Waning Winter Woes

In spite of 2 cm of snow this morning, I sense that winter is waning and spring and all the changes it brings is coming quickly. The above photo was an unusually unpainful self portrait I took while skiing. My geraniums are hanging in - one is even threatening to flower although most of them are threatening to die from lack of water - which I hear is easier to cure than root rot from over watering.

I'm in the throes of thesis writing which is about as pleasent as breaking rocks with hammers and less good for calorie burning and cardio.

Yesterday, I paid Gabe back for all his help with my field work by playing assistant while he took so shots for his school project at Philosopher's Wool in Inverhuron. The people who run it are really cool - and while Gabe was snapping some pictures of sheep, Ann managed to teach me to knit 2-handed fair-isle so quickly that I was pleasantly astonished. They have a lot of good thinks - especially regarding sustainable agriculture - and beautiful sweater kits. So, once I've cleared a few nearly finished projects from my needles, I'm going to tackle a Kilim Jacket in the Night Sky Colourway - which I'm going to try and finish for next Christmas and then maybe try knitting some matching socks or something. Stupidly, in spite of bringing a camera - I didn't take any pictures for my blog. So maybe I can con one out of Gabe later.

It was a good change of scenery even if we didn't add to our provincial park count, I suspect I'll be back in that direction at some point this summer to do some hiking.

The Sight of Silence

Albion Hills... somwhere open.

Sunlines

ahhh... sigh... beautiful.

Snowshadows at Albion Hills

My last ski for the season was at Albion Hills. I did somewhere between 6-9 km (probably closer to nine since I only lopped off a tiny loop) through hilly forest with a few views of clearings and farms. I went nice and early so I got some neat sun effects and some good pictures. Overall, it was pretty nice, but a bit icy in places and the tracks were well worn. It was actually probably the coldest day out this year - it was below zero.

chickedee on branch

Chickedee Enjoys a Snack

Yum!! Seeds!

I spent about 10 minutes trying to get a good shot of the birds, but this was about the best one. Better luck next time for something unique and cool.

Looking Up River

Here is the scene just above the falls. :D

Frozen Falls

Here I am looking over Hilton Falls (safely behind the fense and still on my skis). I was amazed how frozen they were.

Holy Tree Batman!

Some wood pecker (Piliated is my first guess given the size) has been at work on this tree at Hilton Falls Conservation Area. Now that the snow is back I might get to do the Beaver Meadow Trail.

Prints in the Snow

These prints were among the last pictures I took of the day (shortly before dropping my camera in the snow - but don't worry - it's okay).

All in all a wonderfuly day - I highly recommend this area and I am seriously considering planning some day hikes south of the border in this area. It was very pretty.

The View from Christian Hollow

Here was the one clear view of the hilly upstate New York landscape and yes, the sky really was that blue.

Winter Wonderland in Allegany State Park

It was a perfect day. The weather was beautiful, the snow was good, the people were nice and the view filled my heart with peace and gratitude that I could be there. I did 4 trails - Leonard Run, Christian Hollow, Sweetwater and Patterson - which totalled 13.6 milles or 21.8 km. Not bad. It was all fairly level stuff compared to Mansfield, Highland's Nordic and Hilton Falls (the other locations that I've skied this year). Patterson Run was particularly nice as we met the bus at the bottome of the hill and it was a gentle glide all the way down requiring nearly no effort and infinite enjoyment of a beautiful landscape as we descended into the valley.

Snowing Falling on Cedars

It is amazing how a little snow can make a place seem so quiet and peaceful and make a short hike into a much more arduous one. Yeah for snow and winter... :D

20 km of Blissful Skiing

A day of skiing at Nordic Highlands was well work the early start (I was out the door by 7 am and at the bus pick up for 7:15 (nearly an hour early - between green light luck and it being closer than I thought in the first place and aiming to be early at any rate). I skied for about 4 hours, learned about nano fibers of carbon and how they can lighten a ski and throughly enjoyed the wonder day. The people were super friendly and aside from having to frog all of the work I did on my sock on the bus because I seem to be short 3 stitches (grrr) and having more blister than heel, all was winterly perfect. Gabe popped over yesterday at the last minute and we greedily watched the last 4 episodes of season 1 of Heroes - my new favourite TV show - until long after we should have slept and now I have a reason to be irked about the writer's strike!!! This morning, my altruistic descision not to put the garbage out in the pouring rain (to save the garbage persons from having to heft a box of soaking newprint) bit me in the butt. I started the morning hauling my recyling across the street to meet the truck coming down the other way, dropping the dry, but still heavy box of newsprint (which also happened to be falling apart). The bottom of the box shattered, scattering my now sopping wet newsprint in a big, wet, puddle. I did however get most of it recycled, hauling it to the truck in my arms, then going back for the remains... joy... So, I have a 3rd of a box leftover, but that isn't so bad - or it wouldn't have been until I realized that I'd managed to lock myself out of the house in the process. Fortunately, my mom was up at that point and the rest of the day went smoothly and pleasently - which means I got to drink my coffee when it was just the right temperature and I survived wearing only one pair of socks in rainboots in snow...

Skiing the Mulmer Hills in Mansfield

I needed to stop sitting behind my computer for a few hours so I drove up to Mansfield Outdoor Center and finally got some good cross country skiing in this year. Actually, noting the impending rain and above freezing temperatures forcast for most of the eastern half of Ontario.. I figured I'd better get out, because it could be weeks before there was skiing again. I did the 9.5 km blue trail - which starts off with a lot of hills... going up, coming down etc. However, a little ways in the terrain levels out and there are about 5 or 6 km of wonderful skiing in the woods. There was a nice couple who provided me some advice on good places to try skiing around here. I'd really like to go to Hardwood Hills, Wasage and Scenic Caves before the winter is out - truthfully... I'd really like to go to Algonquin Park, Silent Lake and the Gatineau and I wouldn't mind some skiing in Thunder Bay - but none of those are likely to happen - so I'll settle for the accomplishable. I finished up with an easy ski on the 2km orange loop that follows the edge of a river - but in the fading sun it was charming and I saw a doe, which was nice.

Its been years since I've skied much. Most of it came back - I'm sure my technique was never fabulous - but a lot of it is natural... the one thing I'm struggling with is hills which is funny - since I've done more down hill skiing in the last 10 years than cross country by a wide margin, but maybe that is the cause... I don't know how to ski down a narrow path on a hill with narrow skis. I was getting better by the end. I can snow plow okay, but I think my body purposely flops over when I get going to fast becuase I feel nervous about it. I think once I feel more confident about steering and turning and build up a few muscles I'll be okay. I will however stop skiing in jeans until I cut back on my falls significantly. They get wet and cold.

Snow Falling on Parking Lots

So winter finally made it to Ontaro. The symptoms are many. At the outdoor ice near my home, there was 15-20 kids skating outside, the ground is white and the ski resorts finally got to open. Still we could use some real serious snow - so I can actually make use of my cross country skis. Still the flurries I can see falling on the parking lots outside my winter are peaceful and I'm feeling relaxed and keen to spend a bit of time being outdoors and doing things I love like painting and playing the guitar/paino.

I've been sucked into Facebook. I initially scoffed at this phenoma until I accidently signed up - then wasted most of yesterday evening (my first totally free evening in a long while) hunting for lost friends. I've gone from 0-50 in 48 hours. Technology is weird. I'll give them credit for designing it well. It'll be neat to watch it evolve, but I have more exciting plans for my time really.

Anywho, I must learn more about Stream Restoration.

Jennith