Wednesday 18 January 2012

Winter Means Snow



The winter weather has so far astounded me, at least as far as Toronto is concerned. I'm quite familiar with snow, frigid temperatures combined with blustery winds during the northern hemisphere's winters. This year has been a huge exception: almost balmy some days with rain followed by an odd day of colder temperatures with little snow only to change in an day or so to above freezing temperatures combined with rain showers. I wonder how the trees and bushes cope with such modified weather. Even the squirrels are out foraging.

The Mallards that inhabit the nearby creek don't seem to mind as long as they can paddle happily in free moving water. Though they do quite well with walking on ice. It's quite the sight to see them bobbing their heads in the water to cleanse themselves. A little too frigid for me.

The photo is taken near the Flathead Range in the Crowsnest Pass in winter. The Flathead Range makes up part of the Continental Divide between Alberta and British Columbia.

For history buffs courtesy of Peakfinder.com: "The Flathead Range was named in 1924 after a tribe of Indians that lived in northwestern Montana. Some members of the tribe wrapped the soft-boned heads of their infants against a board so as to shape their skulls in a preferred manner."

Photo Credit: tipkodi CC=nc-flickr. Click to enlarge.

7 comments:

Viola said...

Oh this picture is very very beautiful!! Like an adventure to me!! :) And an interesting post.. Interesting to hear about the Flathead Indians and the place named after them..

Viola said...

You have also got marvellous pictures in your two previous posts!! :)

Charles Gramlich said...

Lana also remembers those Canadian winters.!

Jenny Woolf said...

I only visited Toronto once in the winter and I remember I got seriously worried about my ears, it was so painful in that cold. And the ink froze in my biro... so to hear it's almost BALMY this year ....well, it's amazing! really makes me believe in global warming :)

Barbara Martin said...

Viola, I'm trying to keep a little history with each photo posted. Sometimes I have a lack of time and forget.

Charles, this winter is nothing like the ones I grew up with out west....-40F with windchills and doubleblock heaters to keep the engine from cracking, snow tires (chains only for deep snow). Toronto as a rule doesn't get THAT cold...often only -18C / 0F for a week or so and then it warms up. None of those winters where it stays below -20F for weeks on end.

Barbara Martin said...

Jenny, welcome. Visiting Toronto in winter means scraves, mitts/gloves and some kind of hat/toque or earmuffs. Ears are particularly sensitive to cold weather as it doesn't take long for the skin to freeze. Other than that I hope you enjoyed the remainder of your visit.

Rune Eide said...

You have absolutely got more snow than we have - a tiny bit in November, and a tiny bit now. That's all. But plenty of rain and wind. Something is wrong somewhere.