bluebird with here distinctive blue butt sits in the branches of a conifer tree, with tree covered mountains in the background.
Looking down over a greenish alpine lake, partially covered in ice. In the foreground: a family at a picnic table with a fire and a BBQ. In the background, snow squalls swirl over the lake which is backed by towering, snow covered peaks.
A large mountain lake, looking greenish, is enshrouded by low clouds with mixed rain and snow falling, with blue sky peeking through.
A brown and white dog stands on a grassy hill under a brilliant blue sky. On the other side of the valley are majestic, snow capped rugged mountains.
Two colourful male Harlequin Ducks stand on a rock at the edge of a lake. Both have their faces tucked into their backs.
A large meadow with a pond at the far end, with a sunning backdrop of towering snow capped mountains under a brilliant blue sky with puffy cumulus clouds.
A deceptively calm lake reflects a snow capped mountain, with more rugged mountains in the right background, all under a sky with some blue, but with lots of puffy clouds trying to cause rain.
In light brown mud, a grizzly bear's front and rear tracks are preserved – until the next rain wash them away. My foot is in the pic for reference.
Under a brilliant blue sky with some wispy clouds, snow capped rugged mountains rise above a grassy area.
Under a brilliant blue sky, rugged snow capped peaks loom high. Avalanche paths stream through the trees on the mountainsides, with major avalanches down each path.
Snowy rugged mountain peaks rise in the background beyond a narrow, fast flowing creek lined with Spruce trees.
A large ice covered lake is backed by snow covered towering rugged peaks under a drab cloudy sky.
A mostly silhouetted Ruffed Grouse running across a gravel road.
Across a snowy meadow, under a clear blue sky with the odd puffy white cloud, snow covered massive peaks rise.
A brilliantly coloured Blue Jay sits on a branch in a spruce forest.
On April 29 2026, a female Rufous Hummingbird visiting a feeder in the mountains of southern Alberta.
A Yellow Rumped Warbler sits on a branch in a dense brush thicket.
A Northern Flicker sits in the branches of an aspen grove
Under blue skies with some puffy white clouds, a small pond sits in the foreground with rolling hills rising above it. The pond is surrounded by a wooden drift fence to keep people away from the fragile shoreline.
Two sets of legs stretch out on a grassy hillside, overlooking a valley with snow capped mountains on the other side, all under a brilliant blue sky.
A handsome Red-Shafted Flicker, with it's spotted chest and black throat patch, proudly poses on the branch of a birch tree.
A copy of the Public Notice for the Fortress All Season Resort, with the address to provide written feedback highlighted.
A huge number of zebra and wildebeests extend from the foreground to the distance on the savanna, with acacia trees pupping up here and there.
In the Serengeti, a lioness lays in the middle of the road in the shade of a large overland safari truck from Intrepid, creating a traffic jam. Other smaller safari vehicles are trying to drive around her.
A Boreal Chickadee sitting on a branch with a blurred winter background.
A brilliantly coloured Blue Jay sits on top of the green cage of a suet feeder. Snow covered spruce branches are in the background.
Two Pine Siskins sit on opposite sides of my BirdBuddy feeding tray.
A diminutive male Downy Woodpecker hangs onto the green cage of a suet feeder, with a forest in the background.
At a ski hill, with a ski run in the foreground, sunlight streams through fog-enshrouded trees.
Two White Winged Crossbills, a male with its distinctive red colouration, and a yellower female, sit on the edge of a brown eavestrough with a green forest in the background.
Under a brilliant blue sky, snow capped mountains tower across the valley, as seen from a bluff above a gravel quarry.
A male Hairy Woodpecker, resplendent in black – and white with a red head patch – sits on a suet feeder cage. All the while, a smaller male Downey Woodpecker, looking like the little cousin and with the red heat patch, sits less than half a meter away, waiting his turn.
Under a brilliant blue sky, towering snow capped mountains rise, reflected in a wide icy river with snow on the banks.
A Northern Flicker hangs on a suet feeder and feeds, while a Clark's Nutcracker patiently waits on a nearby branch for its turn.
A plump female American Robin sits in a snowy tree, which has tiny red berries.
Paul Newman being interviewed by news reporters at a CanAm car race in 1981.
Me, in an iridescent yellow ski jacket, standing next to a young skier and her snowboarding dad, against a backdrop of white ski runs, in the middle of a raging snowstorm.
Two Sunshine Village SnowHosts dressed in bright yellow jackets (one - me - with a bright salmon coloured helmet) mugging for the Sunshine Selfie Cam on a foggy, snowy, grey day.
A White Breasted Nuthatch sits on a branch above its beloved suet feeder, with an out of focus forest in the background.