Like an old PlaidCamper? No, like the snow that fell all day. A short piece this week about a short walk last week.
With temperatures hovering around -15C, and the snow being blown and thrown around by sharp gusts, we decided to wrap up and snowshoe in the shelter of trees. Swaddled and waddling, I really wasn’t too persistent or thin, especially when we tried to forge through deep snow. As an excuse for my lack of persistence, I’ll offer up the sore back I’ve been nursing the past few weeks. It has slowed me down, but the bonus has been the chance to take and make more frequent stops, and really absorb our natural surroundings.
So I couldn’t make much headway along the trail, but when we stopped and sat in a snow bank to eat a snack, the quiet was delightful. Grains of snow rustled and pitter-pattered on our packs and jackets. The near silence was seductive, and only the cold seeping through snow pants got us up and moving once more.
Distant views were obscured, with mountains being more of a suggestion than a reality in the murk. This made us focus in more of a close up way, prompting a readjustment and shrinking of vision, and that wasn’t a bad thing.
We followed a less difficult path, down to the Kicking Horse and towards the sounds of rushing and splashing water. Each riverbank was frozen, with deep snow covering ice layers. Here and there, and mostly in the middle, were stretches of flowing water. The exposed flow, tumbling and racing over blue-grey river rocks, made for some lovely sights and sounds.
Maybe not the finest day weather wise to be out and about – no bright blue skies or fat falling flakes – chilly, windy and grey could be one way to describe the day, but there was plenty to see and savour in a more muted way.
Thanks for reading, I always appreciate you taking the time, and have a wonderful weekend!
OldPlaidCamper 
These close-up views of an honest-to-god winter season are delightful. The Kicking Horse is a beautiful flow as it probably is in any season. Thanks for sharing your perceptive walks with us, PC!
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Thanks, Walt! We’ve had such fluctuations in temperature (-30C last week, +10C this week) that all we can do is enjoy the winter while it lasts.
I hope your week is off to a good start!
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This was a complete joy, pc. I heard myself murmuring oohs and aahs as I scrolled down through your picturesque photos and moving descriptions. I’ve enjoyed tromps through the wintry woods with snack breaks in the solitude, and you brought back the lovely memories with your words. I loved these words especially, for their accuracy in snow adventures: “swaddled and waddling.” River photos were stunning.
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Thanks, Jet! Glad you enjoyed this one, and honestly, when it gets cold here – properly cold! – it’s fun to get out, but the layers have you waddling. Or maybe that’s the way I walk…
Have a good week!
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Oh man….love your photos and what you wrote. I had to show my husband your photos. I really liked what you said with ‘absorb our natural surroundings’. You truly get it, a lot of people wouldn’t understand that concept. That is exactly what I feel and do when out in nature. In short, keep those adventures and photos coming, because I am a big fan of yours…..have a wonderful weekend!
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Thanks, Margaret – I truly appreciate your kind words.
I hope your week is off to a great start, and you’ve found yourself outdoors (and painting, of course!)
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Oh we’ll see, if I have some kind of sun out there tomorrow, I just might but I have only one day to work with because we have a couple more storms coming in.
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oldplaidcamper, i’m digging the macro shots! old man’s beard and the snow, I can almost feel that -15c. Enjoy that beautiful scenery!
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Thanks, John, and I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Old man’s beard is always a beautiful sight, and it looks great in the snow.
Hope your week is going well!
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I hope that your back is starting to feel better. I know what a nuisance that can be. I also loved the shots (and post as always). My favorite is the snow and the water. I always love those scenes. I’ve just not brought myself to brave the cold to take my own. Anyway, I hope you have an amazing weekend.
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The back is on the mend – and a fine excuse for no heavy lifting for a while!
As for braving the cold, you have to up here, otherwise it’s a long winter and Netflix only gets you so far…
I hope your weekend went well, and your week is off to a good start!
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Fantastic photos! They tell the story quite well with you filling in around the edges. Hope your back is feeling better.
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Thank you, and I’m glad you enjoyed this one. (My back is feeling better, unless someone asks me to lift something. I have no shame…)
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glad you both got to recharge!
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You have to recharge – and if you can find somewhere remote to do that, life is pretty tranquil…
Hope your week is off to a good start!
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today was sunny,so I got out! Got some good shots!
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Happy to hear you got out – maybe you’ll get a run of fine days?
Yet another Chinook here…ugh!
Enjoy your week.
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splish splash
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Thank you for sharing these wonderful winter scenes, especially the riverbank photos. Our snow has mostly disappeared again and it does not look like we have any expected in the forecast for the next two weeks. All my winter complaining and now I’m missing the snow. I hope your back starts feeling better and enjoy your weekend!
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The back is better, thank you.
So, do I wish you more winter snow (and the photography fun to go with it) or would you prefer an early spring?!
Have a great week!
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Hello Plaid Camper – thank you for the post. I think it is great when we take the time to reflect, to “stop and smell the roses” (and to to take photographs!). The unique beauty of winter gives us the opportunity to marvel and absorb the beauty which surrounds us during this season.
I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day and a wonderful week.
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Hello Pandora – Thanks, and I’m glad you enjoyed this slow winter post! We were in no rush…
Have a great Valentine’s Day, and week ahead!
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A wonderful post! Swaddled and waddling is probably the best description of winter activities I’ve ever read.
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Thanks, Douglas – you’ve been out there deep midwinter, so you know swaddled and waddling is all true!
Have a great week!
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I’m almost jealous of the snow. We’ve had steady 65-74 F weather in Colorado. I don’t mind it but I’m afraid it will all fall down in March again…
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It’s a balance! Winter should be winter, and spring mustn’t arrive too soon – nothing worse than thinking it’s spring, only to have winter appear with a long and late blast…
We get Chinook winds that can raise temperatures from below freezing to plus 15C in a few hours. Sounds pleasant, but they cause pressure headaches in some (me!) and the thaw and refreeze leaves slick pavement all over. Anyway, I hope your weather delivers only pleasant surprises!
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Beautiful reflections. Looks peaceful but oh so cold!
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Great read. I’ve never had the pleasure of being able to trek through a snow landscape, it looks magical. I not long ago read the book you mention, The Hidden Life of Trees, and absolutely loved it. I live near an Australian Nature Reserve and a moving sea of trees, it’s given me an even greater appreciation for trees and even more so for forests.
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Hi Margo, thanks for stopping by, much appreciated.
It is a great book to get a person thinking more carefully about forests. Sounds like you live in a beautiful part of the world!
Have a great week ahead!
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