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That Lucky Deep Freeze
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That Lucky Deep Freeze

Hail Brave hearts

The big chill is storming us.  Cold snow has arrived.  From the cozy interior of our homes, we think big.  Winter fun! This is one of the best times of the year!

A frozen river to occupy the afternoon.  Crisp winter weather at -10 is a welcome change to the blistery cold that makes this day possible.  The continued overnight lows below -20 keeps the ice cold and thick enough for our weight.  Caution though.  These rivers have rapids, the water is swift flowing and sometimes is too fast to freeze thoroughly.

Today’s adventure is along a river to a sought after view.  The wide expanse is fully frozen now and our group walk with ease along the covered water.  Ice is welcome now as we snowshoe this path.  An opportunity that will only present itself in the awesome winter.

We pick our way to the bottom of the river bank and walk with relative ease along the snow covered water.  All the while remarking on our good fortune to have this chance to explore an area that is never available to us.  The thickets of willow and stands of evergreen show us locations of ground and islands along this braided stretch of waterway.  Animal tracks appear in the snow and the tiny creatures hide from our view.   We are mainly walking on the gravel flats between the river channels, so we are more safe in our travels.  River travel can be perilous with areas of thin ice throughout.

There’s an interesting formation of hills and valleys all along the river bank.  Walking would be difficult in this area due to undulating land formations of steeply cut hills reaching to the river sides without much river bank to follow.  Our destination is a canyon, 7 km up river which is impossible to reach at other times of the year.  Our good fortune is the deep freeze.

This year our temperatures plunged to an awful -50 overnight during the Christmas holiday season.  Four days of icy blasts with daytime highs of -35 kept us busy with indoor games and indoor holiday cheer.  Now the result is a wintery wonderland with the fun of river travel. which is not always available to us.  Oddly and usually, the good comes with the bad.  Today is overcast and light snow is falling.  This is a surprise to us, since no one had noticed snow in the forecast.  It might be a localized squall.  However, this is good also, since we need the snow to keep us skiing, snowshoeing  and enjoying the fabulous fun of the season.  We also need the snow for our spring melt and moisture.

The snowfall is increasing and visibility is declining.  Open patches of river can be seen ahead.  We have to call off our plans for today, with only 1.5 kms remaining.  Oh well.  Luckily for us -30 is in the forecast for the next 3 days and we will have the good fortune of more deep freeze.  The open areas of this river should freeze again and we plan for another trip to this area next week.

Walking On A Frozen River | Red River | Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada | Walking Virtual Tour in 4K – YouTube

Meanwhile, the ski hill has received more snow.  It’s all good.  A change of scene and a change of game.  Winter has been wonderful to us.

Written by Dr. Louise Hayes

February 24, 2023

by

Keep Your Cool

Hail Brave Hearts

It is with gladness and praises that spring rolls in. The blanket is tossed and the sun pours in. Tiny shoots of spring plants and tiny dear little animals, mating parents and song, all sing to the praises of spring. The chorus of joy to be free, the song of beginning and new again. The Earth sheds her warm winter coat and the sun plays warm, hide and seek games. Today the heat, tomorrow the rain, and all of a sudden it’s winter again. The magic of the emotion, the fire, the pestilence, the storm, all of us sheltered from the elements of changes in the weather. Today it’s hot, tomorrow it’s cold, fluctuating frequently, the great planet changes. The winds of change can be perilous and the world we know challenges us. What once was a fine science has become difficult, back to the world of pioneers. Where once there was reasonable accuracy, now may be more imprecise.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HR-UAA4Ucqs

It snowed in July, but that happens sometimes, with localized storms and squalls. A gust of wind, a freak of nature, uprooting the forest and it falls. Soon we’ll be planting our gardens, with the promise of springtime warmth. The frost and temperature dropping, could change this habit too. The trees are budding, the sap is running,the snow is starting to fall. A test of these plants hardiness as natures imbalance collides. Warm, cold, warm, cold as the daytime temperature rises and falls. No heat from the sun on this blustery, wintry, spring day. Stay inside and enjoy the comforts of home.

Climate change is with us, in all of its unpredictable disturbance. The spring came in with warm sunshine, now the wintry season is back. The frost is too deep, the ground is still frozen, the spring buds are taking their time. Where is the song of the migratory birds? So happy and joyous to sing, mating songs of gladness, joy to all, it’s spring.

It’s quiet in the mountains, the ducks and geese fly by, but the accompaniament of songbirds, is still to fill the sky.

Finally it’s warm enough, in the merry month of May, to hang our winter jackets up, roll out the bikes and play. The rivers are slowly filling, the torrents will soon roll in, grab bathing suites and towels, for the beach to wander in. It took a long time this year, but finally we’re free, of winter’s icy cold grip and it’s snowy mastery.

https://www.joboneforhumanity.org/

written by Dr. Louise Hayes

May 12, 2019