Monday, January 9, 2017

Winter in the Valley

On Friday it was too cold to entice me out on snowshoes or skiis, but bright and sunny, so I headed out for a photography drive, still seeking more blog pix for this time of year.  I got lots, and the drive reminded me of a lot of things that characterize winter around here, besides just lots of snow!

In a few spots as I drove along I got beautiful views of the valley - on a beautiful day too!  When we've had as much snow as recently, the plows come along later and push the snowbanks back further like this, to prepare for the next storm!

At least we have lots of pretty snow.  When it starts as rain and changes to snow and keeps on snowing, like last week, it tends to stick to all the trees like this.

As you drive around, the roads themselves are what you become most familiar with.  They cut across the valley in an arbitrary pattern imposed on the landscape 150 years ago.

And down in the bottom of the valley of course is the Beaver River, this shot in the middle of a part we canoe in the summer.

And along with the river come the bridges.  This is a brand new one, built elsewhere and lifted into place, to replace one damaged by flooding 2 or 3 years ago.

We totally depend on the snowplows to keep the roads open for us in the winter, this one a road grader with its wing blade out to the left.  I saw this one parked at the top of a long hill I was driving up, diddling and dawdling and taking pictures.

As soon as I passed it swung out its wing blade and headed down the hill, occupying almost the entire road.  It had just been waiting for me to get out of the way!  It can plow at least 15 feet wide at once.

But the valley also attracts those who like winter, like skiers at the Beaver Valley Ski Club.  Can you pick out a few skiers on the slopes?  All those trees dividing the runs were planted by club volunteers about 40 years ago.


For others, it's snowmobiles that come out once winter is here.  I see their tracks more often than the machines themselves.

But if I pass the local restaurant near lunchtime I can be sure of seeing a few machines - on the weekends there might be 20 or 30 of them!

Today it was sunny again, but quite windy, and the little drifts started creeping out from the snowbanks.  They get a few feet onto the road and they grab your tires as you pass through them.  You have to adjust your driving quite a bit here in the winter, and everyone gets snowtires.

In places where the snowbanks build up (many of them now over 6 feet high), if there's a wind, visibility gets to be a serious problem!  And this example is quite mild, 'cause if it was much worse I wouldn't be out there taking pictures!


Of course there's always the General Store in Kimberley where I can stop for coffee on the way home!  Having some eye surgery tomorrow; I will return on Wed.

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27 comments:

  1. The pictures of the season brings back many memories. The ones that I drove through always put a smile on my face. The ones of the Shoveling bring pain to my aching back.
    Hope the surgery is not too serious and hope it turns out well for you.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  2. Nice to get out and have a look around! Good luck with the surgery, FG.

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  3. Your eye surgery, let it go well, Lovely photos today, I can only imagine going out for coffee on that machine. Super snow plough , great width for the plough to go through.

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  4. It reminds me of living in Colorado, I had never seen snow measured in feet 😁
    You live in a beautiful part of the world, I would need one if those snowmobiles !
    Thank you for sharing.
    Jo

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  5. I always love seeing snowdrifts. Used to see them all the time when I lived in South Dakota. Good luck on your eye surgery!

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  6. snow plows, definitely something we don't see here in winter, it doesn't get cold enough unless you go down to the south island of nz.

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  7. This is a real winter that you are having in the valley. I know the feeling of not wanting to go outside in the cold weather.

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  8. Nothing like winter in the country, luckily we are in the city not too bad here.

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  9. it's a beautiful area - where you reside. those blue skies make so much of a difference when taking pictures of snow. i like your beaver river...and the thought of getting around on a snowmobiles - how fun!!!

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    1. I I forgot to say good luck with the surgery, I hope things went well!!

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  10. It's really beautiful. I love the brilliant blue skies and white white snow. And yes, you certainly do get plenty of snow. I'd have snow tires too, but I suspect I wouldn't be driving very often. I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to driving in snow. :-)

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  11. That fence shot with the show wave is really lovely and interesting.

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  12. Wonderful beautiful snowy pictures. That snow plow certainly is huge!!
    I think the drifts are really pretty.

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  13. I enjoyed all your wintery scenes a lot. It really is beautiful countryside there. I haven't been out at all to take pictures and the past couple of days have been too cold. A warm up is coming tomorrow with rain.

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  14. Hello, I love the views down the roads and the snow bank shots. Awesome series! Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

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  15. Beautiful wintry shots ~ very panoramic and creative!

    Wishing you a Happy Week ahead ~ ^_^

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  16. It's definitely snowbelt country there. I hope the surgery has gone smoothly.

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  17. Beautiful photographs, I enjoyed looking at them all!
    Hope the eye surgery goes well.

    All the best Jan

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  18. Lovely photos , nice to see the sunshine for you . It has been dreary and nasty here this week so far a mixed bag of all sorts and very high winds to . Yes down here we have snow tires as well being in the country , it may take a while for the snow to fly but when it does being so close to the lake it gets nasty . Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

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  19. Wonderful images, but please don't take pictures while you're driving! Stay safe.

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    1. Good point Linda! The first thing always on my mind on photography drives like this is safety. I'm constantly aware of my rear view mirror and whether it's safe to stop. I never take pictures while actually driving, always when stopped. But in the winter here, with high snow banks, you have to be very careful! Luckily, there is very little traffic on the rural roads here. I often drive by nice pictures on busier roads, or where it isn't safe to park, and only stop where I think it's safe. Sorry about those good pictures that I miss!

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  20. I love drive-by shootings!
    I hope your surgery was successful!

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  21. Beautiful shots....you sure live in a beautiful part of the world.

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  22. Such beautiful country no matter the time of year!

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  23. Beautiful snowscapes. Being able to ride to a restaurant must be a lot of fun for snowmobilers. - Margy

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