CAPTURED IN ICE

When photographer Paul Zizka set off to skate the length of Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park, he knew it would be a great day out no matter what he found. For one, skating is an exhilarating way to access the backcountry. It requires perfect conditions: thick enough ice and a smooth, snow-free surface. When the conditions aligned on that frigid January day, it would make for a memorable outing, covering about 30 miles round-trip on the frozen lake.

Toward the far end of Minnewanka, he stopped in his tracks, astounded. A sea of bubbles had appeared beneath his blades. The surface was smooth, yet through the ice, he could see layers of bubbles trapped in the ice—a 3D