Adventures in the Snow

It's been an awesome month and we have been enjoying what I think of as perfect winter. The snow has fallen up on the mountains and left our roads dry and bare and the grass nice and green. The sun has shone and although its been cold I've managed to get out a few times and hiked up the hills and into the snow.

 The first hike took us up to the cross. There was a light layer of snow on the trail near the top.

 

At the cross there was snow but not enough to cover the base and the weather was a bit misty but still warm and wonderful.

 

 The inukshuks were peeking out from the snow on the way down. Each trip seems to have more and more little rocks being added to the others already there.

The second hike we headed up to the cross again but this time our goal was to hike up to the ridge and over to the Genoa Bay side to find the bench that I had been wanting to find for months.

However the weather had changed and the snow was very deep.

Not really knowing the pathway we decided to loop back to the trailhead and not head across the ridge to the bench.

 Thankfully in the new year we were able to make a second attempt and what a glorious day it was. Snow on the ground, beautiful blue skies and there we were up above the clouds.

It was a totally different world up there above the clouds.

 

 

 

 

It was so beautiful as we walked along the ridge. I couldn't help but stop to take many pictures along the way.

The snow layed heavily along the branches and yet the sun shone down upon us.

And the icing on the cake was that we were able to find the bench and enjoy lunch sitting in the warmth of the sun before heading back down through the snow covered trails.

 

 The next adventure took us up island to the Comox valley and Mount Washington. We drove up in the rain and some wind but once we arrived it was another glorious day and once again the snow covered land was more than beautiful.

 

 We went snowshoeing to Anderson Lake and enjoyed our lunch while sitting on the snow bank near the shoreline.

 

 I was amazed at how beautiful winter can be. Everywhere I looked creation was glistening with clean, white snow and it's beauty was unending. The streams covered in thin ice were full of colour.

 

 The mountains were covered in snow and looking down at the lake one would never know it was frozen over and covered in snow.

 
One could see how deep the snow was when looking at the layers piled high on the rocks and bushes and when I fell through it felt like it was never ending!

I am so thankful for this wonderful winter we are having here on our usually warm wet island. Hiking up to the snowcovered mountains right here in the valley with my hiking buddies and snowshoeing on the mountain side with my daughter and my adventurous friends, it has just been the best. Memories have been made that won't soon be forgotten but treasured and relived again and again.
Best news is, it's only January! There are many more adventures to enjoy and who knows I may just get back out there and experience snowshoeing on those wonderful glistening snow covered mountains before the spring rains arrive and the mountains return to their nature green colour!