It's been some time since my last post.  With the shortest number of daylight hours happening through December, events at work and getting ready for Christmas, I have to say that my outdoor time was limited to the backyard.  It has been dark when I leave for work and dark when I come home so I have taken full advantage of my time off the past week and enjoyed as much outdoor time as I could possibly fit in.  

I like to do a year in review when December ends and a new year begins.  I take stock of new experiences and revisit my photographs from the past year and try to choose my favorites.

January 2015

I love the thick hoar frost on the trees after a foggy night.  As you walk on the trails you can hear it snap and crackle as the temperature changes.  Sunlight on the frosty branches make each sparkle like millions of diamonds.  That is my kind of 'bling'. 

April 2015

In April I was lucky to find the beaver family actively swimming in the pond at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  I watched in wonder as they fed on the reeds.  There is nothing on television that could have kept my attention for an hour like this reality show.

May 2015

May offered a spectacular light show.  The aurora was active and bright.  It provided me the opportunity to attempt some night time photography.  I spent a good portion of the evening under that amazing sky.  Mother Nature's light show is free for all those who watch the sky.  This was only the beginning of a very active year for the northern lights.  It got better as the year went on.

June 2015

I managed to travel to David Thompson country five times last summer.  Four of the five were camping trips.  The loons on Fish Lake west of Nordegg put on a show each time I was there.  I tried a new campground this year.  The Thompson Creek campground is the last one on the David Thompson highway before entering Banff National Park.  What a beautiful site and well maintained.

July 2015

When I stayed at Thompson Creek, I found the hiking trail on the north side of the highway.  It meandered along the creek through masses upon masses of fireweed that bloomed after the Spreading Creek Fire went through the area.  Rufous hummingbirds flitted from flower to flower and bluebirds sang from the bare branches.  The forest was once again coming to life.

August 2015

I had my own hummers in the backyard.  Each year I plant scarlet runner beans to attract the little beauties to the yard.  The nectar feeders were set out as well and I watched the action throughout the entire summer.   They arrived in May and left in September.  I was pleasantly surprised by a pair of Rufous hummingbirds that stopped in at the feeders in addition to all the Ruby throated hummers.

September 2015

September 2015

Autumn was spectacular.  A lunar eclipse had me watching this sky in September in addition to another beautiful display of the northern lights.

September 2015

The colors of autumn stayed for a number of weeks.  It was the most scenic drive home for days on end.  The beautiful hues were brilliant and caused me to drive under the speed limit just so I could take them all in. 

September 2015

September 2015

While walking the trails at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre, I had numerous encounters with the moose.  I was a familiar sight to them already.  They would look up when they heard me coming but continued with their browsing after they saw it was me.  I saw more tiger salamanders and garter snakes than ever before.  Each year I check my window wells daily during their migration time.  The salamanders fall into the wells and need me to help them out so they can continue on their journey to find a hiding spot before winter arrives.

November 2015

November brought another fantastic display of light in the sky.  The aurora moved in waves and circles in the sky.  As I stood in the middle of the yard, the deer came in from the forest behind my house.  I stood within ten feet of them.  The moment was magical.  That night was the most entertaining show that I had seen yet; not knowing that December would be even better. 

December 2015

 On December 20 the northern lights were out again.  I noticed them on my drive home from work.  This is one advantage to working late.  As the evening progressed the show became more intense.  I stood in the middle of the backyard and watched waves of light move and swirl across the sky. The deer did not show up but the wolves living at the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation area decided to provide some music for the show.  Their howls under an aurora filled sky was about as Canadian as it could get.  That was a night to be remembered.

December 2015

My little people stayed for a few days during Christmas break.  We skated on an outdoor rink, x-country skied and found a hill for lots of sledding.  The temperature was perfect to be outside.  It was a great way to end 2015.

The snow cover this year is minimal but there is enough for outdoor activities without having to keep the driveway shoveled.  I think that has happened only three times since winter began.  The warmer temperatures of late have been ideal for outdoor activities.  

It will soon be time to make my annual trek to the mountains.  I can partake in skating, skiing and snowshoeing here but there is just something special about having the mountains in view.

2015 was an outstanding year for nature experiences.  Here's hoping that 2016 will bring more of the same.  

The boreal chorus frogs are waking from their winter naps.  I heard a few last night.  In a couple of weeks, their calls will be deafening.

There was a slight breeze that swayed the tall aspens.  The tall, white trunks looked beautiful against the cloudless, blue sky. 

Geese flew from pond to pond; their honking echoing through the trees.  I was able to sneak up and observe the geese as they swam but the ducks were skittish and took off each time I tried to get closer.

When I finished the loop and returned to the beaver pond where the trail begins, I noticed one beaver adding mud to the dam.  I was just in time.  I prepared a front row seat for the early show.

I sat down along the edge of the pond.  The beaver noticed me and swam back and forth; eying me over.  There was no tail slapping; just gentle dives and surfacing.  Each time it surfaced, it looked in my direction.

I watched for forty five minutes.  During that time the beaver dived and dug up the soft mud to add to the dam.  It chewed off the old bulrush stalks and added them to the mud.  When it got hungry, it found some new green growth amidst the old stalks.  The night was calm and there was no traffic so I could hear the chewing.

I had my binoculars with me but didn't have to use them.  The beaver was only eight feet in front of me and the dam it was working on was only about twenty feet away.  I had the best seat in the 'house' and was not disappointed by the evening entertainment.

I had only a short period of time to spend in the woods so decided to visit the Strathcona Wilderness Centre this morning.  The sun was just beginning to come over the treetops.  The sky was cloudless and only a sliver of the moon was visible.  It was the perfect morning to hike.  I didn't have to wear a jacket. There was no wind and the temperature was warm.  It was only 9am!

The water in the pond at the end of the driveway did not have one ripple.  There were no ducks or muskrats swimming.  Most of the leaves have dropped and the cat tails have bloomed out; leaving masses of fuzz on the pond surface.

The beginning of the trail was quiet.  No bird calls.  No chattering squirrels.  The sun's rays created long shadows on the leafy carpet.  

There were a number of berries and rose hips clinging to branches.  I was surprised that the squirrels hadn't plucked them off.  The rose bushes were the only shrubs still clinging to leaves.  

As I made my way around the trail, I decided to visit the Spruce Bog.  A large owl flew up from a branch as I approached the area.  I followed a long boardwalk into a sheltered area that contains labrador tea, paper birch and towering spruce trees.  There are benches for those that wish to sit and enjoy the quiet or watch the squirrels gather food.  They were not happy to have me sitting there this morning.

I was the only person on the trail today.  I wish I could have stayed out longer but winter will show up sooner or later and there were windows to be washed before the snow falls.

I was admiring the autumn colors on the drive home today.  The wind stripped the leaves off many of the tall aspens but the shorter shrubs are holding onto theirs.

As I passed by the first pond across from the Strathcona Wilderness Centre, I noticed a moose browsing on the willow branches on the far side.  It always amazes me how all the drivers passing me are oblivious to the abundance of wildlife.  I let five vehicles pass by and not one was paying attention.  Two of the five had cell phones glued to their ears which is a no-no to begin with.  I sure hope they are more vigilant the next time a big moose runs across their path.

I watched that beautiful animal as it enjoyed its snack in the mid-afternoon sun.  Its dark brown coat shone in the sunlight and it paid no attention to me while I snapped my photos.

Tomorrow is wood splitting day.  The log splitter got delivered today and I've assembled all the loose parts.  Yesterday I assembled the stand that will hold all the split wood.  If I get up early, I can sneak a quick hike in to enjoy the fall colors before the wind does a number to the remaining leaves.  With any luck, this moose will still be hanging around the area.

 

I was planning on taking the snowshoes out today.  That didn't happen.  I drove into the Wilderness Centre parking lot and drove right back out again.  The parking lot was full.  The overflow lot was full and people were beginning to park on either side of the driveway.

I had my skates with me so decided on some ice skating.  My first location was a bust.  The parks staff had not cleaned the snow from it.  I tried the snowbank rink by the local elementary school.  It was perfect.  I had the ice all to myself.  I love skating there.  There's nothing quite like skating on an outdoor surface.  This one is well maintained; cleaned and flooded on a regular basis.  I'm always amazed at how little it gets used.  There are picnic tables set up beside it so families could make a morning or afternoon of it.

The ice surface that wasn't cleaned off is at the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot  Recreation area.  It is larger than the one that I skated at.  There are picnic tables and outdoor fire pits with wood provided.  There is also a large picnic shelter with a wood stove inside.  Both are perfect locations for a family outing.

When I got home, I filled the bird feeders.  I heard a very loud, hollow tapping sound.  The pileated woodpecker was at it again.  Rather than coming to the old rotted stump or the suet feeders, it was rat-a-tat-tatting on a power pole.  

My backyard deer friends showed up during the late afternoon.  I had the pail of water back outside for them.  Only a couple of them came for a drink.  The others preferred to grab mouthfuls of snow.

The forecast shows sunshine for tomorrow.  I hope it is correct.  I'd like to take the skis or snowshoes out for a couple of hours.

Since November 21, a single doe has been visiting my yard.  Yesterday, she brought friends; three to be exact.  I glanced out the window and saw the silhouettes.  They glanced up when I turned on an outside light but made no attempt to leave.  I watched as they raided the bird's feeder tray.  When that was empty, they found the tub of grain.  After 30 minutes of eating and frolicking in the snow, they filed out of the yard one by one.

I was off today. The sun was shining.  There was a long to-do list on my table but I just could not waste a perfect outdoor day.  I packed up and headed out the door at 8:15am for some trail adventures.

The sun was just coming up when I left.  As I drove through Elk Island Park, the sun's rays created millions of sparkling crystals on the hoar frost left from last night's fog.  The trees along Amisk Wuche trail wore white coats on their branches.  The contrast of white against the bright blue sky was amazing.  It was so peaceful.  It was Christmas card perfect. 

I got back to the trail head parking lot and knew that I didn't want to head home just yet.  The day was too beautiful to spend it inside.  I drove straight to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  I hadn't visited the snowshoe trail since it snowed.  It was packed down so I managed to walk it with boots and cleats.  

As I made my way along the trail, I heard the chickadees calling from the willow thickets.  A slight breeze blew through the tree tops, creating enough movement to shake the hoar frost loose.  It fell from the branches covering the trail like a blanket.   The peaceful silence was broken by the sound of the groomer.  I was glad that I was close to the parking lot.

My final destination for the day was the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area.  The trails have been groomed and track set.  I tried the Neon/Lost Lake trail.  The skiing was perfect.  I met up with a couple of hikers but no other skiers.  I'm proud to say that there were no wipe outs today!

As I traveled home, I noticed one of the deer that visited my yard last night.  I knew it was the same one by its size; double the size of the single doe that has been visiting.  She was making her way up an acreage driveway.  It will be interesting to see if the visitors come back this evening.

When I got home, I realized that I had spent 5 glorious hours in the fresh air.  I visited all 3 of my favorite places.  As I listened to the news this evening, the weather forecaster was warning everyone of an approaching winter storm.  Tomorrow morning should still be okay but freezing rain is to move in during the afternoon.  A snowstorm with big winds and lots of snow is to follow.  I'm hoping that I can get to the ski trail in the morning before the weather changes because it looks like hibernation is on the horizon if the storm hits as predicted.



 

My Perfect Outdoor Day

"I remember a hundred lovely lakes, and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees.  The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets.  It has given me blessed release from care and worry and the troubled thinking of our modern day.  It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful.  Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and benumbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy."  ~Hamlin Garland, McClure's, February 1899

I left home as the sun was coming up this morning.  My plan was to spend the day outside.  I started at the Strathcona Wilderness Center.  The air was crisp and the grasses and leaves were frosty.  It was the perfect beginning to a glorious outing.

 

The morning rays of the sun shone through the bare branches of the tall aspen trees.  The trunks cast long shadows on the trail.  The frosty leaf carpet glittered like gold.  

 

It was still calm and silent except for the little chickadees.  They were busy collecting seeds from the shrubs.  I stopped to watch as they flitted from branch to branch; singing their 'cheeseburger' song.

There were a number of little ponds along the trail that I was on.  I could see them through the trees.  The moose and deer created a well worn path to one of them.  I decided to follow it.  I'm glad that I did.

Moss covered logs lay on the edge.  The water was not deep but it was calm, clear and reminded me of a sheet of glass.  The bright yellow color from the few remaining leaves reflected in the water.  The area was like a little piece of heaven.

When I finished exploring at the SWC, I made my way to Elk Island National Park.  I wanted to revisit a trail that looped through the forest on the north side of Astotin Lake.  

 

Along the parkway en route to the lake, a young coyote searched for food.  It lopped through the ditch.  Every now and again it would pounce into the tall grasses but each time it came back out empty handed.  

As I made my way to the trail head, I could hear honking above me.  The snow geese were on the move.  Their white bodies against the blue sky were a sight to behold.

My first stop was at a bench that overlooked Astotin Lake.  The wind had picked up and was creating little white caps on the water.  Ducks and geese bobbed up and down in the waves.  This was an ideal lunch spot.  There was still some autumn color directly in front of me as well as on the island.  The bench was sheltered and the sun warmed me as I sat and took in the sights and sounds.

There are a number of rest stops along the trail where hikers can take a break and relax.  It was at one of the stops that numerous paths lead into the trees.  I followed one and found a skull leaning against a broken branch.

Chickadees and nuthatches provided entertainment as they were foraging in the spruce trees.  The forest smells were amazing.

I marveled at the scene around me.  There were decaying logs covered in a carpet of bright green fern-looking moss.  A tree stump was covered in a soft layer of brown/green moss.  Lichen grew upright through the layer; reaching for the small rays of sun that found their way through the thick boughs overhead.

My outdoor day was perfect.  I am so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area.  All my favorite activities can be found within a 10 minute drive from my home.  Hiking, x-country skiing, skating, snowshoeing, and so many natural areas for photography.  I take advantage of this every moment that I can.  There is nothing better than spending time in the forest.

My Forest Friends

After two days of gusty winds, most of the trees are bare.  I hiked the trails at the Strathcona Wilderness Center this evening with the hopes of seeing some wildlife.  When the underbrush is covered with leaves, the deer and moose have a place to hide.  With the empty branches, I really wanted to see some forest friends.




 


I spent some time gazing at the beauty of the pond.  There was still some color on the trees that reflected in the water along with the reflection of the fluffy white clouds.  What a serene scene!

I started out on the Wagon Loop trail.  The carpet of leaves crunched under my shoes.  Blue jays were busy hiding food under the leaves.  Squirrels ran up and down the bare trees, nattering at me as I came by.  Dark eyed juncos flew through the underbrush looking for seeds.  A large owl swooped out of a tree top.  Once again I miss getting a photo!

My first bit of luck happened early on the hike.  A young hare was sitting amidst the leaf carpet.  It was still brown in color and showed no signs of turning color.  Looks like its not thinking of winter yet.  A moose was drinking at one of the sloughs.  It heard my noisy steps and ran off into the trees.

I kept watching for the owl.  As my eyes traveled up and down the tree trunks, scanning the branches for the elusive bird, I felt some eyes staring at me.  A couple of white tail deer were not far from me.  I hoped that they would stay put while I got the camera out.  Lucky for me, they did not run off until I got a few shots.  A raven flew over and scared them off.

I made my way back to the trail head at the pond.  The muskrats were busy swimming from shore to shore.  As they made their way through the water, they created v-shaped ripples on the surface.

The rose bushes alongside the pond are still holding onto their leaves.  The bright colors stand out against the bare tree trunks.

The evening was calm.  As I stood by the pond at the end of my hike, I could hear geese, chickadees, ravens, and bluejays.  It was peaceful, serene and the perfect way to end the day.