I was on a texture walk and lucked out with a great find close to the trail head. A decaying old poplar provided the perfect canvas for some colorful lichen. In addition to the colors, each had varied texture, ranging from very fine to very coarse.
Further up the trail, another decaying tree was home to layers of fungi that created little shelves.
The poplars were not the only trees that sported a lichen coat. Numerous birch trees were also home to lichen that resembled new lettuce leaves.
The colors and textures provided nice variety to the snowy landscape. Winter is the perfect season to take in this beauty. When the summer leaves fill in the bare spaces, it makes it difficult to see the life beneath.
I came upon the best find of the hike on a poplar tree. The old grey bark was decorated with orange lichen. In the center of the lichen was a piece of forest art. It resembled a sheep in a layered ball gown.
What a great hike it was; out in the fresh forest air, taking in the beauty of mother nature's art. It was just me and the fungi.
This outdoor girl has had no recent ramblings. The past two days were spent inside; leaving for work in the dark and coming home from work in the dark. I had to look at the weather website history to see what the daytime temperatures were.
I was at home today and took full advantage of an outdoor day. I called it a mental health day. After hearing the stereo blaring for two days, all I heard today were the sounds of nature and at many times the sound of silence. I opted for real bunnies knowing that the dust bunnies under my bed would still be there when I returned.
Before leaving for the trails today, I noticed that my backyard feeders were empty. My poor feathered friends were probably wondering what happened to me. I filled the feeders and the chickadees were visiting even before I had the birdseed pail put away.
The sky was clouded over but that didn't stop me from spending a good part of the day at the park. As I entered the south park gate, a convoy of horse trailers was making it's way out of the park behind a warden vehicle. The trailers were loaded with young bison moving to a new home.
I drove to the far north side; stopping first at the Amisk Wuche trail. I've retired my snowshoes for the season and replaced them with ice cleats. The warm temperatures have started the slow melt of all the winter snow, creating icy patches.
There was a light breeze blowing that rustled the dried leaves hanging from the branches. It made the tall trees creak as they swayed gently to and fro. In the distance a raven called and a coyote howled. Some movement caught my eye between the trees. A couple of squirrels zigzagged beneath the underbrush in a game of tag.
Spring must be in the air. There were more animal tracks than I've ever seen and I lost count of the number of squirrels scurrying about. The pussy willows were opening and the leaf buds on the poplars were growing.
Today's hike was not for fitness. It was definitely for relaxing; and that I did. I took my time walking the trail; paying notice of the fungi and lichen on the trees. I noticed how many trees had toppled in the recent gusty winds; providing new opportunity for woodpeckers to search for food.
I got back to the trail head and the thought of heading home was not appealing so I drove to the Beaver Pond Trail. The squirrels were just as busy on this trail. They scampered from tree to tree, scolding me for disturbing their snack time.
By the time I got there, the light breeze let up and it was calm. The only sound I heard on my trek was the crunch of my ice cleats breaking through the icy snow.
The second hike was even more quiet than the first and I enjoyed it immensely. Just before getting back to the trail head, I caught sight of a viewpoint bench which made me chuckle. I took a photo of it with the intention of sending it to the guide from my train tour in Jasper. I remember telling her about the amount of snow at Elk Island and she found it hard to believe. Well, a picture is worth a thousand words and I thought that she may believe how much snow there was if she saw the bench.
After not having an outdoor day in the last five, I was getting cabin fever. I finished the second trail just after lunch and knew that I had to stop stalling and head home. I got there but did not want to spend time inside just yet. Instead, I watched the action at the bird feeder.
Chickadees, redpolls, a nuthatch, a downy woodpecker and a couple of blue jays swooped in for snacks. I came to realize that my pine grosbeaks were gone. I'm hoping that they will return next winter to brighten my yard.
It was a glorious outdoor day today. It was also a much needed one that proved that silence really is golden.
The past two evenings created some beautiful scenes. As I drove in to work in the morning, the trees along the roadside were coated in sparkling crystals.
The thick fog enveloped the branches, leaving them with a thick coat of hoar frost. It appeared thickest on the trees closest to the lake.
The addition of the hoar frost to the landscape, created a scene that looked surreal; almost fairy-like. The branches reminded me of dainty, frayed threads.
I was sure to slow down and take in the beauty along the roadside because I knew as soon as the sun came up, the crystals would be gone and my frosty fairy-land would be no more.
When I was out on the trail yesterday, I noticed that the woodpeckers were very busy. The first tree that I came upon had evidence of a recent visit at its base.
I've watched a pileated woodpecker in action. It is amazing how it can make the wood chips fly as it searches for food beneath the bark.
Poplars were the trees of choice along the walk. Most of them were broken off and decaying. The thick old bark was easy for the birds to break through in search of the insects hidden within.
Many of the cavities that I came across yesterday were very large in size. It will be interesting to see if smaller birds will use those pre-made holes for nesting in the spring.
It was amazing to see how busy those woodpeckers were along the trail; better in the forest than on the cedar siding of someone's home.
I walked the Beaver Pond trail today at Elk Island. The snow was drifting across the open areas, creating deep banks that I had to make my way across. I left my snowshoes in the truck so my boots took on a bit of snow.
It was cloudy so the light was flat and not great for photography. As I walked, the tall trees creaked as the wind swayed them to and fro. I decided to turn today into a sound walk versus a photo day.
The snow crunched under my boots as I made my way along the trail. Every now and then I would stop and listen.
The leaves that were still holding on from last season, rustled in the breeze. Those not able to hold on any longer were blown across the surface of the snow.
A coyote howled in the distance. Its call was answered back by another in the opposite direction. There were tracks across the open areas where I could see they had been hunting under the snow.
The first gully that I walked through has birch trees with trunks that are more than a foot in diameter. Green lichen covered many of them; their bark peeling between the lichen patches. The chickadees called from the high branches where they were searching for food. The old trees were a good source of seeds for them.
The second gully is filled with evergreens. The hare tracks in the snow disappeared under the bottom branches of the spruce trees. The blue jays in the gully didn't show themselves but their calls echoed along the trail.
Just before I got back to the parking lot, a pileated woodpecker called out. I stopped to see if I could spot the bird. I heard the tapping on a tree trunk and I heard it call out again but it wouldn't show itself to me.
As I rounded the final corner, a squirrel was digging under the snow, searching for a hidden store of seeds. When it saw me, it scurried behind an interpretive sign and scolded me for the disturbance.
The drive home was uneventful; no signs of wildlife. I pulled into my driveway and noticed that there was lots of action at the birdfeeder. I scared away numerous grosbeaks and redpolls. It didn't take long for them to return.
As I waited for my coffee to brew, I walked passed the patio door. A bright red spot at the back of my yard caught my eye. It belonged to a pileated woodpecker. It made its way up, down and around the tree.
The day turned out to be great for a 'sound walk'; both at the park and in my yard. In addition to all the sounds that I experienced at the park, the pine grosbeaks, chickadees, blue jays, magpies, a hairy woodpecker and a pileated woodpecker added their songs to the repertoire from my backyard.
The day was dull, grey and blustery but my hike turned out to be a very relaxing one as I tuned in to the sounds of the forest.
Our final day with a mountain view began with a hike through the Natural Resources Interpretive Park in Hinton. The trails wind through a forested area.
There are numerous interpretive signs along the way. Each is filled with information about reforestation after logging and mining.
A forest look out tower allows visitors a grand view of the mountains and the foothills.
There is a retired mining truck parked at the end of the trail. The interpretive sign explains the importance of coal and how it is mined in the Hinton area.
The walk was short but the air was fresh and the smell of pine and spruce lingered in the air. I left wondering it it is possible to bottle that smell so I can uncork it at home. It was a great way to end a three day mountain trip.
We started our Maligne Canyon hike at the Fifth Bridge. The original bridge was barricaded off. A temporary one was constructed a short distance away. Reading the warning sign about having only 3 people on the bridge at a time made me wonder exactly how sturdy it was.
We witnessed winter beauty at it's finest throughout the canyon. It began at the halfway point across the bridge. Snow covered the canyon walls. The soothing sound of water running under the bridge was music to my ears.
There were so many things to see and photograph; beautiful snow covered trees, huge icicles, running falls and frozen falls. There were many things to hear as well. The chickadees were singing in the evergreens and the squirrels were nattering at us as we passed by.
Bridal Veil Falls is always a must see in the canyon; the water cascading gently over the wall to the rock bed below. It was so peaceful. We ventured over the rocks for a closer look at the falls.
The further in that we hiked, the more ice we saw. There was not too much running water anymore. In certain places, the ice took on a pale blue tinge.
We were hoping to find some ice climbers on the bigger frozen falls but we were out of luck. There was not another soul on the trail until we were almost back to the parking lot where we saw a guided group going down into the canyon.
It was a great way to start the day; fresh air, sunshine and a beautiful mountain view.
Last night the wind howled outside the hotel window in Hinton; so much so that I thought I would be joining Dorothy and Toto. I didn't know what to expect for the train trip in the morning.
It turned out that the wind gusted until we got to Jasper, then died down and the sun came out. We had a tailgate lunch in the parking lot of the train station before leaving for Dunster, British Columbia.
There were 7 of us in the tour group. We were venturing out on the half day Skeena train tour.
All aboard! We got to sit in the domed car so the view of the snow covered peaks was breath taking. The peaks seemed to be the only place that had any snow. The Jasper town site was brown.
The train traveled the rails at a leisurely pace; perfect for sight seeing.
The scenery was beautiful. Creeks and rivers flowed alongside the tracks. The further west we got, the more snow there was.
The train meandered through forested areas and rock walls. It rolled across bridges and through tunnels until it stopped at Dunster, our drop off point.
The tour van picked us up in front of the Dunster General Store. Going into the store is like taking a step back in time. It is a post office, a vet supply store, a grocery store, a hardware store and just about any other kind of store that you can think of. It is the heart of the little farming community.
On our way back to Jasper, the guide made a couple of pit stops so we could stretch our legs and take in the beauty of the mountains. 5.5 hours from the time that we left, we were back in the Jasper town site.
The sun was starting to set and was creating some beautiful colors in the sky. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
No matter how many times I go to the mountains, I still get excited when the first glimpse comes in to view. The only difference is that I no longer press my nose up against the window. I don't really know why I used to do it. It didn't get me any closer to the peaks.
I packed skates, snowshoes and ice cleats. From the looks of things, it is going to be the cleats that are used. There is barely any snow.
The plan was to arrive early in Hinton to walk The Beaver Boardwalk. We did trek through the short trail around the pond. It looked like it may have suffered from a dry year; only part of it actually had water in it.
There were beautiful graveled trails in addition to 3kms of wooden boardwalk. They have constructed an observation tower to watch the activity in the beaver pond. There is also a classroom for school groups to visit.
We found a 2.5km interpretive trail behind the hotel. It is supposed to have a viewpoint of the valley and the foothills. That is the first adventure for tomorrow before heading to Jasper.
We had a blue-bird sky today and are hoping for the same tomorrow when we hop on the train for a tour through the mountains.
I left for work this morning and it was calm and warm. That scenario changed by noon. I drove home in near white out conditions. Snow and a very blustery wind created some very poor visibility.
The rain that fell the night before didn't help matters either. It created slippery sections on the road that were becoming snow covered in the blizzard.
The birds were having a difficult time. They would attempt to fly forward and the wind would push them back twice as far. A couple of magpies were caught up in the wind. You could see them fighting to keep moving forward.
When I got home, there were a number of redpolls, pine grosbeaks and a downy woodpecker at the tray feeder. It is in a sheltered spot so they were able to eat without being blown away.
The wind and snow lasted for a few hours and then disappeared as fast as it appeared. The clouds parted and the sun came out. I'm hoping that the sun keeps shining and the sky is blue for the next few days. The Rocky Mountains are calling and my suitcase is packed.
Spring was in the air. The sun was shining. The sky was blue. The snow was melting. It was a beautiful day and I took advantage of it by heading to the snow shoe trail at Elk Island today.
As I drove through the park, a bison herd was on the move. Many of them were on the highway, stopping the traffic.
I was the only one in the parking lot when I got to the trail head. As I headed out on the trail, I noticed many more animal tracks between the trees. It appeared that they were beginning to come out to enjoy the sunshine as well.
I saw and heard at least four squirrels; each running up the tallest trees and nattering at me from above. A pair of hairy woodpeckers were flying from tree to tree. The chickadees, the blue jays and a pileated woodpecker were calling from the forest.
I noticed that the pussy willows along the beaver pond were opening. As I stood on the boardwalk, the only sounds I heard were the rustling of the dead grasses and the creaking of the trees in the wind.
Today, I paid attention to the many empty nests sitting in the tree branches. Without the leaves on the trees, I could see numerous nests that housed last year's feathered friends. I wondered how many will have returnees this spring and how many will be 'empty nesters'.
I got home to find pine grosbeaks, blue jays, chickadees, redpolls and a downy woodpecker in the tray feeder. There was a feeding frenzy going on.
I grabbed a coffee and went out to the deck. The sun was warm and the birds were entertaining. What a great afternoon.
It was 2am and I was driving home from work. The northern lights were moving across the sky. I was watching them until I caught a brief glimpse of reflected light. It flashed quickly in the dark night. As I got closer I saw it again. I slowed and watched the roadside. My headlamps were on high beam so I could see from ditch to ditch.
An intersection was ahead. Just as I got to it, two large shadows appeared. They were the same color as the night. As I approached they stopped and turned their heads.
There, in the middle of the intersection, were two bull moose. They stopped only long enough to glance at my vehicle and then continued on their way right down the center of the road.
I've driven that same route for almost eleven years and am aware of where to look for wildlife. Many evenings I've seen deer bolt across the road, porcupines waddle down the middle of the road and moose sauntering along the ditches. On one occasion, the moose was lying on the road making it very difficult to see as its coat was the same color of the pavement.
It's a good thing that the road that I travel is not too busy with traffic. Those not prepared for wildlife showing up suddenly in front of their vehicle may be in for a big surprise.
This morning I saw moose number three. Where you ask? In front of my vehicle again. Keep your eyes on the road.
Today was an outside bonfire kind of day. There is nothing like the smell of an outdoor fire. That sweet aroma coupled with a mug of steaming hot coffee, made for a great afternoon of backyard birding.
They were very busy at all the feeders. The chickadees were buzzing past my head as I sat in the lawn chair. The pine grosbeaks were singing their sweet songs from the tops of the evergreen trees. Every once in awhile I could hear the nuthatches calling from the forest behind me.
I noticed a few magpies making their way to the feeders; scaring off the smaller birds. They seemed to enjoy the selection of nuts that were put out for the jays.
The Downy and Hairy woodpeckers came for a visit to the refilled suet feeders. The bird action was non-stop today!
There was a new visitor watching the goings on in the yard. It sat like a sentinel on a high branch. The smaller birds paid no attention to the hawk. Did they know something I didn't know? The way it watched the feeding frenzy, I was sure it was going to have a feeding frenzy of its own. It perched in the tree top for about ten minutes and then silently swooped down and away.
I guess it just wanted a birds eye view of the action instead of a snack.
