That XMAS Season

Seems I've been too busy to write these past few days - we've had a week or so with the kids here for XMAS, there's been skiing, hiking, eating and recovering from all the activity.

There's been regular new snow nearly every day and up in the hills there is a nice deep snowpack. We've slogged our way up through all the snow on several logging roads and spent a day skiing at Whitewater. We hiked the river trail and showed off the new bridge to our visitors. Then there was Christmas dinner......

December is nearly over which means it's almost time to head south for another road trip and an escape from snow and cold for awhile.

West Kootenay Snow Report

(The abbreviated version, at least....) Taking advantage of a clear blue sky day, we decided to pick a FSR and snowshoe up to see the views. This time it was the Whitewater Creek Trail. In summer, it's a steep 4x4 track that climbs 4 km to the trailhead that heads up Whitewater Creek. One week ago the area received almost 2 feet of light snow followed the day after by pouring rain. This reduced the snow to a very consolidated, crusty mass which made for pretty easy snowshoeing. We were too late in the day to be hiking in the sun, although we chased it uphill, only catching up to it near the end of the track. There is lots of snow up high, very firm underfoot, but with a layer of about 2 inches of light snow and hoar frost on the surface. I heard from a couple of skiiers that there was skiable snow once you got up to around 1900 meters. Anyhow, the blue skies allowed great views of the peaks in the area. One more road down, lots more to go.....

So What Season is It?

Yesterday (Sunday), it was snowing beautifully, nearly 2 feet of the fresh, fluffy stuff. We went for a long snowshoe through the woods. I was starting to think about skiing. I found myself starting to reconcile myself to the idea that it was Winter in the mountains.

Fast forward to last night and today. Pouring rain. The fluffy snow is mush, avalanche hazard is high to extreme everywhere and the temperature is climbing. Last time I checked, it was around +4C. I hear what we're getting is something called a "Pineapple Express". Tomorrow it's supposed to be warmer. If it wasn't December on the calendar, I'd be thinking Spring had arrived.

I'm sure some of this rain will be snow higher up. In fact, the webcams of Roger's Pass show LOTS of snow and there were plenty of travel advisories on BC highways today. So I guess I won't put the skis away just yet. The lawn chairs can stay stacked up in the snow (er...mush). Hopefully this seasonal confusion will sort itself out shortly.

Deep Freeze - Kootenay Style

Anyone who has lived in Saskatchewan can start snickering now. This past week has been pretty chilly; we've had a week now with daytime temperatures not even reaching freezing and lows at night all the way down to -8C. One nice side-effect of the cold northern flow was several days of clear blue skies, a fairly rare commodity during the mountain winter. I've had to dig out the fleece mitts, search around for my headband and, if this keeps up, haul the down parka out of the basement. We do find that temperatures remain very steady here, the effect of having such a large body of water so close.

We went for a short hike along the Kaslo River the other day and I was busy taking pictures of the ice along the shore. It's such a pretty river. A group in town has been making trails along the river over the past couple of years, and their new bridge was just winched into place last week. I'll post a picture of it once they finish the roof. I'll warn you now - the color is certainly vivid.

Last night we had some snow flurries so we have a light coating of white this morning. With the snow and the colder temperatures it would seem that we're having winter right now, but nothing like Saskatchewan where they will be in the -20s this coming week.

Canada's Shame

I'm not sure what could be said now that hasn't already been said, other than to voice my shocked response to the video of the RCMP tasering one exhausted, disoriented, abandoned man at Vancouver International Airport.

There are many unanswered questions. Where were airport personnel who were supposed to be handling new arrivals? Why was he abandoned for hours? What was the role of Canadian Border Service people? Why did no one just hop over the railing and go help the poor fellow? Airport security people visible in the video seemed worse than useless.

I think, and I fervently hope, that the RCMP is still under civil control in this country. If that's really the case, then I think it's time for some of that civil control to be exercised. Canadians are shocked and appalled and we share the shame for what has happened. It is almost incomprehensible that four police officers were unable to find a more appropriate way to deal with this situation. Are these officers typical examples of the people patrolling our streets, our cities, our airports?

What ever happened to the strategy of walking up to a person in a situation like this, extending a hand and saying "welcome - let me help you"?

A Few Light Moments

I've always enjoyed Weird Al's parodies of some popular songs. So it was with some delight that I discovered one of his latest releases, You're Pitiful. The story behind it is interesting as well. I've liked the James Blunt song this parody came from, but I think I like this version better!

End of an Era?

Watching the results of the Saskatchewan election makes me wonder if we just got out in the nick of time or if we left too soon!! It appears as though the 4-term NDP government will lose this one to the Saskatchewan Party (ie: the reincarnated Conservative Party). So in these good economic times for Saskatchewan, obviously the populace has decided that the NDP isn't zippy enough. I hope they don't get to re-live history. The last Conservative government created a $5-billion debt and almost all of their Cabinet ministers ended up in jail some years later, charged with fraud and breach of trust. Part of the "give 'er snoose" mandate of the Devine era.

One pleasant note: Cam Broten - brother to APYOC blogger Julie - won his seat in Saskatoon Massey Place. Good going Cam!