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!
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