Winter winds are waxing chill

I find pictures a lot less engaging when they don't have real people in them to add a little personality.  Unless you're Ansel Adams, which I'm not.

Since I mostly took pictures in Tumbler Ridge for work, there were blessed few with people and personality.  The few here are more to get a feel of the landscape I was in for the first two days of this week.  It really was gorgeous scenery and it's too bad I couldn't have taken the time to enjoy more of it.

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Stare at this picture for seven hours.  There... you've now driven from Edmonton to Tumbler Ridge.

(That blue at the top is the tint on my windshield, not some freakish sky hue found in northern Canada as the boundary between atmosphere and space gets thinner.)

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Tuesday morning trekkin'.  I was third in line as we followed a series of pink ribbons strung to the trees.  The ribbons mark the centre line of the road that's proposed to be built.  The snow here is waist deep, but thankfully not much past our ankles in the snow shoes.

Note how we are walking single file... to hide our numbers.

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A break in the trees affords us a view of the highway.  It's late morning at this point and you can note the sun just off to the right.  Compare that to the horizon.  That's about as high as it'll get this time of year as it nears noon.

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A stunningly clear view of everything around us, all day.  It was beautiful.  These are just the foothills east of the Rocky Mountains.  None of the peaks here are yet above the tree line.

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I am smiling.

That's a loop of rail line behind me, used to load out and transport coal from the nearby mine.

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When you stop to take a break, best not to lean up against the relatively skinny trees.  The snow perched precariously on the branches has a habit of falling down the back of your neck at the slightest wobble.

FIN

Comments

[Tal]

I wonder if the advice regarding snow down ones back is derived from personal experience?

Wonderful pictures. It's great to have to have you back!

[Moksha Gren]

Stunningly serene snow scenery, Simon. It makes me miss the mountains [sigh].

Actually, though...some of that scenery is just too damned perfect. Someone should build a highway through the center of it. ;)

[Simon]

Tal, your insight serves you well.

Moksha, there's an element of my job that I struggle with due to those same observations. Meant lightly in this context, I know, but still.

[Moksha Gren]

There needs to be balance, of course. But every highway I've ever driven on was once pristine, untouched land. And I'm pretty darn happy to be able to travel as quickly and smoothly as I do. It's sad to know that asphalt will be replacing the trees. But I don't think it's inappropriate if done correctly.

However, that's not going to stop me from calling you Simon Once-ler ;)

[Mark]

My wife's father calls his stepson, a civil engineer, a "raper of the land." Mostly jokingly.

So, I guess my question about the virgin forest remaining so is now answered.

[Linda]

Pretty pitchers Si, thanks for sharing. Although I cant imagine driving that straight stretch all that time...
You look like Aaron with a hat on. More like Aaron.

[TerriTorial]

I really need to get to the mountains again sometime soon.

[marian]

Lovely to see some snow. We've had a completely brown winter here in Minnesota, so far. Except for the occasional dusting. I think I have the same jacket.

[JuJuBee]

Beautiful pictures...I especially like the one looking up to the trees. They look like furry monsters (too much Sesame Street today).

You added me to your blogroll! I'm all verklempt!

[Simon]

Moksha, I'm trying like hell to figure out that Once-ler thing, but just can't. Somebody needs to get out the Two by Four of Obviousness.

Mark, we mostly don't think about what we do to the land. So there's a balance there.

Linda, Aaron sure is a handsome devil, isn't he?

Terri, I need to spend a lot more time out of doors too.

Marian, it's this time of year I can't wait for the winter to end, but I'm always glad to have the snow.

JuJuBee, I did call you a Fatty Fat Fat on your own site. I figure that makes us pretty close, hence the blog roll thing.

[JuJuBee]

Fair enough.