Week 10: Snowshoeing

Well hello there!  Perhaps you thought I had disappeared again?  I have been negligent of this blog yes, but it has always been on my mind and I am determined that there will be 52 posts exploring the theme of gratitude by the end of this year.  Late yes, but not defunct.

One of my main motivations for this project was to jumpstart my creativity in order to reignite my love of making photographs.  My trouble has been that I haven't been very inspired photographically these past several weeks.  The topics I had listed for myself week by week have not been working out, partly due to the weather not cooperating but also because I am again having some unexpected blips in making the adjustment to my re-retirement.  Maybe I'll talk more about that at a later date but for now, I'd like to work towards getting caught up (I am currently six weeks behind).  I spent the morning processing (and deleting) the photos I have taken over the past month and I am ready to post three of my topics, all with photos that I am not overly enthused about.  It's time to dig out a few of my (many, oh so many) photography books, review the basics and figure out where to go from here.  Here's hoping I can make some photos I am truly happy with in the coming weeks.

Snowshoeing is this week's topic (you'll note I am starting to number the weeks in order to get organized again).  I hadn't snowshoed in many years when about seven or eight (or maybe more - my sense of time is almost non-existent) years ago, I headed out with my friend Maxine.  I had the old-fashioned wooden beavertail snowshoes and Maxine had the newfangled metal kind with crampons underfoot.  We headed out on the Voyageur trail at Connor road and for those of you locals who enjoy the outdoors, you know that there are some HILLS on those trails.  Thankfully, Maxine had Gimli with her and he was currently off-leash.  She had to toss me the leash and pull me uphill a few times.  I should note too that I was wearing jeans 😲, but I got the bug and was soon the proud owner of a decent set of snowshoes and some proper outdoor clothing.  

There are so many trails around here to explore, some that are hard packed and popular and others that are rarely used and will give you a particularly hard workout breaking trail.  Whatever the route, you get to enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest, stop and smell the roses (or admire the lichen, bark, tree buds, etc.), chat with a friend or listen to some music, and burn some calories so you can go home and enjoy a hot chocolate (or beverage of your choice).

My current pair of shoes which have the most awesome buckle system.

I usually ski at Stokely but they have a great set of snowshoe trails as well.  When I stayed there in February, after a tough morning ski in the fresh foot of snow that fell overnight, I spent the afternoon snowshoeing.  I was in search of a waterfall (that I didn't quite make it to) that unbeknownst to me, was the same one I had seen on skis in the morning.  After finding this out, I was glad I didn't venture further and chance missing out on happy hour before dinner.

Stokely making sure you know there are snowshoe trails.

One of my favourite short trails has an access trail through a golf course.  If you go on a sunny winter day, you'll find great shadows.

Stokely Creek from the snowshoe trail.

When the sun makes an appearance (ten minutes after the previous photo), take advantage.

This was another weird weather day snowshoeing. My friend Carla (from Timmins, so also a tough Northerner) and I headed out in a snowstorm (not sure if we'd make it to the parking area through the unplowed road), we snowshoed with the raging wind blowing in our tracks shortly after they were made, we couldn't hear each other for the sound of the wind and waves and then the skies cleared.  My advice stands...when the sun appears, take advantage.

That's a wrap on showshoeing (the blog and literally).  Fingers crossed we have a regular sort of winter next year!