Mid-January Adventures

Having a quiet morning of Friday solitude reminiscing about all there is to keep me entertained while living up here. Feel like I’ve really come to know myself and my needs and have started to envision some long-term goals and dreams for the future because of my time spent in this quaint little town. Lots of time to think, little distraction. Have become a lot clearer about and able to articulate the things I need in my life to be truly happy, and that feels like a real accomplishment as I start to imagine the possibilities for 2013.

View of yet another cotton candy sunset from my front yard. The dim light of the General Store visible beneath the silhouette of Sloan and Green Mountains.

Was sick AGAIN this week, and in speaking to a couple of colleague friends I was reminded that this is often the plight of the teacher. Have probably lucked out living in isolation because there’s less exposure to outside germs, but the education of very young students certainly has a way of infiltrating my immune system with whatever snotty sicknesses they have.

I was in Lillooet last weekend to attend the Lillooet Naturalist Society’s AGM. As mentioned, they provide a stipend of financial support to participants on the Sustainable Living Leadership Program down the Fraser River, and it was a pleasure to speak to the group on behalf of the program and all that I have gotten out of it. Was great to learn of the projects and ongoing initiatives happening with the Naturalists. What an amazing group of people. From the installation of a wildlife camera that will record happenings in the osprey nest on the old bridge in Lillooet, to yearly checks of bird boxes and invitations to specialist biologists to give talks about local flora and fauna. This group of people is truly inspiring.

The drive out was beautiful as well. Pure sunshine illuminating the wiry tree branches by the side of the road encrusted with crystalline snow glinting in the light. A thick mist hung over the Bridge River reminding me of the fog that rolled into Little Gun Lake, which must be what encases the feathery branches and even individual pine needles in ice. Tried to take a picture of it, but the picture is so far from capturing the magic of the scene that I’m not even going to bother posting it.

An eagle perched in a tree beside the highway. A common sight at this time of year when salmon are spawning in the Bridge River.

Looking down the valley where the Yalakom River meets the Bridge River along highway 40. Drive home on Sunday was not as sunny, but still beautiful.

Started to feel a cold coming on, so made the very responsible decision to come home on Sunday instead of heading out on a ski tour, even though the conditions would have been AMAZING! Stopped by my friend’s farm on the way home for a cup of tea, a slice of homemade pumpkin pie, and intellectual banter. Lots of people have come into my life in the past few years who think along similar lines, lots of exciting projects happening, lots of ways to be involved in the bustling community that lives along this corridor. It’s great to feel connected, and in many ways I don’t really feel like I live in isolation because I have so many people to visit with when I pass through.

The white patch is the town of Gold Bridge as seen from a couple kilometres out along highway 40. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I actually live in a place of this size!

Writing has taken a bit of a back seat to planning and thinking about school. I’m okay with that. I tend to work in phases anyway, and am learning to accept this as part of my process. I plan to get back at it next week, feeling renewed and full of fresh ideas, although I still do write a little every morning and evening, just to keep my muse in shape.

Sanford taking a rest while I take some pictures. 

Posing for a self-portrait while snowshoeing on one of our usual walks.

I’m heading out to pick up a friend in Whistler who I met and spent a bunch of time with while in Tofino. Always great to meet people who can keep up to my intense intellectual and physical pace, and who are also willing to put themselves out there to explore a place like Gold Bridge. And for the rest of you, the invitation to come and visit is perpetually open, wherever in the world I should be!

Fun with ice! Next week students and I will head out armed with cameras to take some pictures of different kinds of snow, and I wanted to do a little demo to teach them about macro photography and get them excited about the possibilities. Upper layer of local snow is currently covered in what is known as surface hoar. Students have recently been learning about snow science and about all the different types of snow and what conditions contribute to making certain kinds of snow. Pretty relevant knowledge to have when the ground is covered in the white stuff for a possible seven months of the year!

I plan to take him out skating and cross-country skiing, among some outings with Sanford. There was an inversion yesterday, and up in Bralorne it was plus 10 degrees, meaning that the snow conditions are less than ideal for ski touring. Never mind though, as a wonderful ski track has been set on Little Gun Lake, and Big Gun Lake has recently frozen over to a sheet of completely clear glass—something that should certainly be experienced while the sunny weather is with us. It’s still below zero here in town, but how strange to look upon the snowless trees high up in the mountain while the trees in town are still wearing a thick jacket of white.

Ready to ski on Thrill Thursday this week! Getting some tips from a local cross-country expert and gearing up to ski around Little Gun Lake. I had never been on a set track before, and have to say that it is AMAZING! Students loved it and would have stayed out longer if we didn't have to get back for dismissal. Life is good!

Hope this post inspires you to get outside on your own little adventure, wherever in the world you find yourself. As always, thanks for reading!

Back to Winter in the Bridge River Valley

Another clear, sunlit day, the snow bright white across the valley. I sit on my living room couch watching the light seep from the top of the ridge towards my own backyard. A cold snap has hit us, ice on the insides of my windows. The chill has beckoned me from bed to relight the fire in the middle of the last couple of nights. This morning when I wake it is out, and I relight it with pine—-fast-burning and hot—-for some quick heat before putting on fir which burns slower with a more sustained heat. Really getting to know how fire works, how to space logs, what sizes to put in and when—-learning how to maximize the available surface area for the flame. Some practical learning that came out of that fire suppression course I did in the spring: fire needs three things: heat, oxygen, and fuel, and with this in mind I am learning how to manipulate the subtle properties of fire to get the results I am after, whether I want some quick heat or a slow, sustained burn.

View of Green Mountain on the left and Sloan on the right one evening leaving the school. Taken from the school parking lot! :)

Have had a wonderful week back at work, but just starting to feel settled in at home again after being away over the holidays. I’m happy to be back, which is a great feeling. I tend to have such a great time away on my surfing vacations, but luckily there is much adventuring to keep me busy here, too.

This week had a couple of sick students, and feel the edges of a sore throat coming on. Have been sick a lot in the past months. Hopefully with enough rest and vitamin C it will sail on to an easier target.

Was hoping to get out for a big backcountry ski yesterday, but I do not own a sled (snowmobile) and those heading out yesterday were going for a massive sled ride before they started skiing; not the type of ride that you want to tandem someone along for. Things turned out great, though, because it’s easy to come up with a plan B when nature is at your doorstep. Went to Little Gun Lake and cross-country skied around the lake a few times while a couple of my friends set up their ice fishing gear and made a fire. After skiing we fished and caught one, which we tried to release but the hook was buried so deep in it the removal was not going to happen without critical injury to the fish. Fish dinner it became. A good size too.

Me visiting the fishermen and their smoky fire in between laps around the lake. 

Nice view.

The sun went down quickly and a crazy mist set in all over the lake, just above our heads like a rippling white carpet. It was just beautiful, making it hard to tear myself away and back to my warm vehicle and house. We stayed and watched it roll in around us for hours. The fire was also producing tons of smoke of its own. Difficult fire conditions with frozen wood, -18, and with an ice mist clinging to the air all around. Ian was on a mission though, and the fire made it bearable to stay out in the freezing weather to watch the light slowly wander from the sky and surrounding mountain vista.

Yup. This is why I live here :)

We had a HUGE dump of snow here again this week. Another steady snowfall for twenty-four hours left over a foot of fresh, fluffy powder. At school we jumped on the opportunity provided by the weather and learned about snow science. We did some avalanche rescue skills, honing in on buried beacons with our own devices, using a shovel and probe to locate the buried beacon and dig it up.  We talked about different types of snow and the weather conditions contributing to snowfall conditions. We talked about the difference between powder and wet snow avalanches, and what factors make an area more or less avalanche prone. The students (and I) are absolutely loving it! Very relevant to their lifestyle out here, and something I am eternally interested in and know some things about as an avid backcountry traveler myself.

We are also watching a great documentary on YouTube called 10 Things You Didn’t Know about Avalanches. There is a lot of Social Studies curriculum in there too, like how avalanches were used in the world wars once troops realized the devastation they could cause to enemy lines posted at the foot of the mountains. The movie also has a portion on Hannibal who tried to cross the Alps in the dead of winter with tens of thousands of troops into Italy for a surprise attack. They even had elephants with them, and were just decimated by encounters with avalanches.

Spent a bunch of time this week splitting wood and shoveling snow—the ongoing work of living here. Also made it out to Wednesday night hockey up at the outdoor rink in Bralorne. What an amazing set up they have got there! Even some brand new donated lights that shine as if you really are playing under the fluorescent illumination of a professional indoor rink! With all the snow the side banks are extra large as well, adding to the ambience of the scene. I’m getting much better at skating, and also brought the students out to skate for P.E. during our Thrill Thursday afternoon this week.

I’m off for a quick trip into Lillooet today to attend and speak at the Lillooet Naturalist Society’s AGM. They sponsor a partial seat on the boat down the Fraser River, so I’m going to bring a few items from the trip and talk about the impact it has had on me and how important it is that they continue their sponsorship. It’s great to be more involved in organizations that have a mandate that I fully support, and the Naturalists are certainly one. Did lots of work with them last year on invasive and native plants with my students, and plan on it again this year.

A chilly -17 out there this morning. Plan on stopping a little along the drive into the big town of Lillooet to take some photos of the icicle rivers that are formed on the cliffs along highway 40. Road was closed for a day this week because of the snow and the avalanches that needed to be cleared. Really do live in the thick of the mountains, and am absolutely loving it!

Here are a couple of pictures of the mist over the lake. Was hard to take many pictures as my fingers were FROZEN! Doesn't do the experience justice, but photos never seem to...

Happy weekend everyone!

Santa's Village

Happy New Year everyone! My 2013 has started in a flurry of fireworks and it makes me so incredibly thankful for how life can work out in some mysteriously amazing ways.Good people just keep walking through the doors of my soul and filling me up, even when I thought myself already bursting with positivity.

More on this later, perhaps.

As promised, here are some photos of our Santa's Village. Another update to follow this evening after a snowshoe with Sanford. The snow is falling in thick flakes here; snowfall warning is in effect, with 20 cm expected to fall overnight. It sure feels good to be home!

 Preparing the backdrop for our village.

Getting into the holiday spirit.

 Village from afar. The purple box was a spaceship in September, a robot in October, a coffin in November, and returned in this incarnation as the Toy Workshop. The sleigh in the sky is peeking out at the top of the shot. Forgot to get a better picture of it...

 Ticket booth with the Northern Lights behind.

Only in the Bridge River Valley does Santa and his Mich-elf travel by Snow Cat!