Making Tracks

Another week has passed in the North Okanagan, another week of making tracks in the snow up at Silver Star and watching for signs of spring down in the valley.

On Monday we headed up the mountain under cloudy skies.  We rose up through the lower mist that so commonly shrouds the valley and ended up sandwiched between two layers of cloud.  The higher downhill runs will enveloped in cloud but the lower runs were clear and covered with fresh light powder.  We opted to cross country ski  and had the lower trails to ourselves! The only sounds were the swooshing of our skis, our laboured breathing and the occasional noisy crow announcing our presence in among the tall fir and tamarack that were burdened down with the new snow. 

Making tracks in the woods Feb 25

 We had not heard crows before and think they may be a sign that spring up on the mountain is not far away.

 Except for a lone snowshoe hare that we saw on the trail a couple of week ago, we have rarely seen any sign of life on the cross country trails, except for the occasional skiers.

  

A real ski bunny 

When we returned to our house in Vernon, we were greeted by a true sign of spring: a street cleaner brushing away the grit and grime accumulated with the winter snows.  We were quite surprised.  When we lived in Alberta, we did not see a street cleaner until well into April.

The street cleaner, a sure sign or spring Feb 25

When we again ventured up the mountain on Thursday the downhill runs were well groomed.  It was the kind of conditions that made you feel like you are a great skier.  By Friday the temperature had jumped up above freezing, and the snow became wet and heavy.  But the temperature has dropped back down to minus 5 degrees and snow is falling again, but only up on the mountain.  So we are looking forward to making tracks again tomorrow!