Back in the deep freeze. There was a week of warmth and sunshine. That was just a bit of relief from the Christmas deep freeze. The 'extreme cold warning' was back this week with temperatures in the high -30Cs again.

The days were sunny and for me the temps were tolerable as long as there was no windchill. I watched each day to see if my garden flag was waving. If it was still, I was outside.

I ventured out for some snowshoeing on 4 out of 5 days this week. I dressed for the weather and had a great time on the trails. When it is cold, the sounds are crisper. The bird calls echo through the woods. The snow is crunchier and the creaking of the trees is louder. You can experience a 'different' world in the woods.
 

I'm all for the layering when going outside. My winter jacket is good to -40C. I'll wear a couple lighter weight shirts underneath. I have some windproof nylon pants that are fleece lined. I'll add a pair of leggings under them if it is colder than -24C. My boots have a thick, warm lining that is good to -40C. I'll wear a light pair of ski socks in those. A pair of gloves inside a some mittens, a warm touque and a neck tube finish off the ensemble. I'm looking pretty stylish by this time. 

At the trail head I'll add hiking spikes or snowshoes depending on the snow conditions. Both keep you safe on the icy patches. In either case, I use one or two hiking poles for some stability during the hike.

I may take some hand warmers with me but don't use them unless absolutely necessary. I try to stay out for about 1-1.5 hours and most often my hands stay warm without them. Once I get moving, the fingers stay toasty as the frost builds up on the outside mitten layer.

Winter doesn't mean that you have to stay inside. With the proper clothing to keep warm and comfortable, you to can enjoy the winter experience. It's not going to go away so all I can say is embrace it.

Windproof, fleece lined pants for warmth.

Boot liners good to -40C

Poles for stability while hiking or snowshoeing

Spikes for stability while walking on icy trails

Warm head gear and a neck tube are a must

Brrrrr. That's all I can say. Between December 24 through 31st, the warmest daytime temp was in the mid -20Cs with windchill bringing it down to the mid -30Cs. Overnight the coldest evenings got to below -40C. I have no idea how cold it got because my thermometer only goes to -40C. I just know it was too cold to be outside; even for this winter lover. I spent the days inside, stoking the wood stove so the furnace would not run 24/7.

The 'hibernation time' allowed me the opportunity to browse through all my photo files from 2017. Photography is an opportunity for me to be outside; whether in the garden or on the trails. I'm posting some of my favorite photos from the past year. Enjoy!

Happy New Year. I hope everyone has the chance to explore more in 2018; even if it happens to be in your own backyard.

Beautiful autumn colors at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail

One of many moose on my favorite hiking trail.

One of the beautiful sunrises outside my kitchen window.

Wildflower season in David Thompson country.

Canada Geese protecting their goslings.

Western Toad in my backyard.

It's been a while but I'm back. I just took a look at my last post from November 19 and noticed the mention of a lot of snow falling. Well, most of it is now an icy layer that covers the trails, the walkways, the parking lots and anything else that it collected on. I had to bring home some pails of rock chips so I could walk on my driveway without falling down.

My granddaughters were over for a visit. We took out the kicksled and they had a great time with it on the driveway. It is much easier for them to maneuver it now that they are taller. 

Two weeks ago I tried heading to the trails. I almost made it to the edge of the parking lot; operative word is 'almost'. My feet went out from under me and down I went. My hiking spikes were not on my boots but they certainly were a couple of minutes later. Spikes and poles were required to navigate the ice.

The icy surfaces were created by a number of days that reached double digit temperatures. I could skate down the ski tracks that I broke in November. After the parking lot tumble, I decided to stay away from the forest trails for a few days.

I went to the Leduc Country Christmas Lights to try and get myself into the spirit of the season. The lights were beautiful but the paths through the displays were just as icy as the parking lot at the trailhead. I'm hoping for at least a little bit of fresh snow to make it feel more 'Christmas-y' but will be using those spikes on my boots daily to avoid spending more time on my rear end.

Today was set aside for some outdoor time. I was going out no matter what. I didn't think there would be anyone on the trails. The woods at the Beaverhills Biodiversity Trail were quiet and just what I needed. For almost two hours I made my way through the forest.
The hard crusted snow crunched under my hiking spikes. There was no sneaking up on any animals today. The squirrels chattered at me and the chickadees sang their cheeseburger songs from the bare branches as I trudged along.

The ponds that were home to the beavers and the swans last summer are frozen over. They will be perfect to venture onto when more snow falls and I can put the snowshoes on. The ice was too bumpy for skating.

On the way home I decided to detour and drove to the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area to see if the snowbank rink was ready for skating. The rink is still being flooded. They should be able to get a good layer of ice over the next week as the we are supposed to get some overnight temperatures in the -20Cs. Here comes winter.

The cookhouse close to the rink is filled with tables but the wood box was empty. It looks like anyone wanting to use the stove must bring their own wood this year.

I think I'll be taking the kicksled out tomorrow. The slippery trail conditions will be perfect for running the sled. I'll be back next week. I'm winding down the final tasks for 2017 at work so there will be plenty of outdoor time to be had.

Merry Christmas to all!

Another four inches of snow has fallen over the past week so there is now enough to explore the trails on skis. I dusted off the adventure skis; shorter and wider that a x-country ski and made for breaking trail. I had the skis out only once last year and am hoping to bring them out more often.

After dusting off the cobwebs from skis, poles and boots, I ventured to the Biodiversity Trail. It was developed as an interpretive trail; one that is meant to hike and explore so it would never be groomed and track set for skiing. That is where the adventure skis come in to play.

The snow was deep and fluffy. Branches on the shrubs and trees held snowflakes like ornaments on shelves. Animal tracks crisscrossed the trails and ponds. There were imprints of moose bodies in the snow where they rested overnight.

The forest was a winter wonderland. The morning sun shone through the trees, casting a warm glow on the fresh snow. Blue jays squawked and squirrels chattered.

My first outing created a trail and the second outing the next day was to enjoy what I missed the day prior as I watched for fallen logs and debris that may have been hidden under the snow. The weather was perfect. After going over my trail a second time, I think I'll be able to take my classic skis out the next time.

The trail is short but it is perfect for someone who hasn't skied in a while. There is nobody zipping by and it allows for a slow, enjoyable pace where I can stop and enjoy the scenery without feeling like I'm about to get run over by the experienced skiers.

My goal is to get out at least 3-4 times per week with either skis or snowshoes. Today will be a rest day. The muscles that I haven't used lately are telling me that they need to recuperate.

I was provided with some colorful beginnings to a number of days last week.

There was a post circulating by a magazine that asked how you begin your day. Mine begins the same way each morning. Open the curtains. Make a cup of coffee. Sit at the kitchen table and watch the sun come up. There were some very colorful mornings last week.

I love watching the intense color come through between the tree trunks. As the sun rises the clouds reflect the blues, pinks, oranges and yellows; making for a colorful canvas. As the sun rises the intense color fades and the show is done about the same time that the coffee is finished.

Early morning is my favorite time of day. All is calm and quiet. The animals are usually out on the trails; making for great photo opportunities. The smells are intense from the dew or the frost of the night before. 

Those who are not 'morning people' miss out on an amazing time of day. That's just my opinion; coming from a person who has had two cups of coffee before 6am.

What a difference a week can make. Winter has arrived and provided enough snow to x-country ski and snowshoe. Outstanding!

I had to play in the snow. There were no human tracks on the trails; only the woodland creatures were out before me. The air was crisp. The day was calm. My outing was amazing.

The fresh snow glistened when the sun came out from behind the clouds. It crunched under my boots. The sound of the squirrels and the birds echoed through the now leafless forest.

I love winter and all the activities that I choose to do to celebrate the ice and snow; snowshoeing, x-country skiing, kicksledding and skating on the outdoor rinks and ponds.

One has to be dressed for success, so to speak. You must ensure that you are comfortable, safe and warm before heading out. I use cleats on my boots because you never know where there is a patch of ice under the snow. Hiking poles provide stability on the winter walks. Fleece lined pants provide warmth. Lots of layers provide the ability to adjust your temperature by being able to add or subtract items. My fingers keep warm with a glove liner inside some fleece mittens. I also invested in a reusable pocket hand warmer that gets filled with lighter fluid. Once it is lit, it stays warm for hours and is used to warm up the digits when I stop for a rest.

My biggest 'beef' each winter when the snow begins to fall is that enough falls with the first storms so there is an ample layer to enjoy and this year I have no 'beef'. There is about eight inches of fluffy, flakes on the ground to enjoy.

There is a bench in woods that I consider my 'thinking bench'. A lot of thinking has been done there. It sits under towering spruce. The aromatic branches overhead helped with the decision making that was done.

It's been a while since the last post and a lot has transpired since then. My resignation letter was submitted at work a few weeks ago which in turn lead to the decisions made of late.
My walks through the paths in the woods where the squirrels chattered in the treetops and the leaves crunched underfoot, helped me decide on my own new path.

With the resignation letter in, a new chapter of life begins so my house is going up for sale. Why write a chapter when you can write an entire book?

I love the area that I live in but it's not the only area where trails are close by and wildlife is abundant. I love my house but I can find and love another. I love my yard but I can find one that needs some love and make it my own. So the journey begins.

I have been house hunting already; at another lake where ski and hiking trails are close by. There's easy access to get the kayak in the water. There are yards that need TLC and little cottages that just need a personal touch. I am excited for the adventure ahead.

Even though my brain has been in overdrive, I didn't let that stop me from enjoying the beauty still abundant on the trails. There are still pops of color everywhere. Colorful leaves are holding on to branches that shiver in the wind. Mossy logs are vivid as they lay on the leafy brown carpet. Red rose hips hang from thorn covered bushes.

My outdoor time may be irregular which in turn will make posts irregular but I will continue to carve out as much outdoor time as possible as boxes are packed and a new journey begins. I will share the journey with you as it unfolds. Stay tuned

I've had daily visitors to the backyard. They haven't been the two-legged kind.

A doe and her twins showed up in early September. They are stopping by almost daily. If they are not in my yard, they are in the yard next door. Yesterday they were mowing and fertilizing the neighbor's lawn and pruning the shrubs. They hit the jackpot in that yard because that lawn hasn't been mowed since July.
 
I love watching the trio. They have been nibbling the leaves that were still holding on; thankfully leaving the twigs intact.

Yesterday they started their tour in my yard with the hope of reaching the sunflower seeds. Mama didn't get the seeds but she did get a candid close up taken by my trail cam.

I went for a short hike yesterday to see what was happening at the local ponds. The waterfowl are gone and there is a thin layer of ice forming. The forest was quiet except for the crunch of leaves under my boots. 

The trees are bare except for the rose bushes. Their leaves are hanging on and provide a burst of color against the bare underbrush. 

There's a bit of snow on the trail; a reminder to hikers that winter is on the way.

It took a few days for the snow to melt in the yard but there are still patches of it in the ditches. The moisture was welcomed but the damage it did was not.

The backyard shrubs have recuperated from the heavy snowfall but many of the trees along the range road and on the trails have snapped off under the weight of the blanket.

What the snow didn't damage, the wind took care of the last couple of days. The brilliant colors of fall are now strewn on the ground. Most branches are bare while the trails are covered with a leafy carpet.

I got the water barrels emptied and the broken flower stems pruned. The tent came down yesterday. The area by the fire pit is looking bare without it. I'm hoping the weather will hold out for a few more days so the lawn furniture can get covered. 

Even though the colors of fall are no more, it is a great time to take a walk in the woods. You can see between the trees and may notice the wildlife that the leaves had hidden through the summer. The ducks and geese are still frequenting the ponds. They are in no hurry to leave. The air is crisp and fresh and inviting; just like the cup of coffee or hot chocolate waiting for you upon your return.

I am so ready for some outdoor time. September is the busiest month of the year at work and my favorite month of the year for trail time. I managed to get a couple short jaunts in to enjoy the beautiful fall colors but they were only about 40 minutes long. Better than nothing.
I love being on the trails in the early morning. The sun casts long shadows over the trail. The yellow leaves on the aspens glow in the morning sun.

Each season has its own smell. Spring is fresh. Summer is floral. Winter is crisp and clean. Autumn is earthy. 

The smell of ripe berries, decaying leaves, and wet earth remind me that Mother Nature is shutting things down for a long winter nap.

The smells, the colors and the calls of gathering flocks of birds preparing for a long flight make autumn a wonderful time of year to explore.

I woke to a layer of snow on the yard this morning but the temperature will rise later in the week and will melt that snow for some added moisture. This coming weekend is the first one in the last 5 that I'll be able to spend some time in the woods. I can't wait.