'Fog Advisory' banners on the weather website were numerous this week.  It didn't make for good driving conditions but it sure made for a scenic landscape; especially when the clouds disappeared and the sun came out.  Lucky for me, my days off were mid-week and I got to enjoy the beauty first hand before the wind redecorated.

The plan was to clean my house but plans changed.  I did get the mop and bucket out and was prepared to get started but then the sun came out and the outdoors beckoned.  I didn't need much convincing to hide the bucket in the closet and head out the door.

I loaded the hiking spikes, snowshoes, kicksled and numerous cameras into my vehicle.  I wanted to do it all.  I left home at 10am and returned at 3pm.  What a day!

The first stop was the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail for snowshoeing.  I tried out a smaller pair of snowshoes since the snow was not deep and fluffy.  The snow was crusty and it crunched loudly under the shoes.  There was no sneaking up on any forest creatures.  The squirrels heard me coming and scattered.  The noise echoed through the trees; so much so that I ended up taking the snowshoes off and carrying them back to the parking lot.

The frosty crystals created by the fog covered the branches like thick white blankets.  I could hear them crackle and fall to the ground when a breeze gently stirred them loose.  They 'rained' down to the trail below.

The next stop was Elk Island National Park.  I hadn't been there for awhile so I stopped at the gate to pick up my free 2017 park pass.  You would think that the free admission would draw more people but there were no vehicles in the Astotin Lake parking lot; only a single mule deer munching on some twigs. 

I pulled out the kicksled and took it down to the oval on the lake that has been cleared for skating.  What a wonderful hour I had on the ice with the sled; gliding over the surface.  All I could hear were the runners over the ice. 

Methane bubbles formed and were captured in the ice; creating some amazing patterns to watch for.  The oval has its bumpy patches but it was great to glide over with the sled. 

I didn't want to head home yet.  I contemplated lighting a bonfire by the lake.  The wood bin was full but a number of vehicles were pulling into the parking lot so I opted for a quieter location.  I drove over to the Amisk Wuche Trail.  I hadn't been there for a couple of months so I wanted to check it out.

Frosty trees greeted me.  Chickadees sang from the underbrush.  Blue jays called from the upper branches.  The sun streamed through the trees and cast long shadows across the trail.  The snow was hard packed and icy in some sections but I wore my trusty hiking cleats.

After five hours of fresh air, I made my way home.  That cup of coffee that I had sure tasted good.  It was a glorious outdoor day.  I don't regret choosing to spend it outside.  The mop and bucket are still in the closet.

Happy trails 'til next Friday.

The sun shining through the frosty trees created a magical moment on the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail.

Hoar frost coated the branches.

A mule deer grazed at Elk Island National Park.

Someone got creative in the snow on Astotin Lake.

It was great fun to take the kicksled out on the lake.

Amisk Wuche Trail