Sounds like a prison sentence, but it wasn’t confining, far from it. A short piece this week, about a short walk taken a short distance from home.
We’ve had fluctuating temperatures and a few more bits and pieces of snow, so the freeze, slight thaw, and refreeze has made some of the back roads slightly slick already. I like the slip and slide of tires as the car searches for grip, it means winter is truly upon us.
We went to an open stretch of space, one of the nearest to where we live in the city, Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Only a half hour trip by car, and we were treated to a long stretch, mentally, and a short stretch, physically. What a sight! Rolling foothills with a light dusting of snow, and beyond the hills, the mountains reaching up in the distance.
The day was windy to start, and even more blustery out of the city and on exposed hillsides, but the brisk cold and long views underneath blue skies were invigorating.
Close up, under our noses, the view was pretty good, with patches of red berries, and clumps of golden grass poking through the snow. Small beauties to smile over. Then there was the big picture, with the snow both smoothing the landscape and highlighting the contours away and away and away. How can a view like this be contained in a camera phone image? I couldn’t do it!
Face west, reach out and stretch wide to the south, and the mountains recede into the distance, beyond fingertips. Do the same to the north, and the same thing. So much to embrace, more than you can hold. What a range!
There was a search and rescue team out in the park, wonderful people, training and honing their essential skills. They were stopping to study tracks, looking for signs of their “missing” person, and asked if we’d seen anyone in difficulty? We hadn’t, although it was difficult to return to the car – it wouldn’t have been too bad to stay out a bit longer, be just a little bit lost.
A short walk a short distance from home that provided long, long views – it’s no stretch to say we are lucky to be where we are.
Thanks for reading – I hope you get a chance to stretch outdoors – and have a wonderful weekend!
OldPlaidCamper 
I love Glenbow Ranch – the scenery is fantastic and it’s a great place to explore. Your photos beautifully capture some of those wide spaces.
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Thanks, Sheryl! We only started visiting the park earlier this year after a walk there with friends, and it is now a favourite for a quick outdoor fix. As with most roads out of Calgary, once you’re past the city limits, beautiful vistas open up, and that’s pretty special.
Enjoy your weekend!
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It might be just a short stretch from home but the long views here are exceptional. Love the color blend of blue and gold, the sky to valley and vice versa. Cameras may be limiting but you bring us the greater picture nonetheless. Thank you again!
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Thanks, Walt! It was the kind of day when even a camera phone could capture some of the light and wonder. I hope you’re having a fine time down in Virginia!
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Beautiful photos and I know that it is so difficult to capture beauty with a camera but I totally get the gist of what you were looking at. I can imagine sitting there to paint, when I feel that I know that I am looking at something magical. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Thanks, Margaret! You’d have a great time painting these scenes – although it is blowy on those slopes!
Enjoy the weekend!
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Wonderful to have such a beautiful place so close to home and your camera phone captured the rugged and rolling landscape perfectly. Still waiting for more than a few snow flurries to accompany our brisk outdoor walks. Wonderful post!
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Thank you! After the early snow, and a few extra flurries, the weather has turned unpleasantly mild and appears to be set that way for the next week or so – bring back winter! I hope you get some proper snow to enjoy, makes the brisk walking far more purposeful, and then a warm drink at the end is well earned!
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There is nothing like a vast, open sky to stretch our eyes, minds, and limbs. I so enjoyed this outdoor romp, pc, great photos too. I hope your new week is a beauty too.
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Thanks, Jet! We are fortunate to live near quite a few provincial parks – just the thing for a stretch of mind and body when time is too short to reach the really wild spaces.
I hope your week goes well!
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Looks like a great local hike Adam!
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Yeah, it’s a pretty provincial park with trails through wooded sections, and more open grasslands, as well as great views from the hill tops. Just the thing when we can’t get all the way out to the mountains!
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Also looks like great kite flying location!
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Such beautiful vistas.
Have a great week PC 🙂
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Thanks, Miriam – you too!
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