Hoar Frost Ski

Winter Wonderland

It was a beautiful ski today as the trees were covered in hoar frost. It was a foggy day and there was moisture in the air. But the temps were still warm in the -6c range. My photo doesn't show the true beauty of the trees and the frosty covering. 

Night walk

Snowshoe Walk

With the warmer temperatures I have been heading out at night as well for a snow shoe walk with my head lamp. It is nice to get out and have a short 5km walk around the trails. We had so much new snow the past while that it was helpful to get out and snow shoe on the ski trails to pack the snow down. 

Daily ski

Sunny Ski Trails

Out for another ski and today the conditions were excellent. The sun was out and the sky was blue. The groomer even went by and gave us a perfect trail! So today was a treat. Big smiles all around. 

Ski

Ski Goals for 2022

Out for a ski with my friend, Val. We have a nice little 5km loop that goes from my back yard, across the lake, into the trees and over to the Leflay Trail. Then comes back. I usually ski in the afternoon and often I am heading back to the house by the time the sun is going down. Sometimes I get a beautiful sunset view as I cross over the lake. I have been grateful for the warmer temperatures as it makes skiing much more enjoyable. 

Brrrr

Snowshow Walk

Another cold day.  Yet it is sunny. I managed to get outside for a snowshoe walk. I took my headphone and listed to my audio book while I walked. It gave me something to focus on as I stomped along the trail. Check out my rosy cheeks! 

Pileated Woodpecker

New Year Guest

One advantage of the cold temperatures is a visit from the Pileated Woodpecker. He came to peck at the suet that dad put out for the birds. 

Check out this website to learn more about these very big birds:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/overview

Winter ski

Leflay Trail

It is still cold out. But Dad and I managed to get out for an afternoon ski around the Leflay Trail loop. It is so cool to just walk out the backdoor and start skiing. As you can see we had to break a new trail as the old ski tracks were blown in from the wind. That is the advantage of skiing each day as then I get to keep my track. But often the wind has other ideas....I also lose my ski track so the sled heads on ski doos. That makes me mad. The have the whole field to ski-doo on - why burn over my tracks?!?!?

Wintery

Looking out at Madge Lake

Dad and I drove out to Duck Mountain Provincial Park to go for a cross country ski in the fresh snow during the Christmas holidays. We drove past the cabin to check it out and I snapped this photo of the sunset. If you look off to the right you can see a collection of ice fishing shacks out on the ice. 

Xmas Lamp

When you lose your tree

Since we put our Christmas tree up at the end of November and it was a "real" tree, cut down out of our yard, it expired before Christmas. By December 17th the tree was losing all the needles and it was so dry. Dad and I decided that it might be a fire hazard with the lights on it so we had to take it down. I was sad to see the tree go and I like the twinkle lights so I decided to make a "lamp tree".  This way I still get to turn on the twinkle lights in the evening when I sit on the sofa and watch TV. 

-30c and counting

2022 starts with cold temps

Here is my smiling face with some frozen hair! We have been stuck in this rut of -30c temps all week. But if it is not windy I still try to get outside for a cross country ski. I am trying to stick to my daily ski goal! I try to ski 5km everyday. Usually the temperature warms up a bit during the day and I can manage to be out in -27c. My ski loop takes just over 1 hour. 

Cold Spell - The Week of -30c

December 2021 Temps

The end of the December and start of January turned bitter cold. It is chilly outside. A good time to hide in the house and stay warm. We have been enjoying eating Christmas baking (gifts from our generous neighbours) and drinking hot chocolate. Dad and I have been working on cleaning up the house and going through random closets.