What a great week for wildlife watching! Moose, coyotes, deer, porcupines and the backyard birds provided my entertainment this week.

The pileated woodpecker announced her arrival in the yard by pecking at the power pole. The hollow sound resonated through neighborhood. She flew down to one of the tray feeders and proceeded to spread the sunflower seeds all over the snow. 

I watched in amazement as she searched for the perfect shells. She was skittish; watching and ready to fly at a moment's notice whenever she detected movement. When she had enough, she flew to a tall poplar behind my yard. I was just about to put the camera away when I noticed a second pileated woodpecker with her on the same tree!

It must have been the week for doubles. I saw two moose in the woods along the roadside and two coyotes crossing the road in front of me when I was driving to a snowshoe trail. 

The driveway and parking lot to my favorite trail were still not plowed so I made my way to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre to check out the snowshoe trail there. There were a couple of visiting school groups. The kids were on snowshoes and having a great time; lots of rosy cheeks. I wanted to avoid the group so I hiked the trail in reverse. That turned out to be a great decision.

The snow on Bennett Lake was fluffy and deep; perfect for the snowshoes. It wound in and out of the willow thickets. Moose tracks crisscrossed in front of me. As I got close to where the trail took me into the trees, I noticed not one but two porcupines in the trees.

It amazed me that they were active in daylight. The opportunity allowed me to observe them feeding on the young birch branches. They carefully nibbled the bark away; stripping the twigs of their covering. I marveled at how the porcupines can perch on the small branches and not have the twig bend. What a treat to be able to watch these two in action!

I missed going to my usual snowshoe trail where it is quiet and peaceful. The only sound I hear there is the crunch of snow underfoot. I tried getting there and made it onto the driveway earlier in the week but drove in and straight out. I was afraid to park for fear of getting stuck as it still had not been plowed out. 

I attempted to get something done about getting a snowplow in there. Success! I received an email last night that informed me that the lot should be plowed out for today. There's a severe cold warning right now but as soon as the wind dies down, I'll be sure to check out my favorite trail again.

Wow! I think the snowfall that we expect for an entire winter has fallen within the past week and a half; 10+ inches last week and another 8 inches this week.

I was first on the Beaver Hills Biodiversity trail after the big snow last week. Breaking trail in 10 inches of fluffy snow took some time because of the depth of the snow but also because I stopped often to take in the beauty of the woods. What usually takes me 45 minutes, took double that time.

The tree branches were laden with snowflakes. Tree stumps were wearing 'snow caps'. It was a winter wonderland like no other. 

On my travels around the loop, I came across a moose foraging in the underbrush. It looked up as I trudged by. Deer and coyote tracks crisscrossed the trail. When I got to three quarters of the way around, I saw two more moose; both at the edge of a pond in the willows.

Woodpeckers visiting the rotten snags, tapped out a song that echoed through the trees. Chickadees sang their 'cheeseburger' songs as they flitted from branch to branch in search of seeds.

The woods were so beautiful after the snow that I didn't want to go home so I traveled to the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation area to see if the ski trails had been set. 

The trail conditions were amazing. There was lots of deep snow for snowshoeing and set tracks for the skiers. 

The sun is out this morning and the sky is blue. There is a lot of new snow from the past couple of days. I think I'll treat myself to an outing this afternoon in the 'freshies'!

Ask and ye shall receive. That's what happened. Well okay, I didn't really 'ask'. I was out hiking the trails every day this past week and was whining that there was very little snow this winter. 
 
Much to my surprise, there was over 10 inches of fluffy white stuff on my driveway that took 2.5 hours to shovel. That's because my driveway is about 100 feet long. The snowbanks that were less than a foot tall are now more than 4 feet tall on both sides. I looked like the abominable snowman when I came into the house. It's been snowing and blowing all afternoon so there's another 4 inches on the driveway that can wait until tomorrow.

After all that shoveling I opted to make coffee, download a book from the library and cuddle up under a heated blanket for the rest of the afternoon. There will be plenty of time to play in the snow tomorrow. 

As I mentioned before, there was a lot of hiking/snowshoeing done this week. It began on Monday with a 12km hike at Elk Island National Park. There was fog the night before so the trees wore coats of white. The day began cloudy and grey but the sun eventually came out and blue sky prevailed. What a great day!

The hikes for the rest of the week were quick ones; by quick I mean an hour each day at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity trail. Most days were sunny so the thick hoar frost was even more beautiful against the clear sky. All told, I trudged 25.24kms through the woods this week.

On my travels, I met up with a moose that decided to stand on the road in front of my vehicle, a coyote that was running across the pond and lots of squirrels/birds. It's always exciting to see the wild creatures when I'm hiking but I think the highlight this week was not the animals.

I got to the trail about 11am on one of those days; just after the fog lifted and the sun came out. As I walked I noticed how the hoar frost had fallen from the branches along one part of the trail. I made my way into the woods and stopped to admire the crystals that still coated the branches and berries. When there was no sound of crunching snow underfoot, I could hear the hoar frost crackle on the branches as the sun warmed it. What a beautiful sound. There were no other forest sounds; only the crackling frost.

I'm sure going to try to get out on the trail with my snowshoes tomorrow. If I'm energetic, I just might take the skis out too. I can't let this blanket of fresh snow go to waste.

Hayburger Trail at Elk Island National Park

Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail

Last weekend my granddaughters were over and we spent one of the days at a local outdoor rink and the sledding hill. It was great to see them enjoying the fresh air as much as I did. We had the rink to ourselves!

With the milder temperatures this week, the birds have been more active. The pine grosbeaks visited each day; providing a pop of red color at the feeders. This morning I noticed an evening grosbeak with them. It's bright yellow feathers stood out in the crowd.

A pileated woodpecker tried to feed at the tray feeder. The attempt was unsuccessful as it couldn't hold on long enough to reach the seeds and suet. It was very entertaining to watch as it would swing back and forth. 

The little birds have been visiting as well. The nuthatches, redpolls, juncos and chickadees took turns at the feeders when the grosbeaks were not there. They tended to feed on the deck surface on all the seeds that the large birds knocked out of the trays.

It wasn't just in the yard that the birds were busy. I got to the trails for a hike each day this week. I heard the chickadees singing their 'cheeseburger' songs. I saw a pileated woodpecker and a black backed woodpecker. The bluejays and crows squawked overhead. The grosbeaks sang from the top of the spruce trees. It appeared as if the birds were celebrating the warmer temperatures just as much as I was.

Redpoll

Black capped chickadee

Pileated woodpecker

Pine grosbeak

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.