My grand-daughters have been here and it has been a great week for outdoor activities. We took the kicksled to a trail, went ice skating at an outdoor rink, tried out the x-country skis and went sledding. There were lots of rosy cheeks and runny noses.


The trail visit was our first outing. We stopped for snacks in the forest. On the way we saw moose tracks and a spot where a moose lay down for a rest. At the bench we saw moose hair on the snow beneath a spot where it rub...bed against a tree. We heard chickadees sing their 'cheeseburger songs'. 
 

When we continued into the forest we saw squirrel and mouse tracks on the snow. Coyotes left prints alongside the trail. It looked like it had been tracking a hare. The hare prints led into the trees.


Our first trek down a hill with the sled resulted in some skillful maneuvering to miss the moose poop on the trail. The girls were laughing pretty hard when they saw what I was trying to avoid.


We found a big hill and we needed to try going down it a couple of times on the sled. After the 2km trail was completed, both girls were laid out making snow angels to have a little rest.


Our remaining outings to the outdoor rink and the sledding hill were filled with fresh air and laughter. Every morning we would decide what activities we would do and head out for at least 3 hours in the fresh air.


There were things to see in the backyard as well. The pileated woodpecker made daily visits to the feeder outside the patio door. The deer came to raid the hanging feeders. The chickadees, jays and smaller woodpeckers took turns at the suet.


What a great week it has been for us. The weather cooperated and the girls love being outside just as much as I do.


2016 will soon be over. It was a year for me to try some new activities. A kickbike and a kayak were added to my arsenal of outdoor gear. I'm hoping to use them even more in the upcoming year.


May 2017 be filled with many outdoor adventures for all. Happy New Year!

As of post time there has not been any fresh snow but there is some in the forecast so there just might be a snowy Christmas.

The clock and the weather allowed me some outdoor time this week and it was fabulous. I visited the Beaver Hills Biodiversity trail on my first outing. There was snow on the trail. The gusting winds could not get at it. There was not enough for snowshoes but I was able to take out the kicksled. 

http://www.strathcona.ca/departments/communications/news/2016/9/9/new-interpretive-trail-biodiversity-experience/ 

I am so glad I made this purchase a couple of years ago. I hadn't heard of a kicksled before seeing a news clip of one in use at an Edmonton festival. Thanks to the power of Google, I found a local distributor and got one of my own. Last year I purchased a second one so my dad could use one through the winter.

I love being able to take it to the trails as it allows me to explore longer ones. A 13km trail at Elk Island that would have taken me 3+ hours to walk took me half that time on the sled. It provides a seat wherever I am so I can stop for a rest or snacks at anytime.

The sled is great for seniors. Dad cannot use his rollator in the snow but he can use the sled. It has handles to hold on to as he walks behind it; providing some security from slipping. If he needs to sit a bit, the seat is right there. It allows him some outdoor time in the winter.

My outing to the trail was quiet and peaceful and wonderful. The only sound heard was the crunch of snow under my feet and the sled runners. The forest was asleep and I enjoyed every moment of it.

The second outing this week was not to a trail but to an outstanding Christmas light display. It was not quiet but it was outdoors and got some Christmas spirit going.

There was every color of light bulb that you could imagine. They blinked and changed colors and rotated through color changing sequences.

The evening air was crisp. Bonfires burned to warm up cold fingers and toes. Hot chocolate was provided to those needing a warm drink. Children 'ooed' and 'ahhed' as they ran excitedly along the paths between the displays. I must say that I did some of the same; not the running but the 'ooing'.

http://www.leduccountrylights.com/ 

I am off work until January 2 and am looking forward to LOTS of outdoor time between Christmas and New Year's when my granddaughters come for a sleep over.

During this busy holiday season, be sure to take some time to enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of the outdoors. Take a short walk through the neighborhood to admire Christmas lights or head out to the backyard to watch the birds if you have only a few minutes. Breathe in the fresh, crisp air. 

A new year is just around the corner and many people will make a resolution. How about one that doesn't cost anything but provides great health benefits for the body and soul. Take a daily walk outside. Challenge yourself to do it for 7 days in a row and then 7 more and keep on going.

Merry Christmas to all. Happy trails til next Friday.

 

I think my thermometer is stuck. I asked for snow, not for colder weather. There are very fine flakes coming down this morning; more like frost coming off the trees than snow.

It's been so long that I've been to the hiking trails that I've forgotten when the last time was. That for now is okay because I've been entertained by the backyard birds.

I could hear the laugh of a pileated woodpecker when I filled the feeders this morning. It didn't take long before its powerful beak was pecking at the suet block outside my window.

I love watching as it breaks the seeds and corn loose from the suet. When it spies me in the window it cocks its head to the side and watches. This morning the chickadees were brave and came to the feeder at the same time so I got to see the largest and the smallest of my backyard feathered friends at the same time.

My grand-daughters were with me last weekend. They noticed the deer tracks in the backyard and asked if I had seen them. I mentioned that they usually came at night to raid the feeders. We were all surprised when in the middle of the day, four deer came wondering into the yard as we were sitting at the table. I heard "Gramma, the deers are coming!" Both girls ran for the window seat in the bedroom so they could get a better view.

Before the deer arrived we were watching the downy and the hoary woodpeckers coming to the deck feeder for seeds. I told the girls about an even bigger woodpecker and described what it looked like. Not long after the deer left, the pileated woodpecker did show up. "Gramma, the humongous woodpecker is here."

The girls got to see some of Mother Nature's creatures that they wouldn't see in their own yard in the city. What a treat.

I'm looking forward to some time off at Christmas. The temperature looks like it is supposed to rise and the girls will be coming for a few days. I'm hoping for more snow so we can do some sledding. The outdoor rinks are ready for our skating. We'll be spending plenty of time outside! 

As you finish the last of your Christmas shopping, don't forget to take some for a quick walk in the fresh air. It does a body/mind good. Happy trails until next Friday.

Friday, post day! It's been so cold this week that the only outdoor time I had was to fill the feeders for my backyard wildlife.

Only in Alberta do we go from a high of -1.3C on December 4 to a high of -18.2C plus windchill on December 8. The low on the evening of December 3 was -4.9C and the low last night was -27.2C with windchill. That makes for indoor time in front of the wood stove instead of outdoor time on the trail. I had to bundle up to spend 10 minutes outside to fill the feeders and came back in looking like Frosty.

I can at least layer up to stay warm. The backyard wildlife is not as lucky. I've been keeping the feeders full of seed and have put out some extra blocks of suet. The cold temperatures have been freezing the blocks solid so it is taking some extra work by the birds to loosen up the seed. I caught the pileated woodpecker at the suet on my deck yesterday. That large beak did not have any problem chipping the fat.
The deer were visiting every day and I noticed rabbit prints in the yard for the first time in 14.5 years. The word must be spreading through the forest that there's food close by.

There hasn't been much snow; still not enough to ski, snowshoe or kicksled in. The outdoor snowbank rinks are ready but nobody in their right mind should be out in this cold.

I sure hope I can get out soon. Temperatures in the minus twenties don't bother me as long as there is no wind. That has been the deterrent this week. 

Brrrrrrr. If you live in the area of the deep freeze, stay warm. Happy trails 'til next Friday.

It's Friday which means it's post day! Clouds covered the sun and fog settled in almost every night this week. Everything is coated in hoar frost; grasses, leaves, twigs, branches, trees. You name it and it's covered in icy crystals.
On the way to work I came across a beautiful scene; a huge buck foraging for food along the edge of the woods. His brown coat stood out against the frosty landscape. I got out of my vehicle for a better look. There wasn't a soul around; just me this beauty. What a wonderful experience. It was short-lived. The buck got scared off by a vehicle speeding by me.

I have a doe and her two young ones coming into my yard every day. They have been doing a great job of emptying my bird feeders. There hasn't been any tree pruning but I could tell where they rested in the yard. The frost on the grass was melted where the three of them lay down.

I found the young ones walking up my driveway one evening when I was getting home from work. Their eyes reflected in my headlights. They finished raiding my feeders and were headed across the road into my neighbor's yard. It was an easy jump to get over the fence.

I went out this morning to admire the hoar frost and heard a pileated woodpecker. When I realized how close it was, he realized how close I was and flew to the treetops at the back of my yard. I love watching those beautiful, 'prehistoric-looking' birds!

The chickadees, nuthatches, bluejays, hoary and downy woodpeckers have been in a feeding frenzy all week. They must know that temperature is supposed to dip.

I have an extra day off this week so will be heading to the trails for some much needed outdoor time. If the forecast is correct for next week, it is going to be a chilly one. That doesn't deter me from being outside. I have warm boots that are good to -40C and fleece-lined pants. I dress in layers; including my mittens. A warm pair of gloves under the mittens is a must when a camera is involved. When the trails begin to get a bit slippery, I put a pair of hiking cleats on my boots so I can walk sure-footed.

Don't let winter's cold keep you from being outside. With the proper clothing to keep you comfortable there is nothing like a walk in the frosty air to clear your lungs and your head. If you are on a trail, stop and listen. If there are no man made sounds, you will hear that the sounds of nature are amplified in the cold. There is crackling, crunching and bird calls. Try it. You might like. I do. Until next Friday, happy trails to you.

What a difference a week and a few foggy nights make. There may not be much snow on the ground but the tree branches made it look like a winter wonderland on the Beaver Hill Biodiversity Trail.

I love walking the trails when the branches are coated in ice crystals. The forest was silent so I could hear the trees creak and the crystals crackle. 

A slight breeze created a shower of ice. I came out of the forest looking like a snowman and learned that I need to wear a hooded jacket on the next hike so those icy flakes do not end up down my back.

There is not much snow on the ground; just enough so I could see who else was on the trail. Most of the tracks belonged to the squirrels. There were a few heart-shaped deer tracks and a few left by some hares.

The rose hips that are still clinging to the bushes stood out against the white frost. Each one was covered in ice crystals.

At home, the birds continue to visit the feeders. It's been the blue jays, chickadees, nuthatches, downy and hoary woodpeckers that have been providing the entertainment. 

The deer continue to raid the feeders under the cover of darkness; leaving the tray feeder empty and the chickadees looking for seeds. It doesn't take them long to find the feeding station on the deck.

I'm working on the outdoor evergreen arrangements for the yard. I may need to spray on some 'fake' snow if there isn't more of it soon.

Winter is taking its time with its arrival this year. Sparse snowcover makes for easier hiking but I'm anxious to begin the winter sports.

It's Friday; the first day of my weekend and 'post day'! I'm still waiting impatiently for snow. There has only been a little sprinkling of it that melted the next day. It's November 18. I should have my x-country skis and snowshoes out. My nose is pressed against the window every morning with the hope that snow fell overnight.

The birds have continued to be busy at the feeders; more frequently at one than the other as the deer come at night and empty the one in the middle of the yard. This morning when I went into the kitchen there were three blue jays and one hoary woodpecker at the feeder and a little downy woodpecker was waiting on the railing for a turn. They provided great entertainment while I had my morning coffee.

Before the cooler temperatures arrived, I hiked the Amisk Wuche trail at Elk Island National Park and the Beaver Hills Biodiversity trail. The day I was out there it was still +12C and the sun was shining.

I noticed the grass was turning green again. This made me pay particular attention to the colors that remained on the trail; the mossy green logs, the red berries and the yellow/orange leaves that still clung to the branches. 

I love walking and paying attention to the little things; the things that I cannot see or hear when I'm inside. There were ladybugs looking for a hiding spot and grouse standing like sentinels in the brown grass. There were hawks and crows flying and calling overhead. There were squirrels chattering in the treetops.
You don't need to live in a rural area to enjoy nature and all it has to offer. If you have a neighborhood park or trails in the river valley, take an hour to shut off the devices and tune out all the man made noise.

This is your challenge for the week. Turn on your senses and tune in to the sights and sounds of nature. You will come back rejuvenated. Tell me about your favorite place to walk.

There has been non-stop action at the backyard bird feeders this week. I set a new feeding station up on my deck. This year I put a 'squirrel block' in it in addition to some shelled sunflower seed. The feeding station in the middle of the yard is filled with the same seed but holds a suet cake.

The birds have been in a feeding frenzy. There were up to six blue jays in the yard at the same time. They swooped down from the branches to the squirrel block and worked at it just as the woodpeckers do. 

What fun it was to watch them in action. Each had a different personality. I wondered what was going on in their bird brains as they pecked for a bit, cocked their head as if to contemplate their task and then begin again.

The woodpeckers were abundant as well. Male and female downy and hoary woodpeckers took turns with the jays. They were more skittish and flew up into the tree branches each time I walked by the window.

The black capped chickadees flitted between the two feeding stations. There were still seed pods on some of the backyard shrubs so they were also busy gathering those from the branches. The leaves were still in place but I knew the little birds were in there because the shrub would tremble as they searched for food.

The birds were not the only ones that took advantage of newly filled feeders. The deer are back for regular visits. They have been feeding on the sunflower stalks/heads and my strawberry plants. I caught them raiding the sunflower seeds in the tray feeder. The deer make the rounds from yard to yard, pruning shrubs/plants and emptying the bird seed.

I had the best reality tv right outside my back door. 

19.2C in central Alberta on November 3. It is hard to believe but true. Today was another warm day.
It's been a few weeks since I've been on the trails. I was down for the count with laryngitis; no voice and what felt like a 20lb weight on my chest. I'm still not 100% but I had to get out and enjoy the day because the only walking I had been doing was from the couch to the bed and back again. Being at home, I did manage to see a beautiful bald eagle fly over my back yard. It skimmed the tree tops. I could see it holding something that it caught for breakfast. I also saw a couple dozen trumpeter swans fly over. Their graceful flight was not taking them south; but west to the lake across the road from my home. Maybe the snow that fell here when I was in Fernie was winter; come and gone.

I stuck close to home. I hadn't been to the Biodiversity trail since before Halloween so that was my destination.

A grouse greeted me at the trail head. Numerous moose and deer tracks were embedded in the mud. The beavers toppled a tree that on a bench and across the trail. The muskrats and ducks were swimming in the ponds.

I made my way to my favorite spot in the forest; a bench that sits beneath the towering spruce. The sun shone between the branches, casting long shadows on the trail. A gentle breeze fluttered the spider webs in the spruce boughs. As they moved, the sunlight reflected off them and made them shimmer.

The once colorful leafy carpet is now brown. The only color along the trail can be found on the mossy logs that lay strewn on the forest floor.

The ponds were serene. The breeze created tiny ripples on the surface. Sparkles appeared on the water as the sun reflected off the splashes created by the surfacing pond bugs.

The birds sang and the squirrels chattered. It was a beautiful day to be outside. I wish I could have explored more trails but it wasn't meant to be.

I did spend some time in the backyard, watching the antics at the bird feeder. The chickadees and blue jays were busy enjoying the feast that I set out for them. They were making my cat's head spin. I thought he was going to get whiplash as he watched all the birds in flight.

The days are getting shorter and I find myself leaving for work in the dark and coming home in the dark. The occasions that I can get to the trails are limited to the weekend. I'll be posting on Fridays only through the remainder of fall/winter. Join me again next Friday! Until then...Happy Trails to you.

Last weekend when I was at the trail, in addition to the wildlife, I paid attention to the beauty beneath my feet. There were a couple of frosty nights that left the grass crispy and the leaves trimmed with ice crystals.

The sunshine created sparkles that lead me through the forest. There was no sneaking up on the wildlife; the grass crunched under my boots. Jack Frost coated the landscape and I enjoyed every sparkling moment.

When I finished my hike at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail last Saturday, there was still plenty of time left in the day so I ventured to Elk Island National Park.

That was my first visit in October. I stayed away because the park staff had been working feverishly on ripping up and repaving the parking lot. They also ripped out the pavement on the trails beside the lake. That meant a whole lot of noise. I wanted to see how much they got accomplished.

On my way there I saw bison grazing inside the park fence, a coyote hunting for mice in the tall grass and a hawk that dived off a fence post but came up empty-clawed. That was a lot of action and I wasn't even at the park gate yet.

The pond surfaces were clear of ice so the ducks were busy diving and dunking for plants. The muskrats swam around the ducks; creating v's in the water.

The heavy equipment at Astotin Lake sat idle. The parking lot looked great. The trails along the lake are still being worked on. I spent only enough time there to see the progress made. 

As I drove toward the highway, a raven pecked at some garbage. I pulled to a stop. It squawked at me and took off toward the nearest garbage can for more trash.

On the way home I saw five white tail deer at the edge of the forest. The bison were still grazing and the coyote was still hunting. There were not as many people frequenting the park during the cooler temperatures so the animals were out in full force; lucky for me.

I'm looking forward to dusting off the snowshoes, x-country skis, ice skates and kicksled so I can spend more time at the park. Now all I need is snow.

I had such a great hike last Friday that I returned to the Biodiversity trail on Saturday. The sky was clear and the sun was shining. I like heading out early enough to catch the wildlife that is out and about. Bird songs could be heard from the trees. A muskrat swam across a pond. A hawk flew up from tall grass and landed on a spruce bough. I came across one moose and numerous grouse on the trail. It was my lucky day. One of the grouse was not camera shy.

I returned from Fernie to find about eight inches of snow at home. Most has melted but some remains where the sun does not shine on it. I didn't know what to expect at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail but I was ready for snow or mud.

The trail turned out to be in great shape. There was snow in areas where the trail is tree covered and a leaf carpet covers the areas that would be muddy.

I had to take advantage of the day. The sun was brilliant and the sky was cloudless. I took a few moments to enjoy it from one of the benches that overlooks a pond. The waterfowl were gone. I wondered where the swan family settled for the winter. It was great fun to watch them through the summer.

I could hear Mother Nature's choir on my travels through the forest. The bluejays called. The squirrels chattered. The chickadees sang. A pair of moose were browsing in the woods. They heard the crunch of frozen grass under my boots and took off through the trees. A grouse flew up from the underbrush. 

I was there in mid morning. The sun was beginning to melt the frost. Leaves were holding drops of water that reflected the light. The forest carpet sparkled. It was a great day for a hike.

It rained off and on during my three day visit to Fernie but that didn't stop me from enjoying the beauty around it. 

It was still raining when I left and continued to do so until I reached the turnoff to HWY 22 from HWY 3. The clouds parted and the sun shone through creating one last rainbow for me.

The drive north on HWY22 to the secondary HWY540 was quiet and scenic. Cattle grazed the wide open ranges. Snowy mountain peaks could be seen in the distance. 

I turned east on HWY540 but kept watching my mirrors so I wouldn't miss the last glimpse of the mountains.