Above the treeline

Though it is still four days till winter officially starts, we have already been living in winter conditions for many weeks. Two days ago, 15 December 2013, I got to experience winter in the mountains, as my plans ended up changing. It was the 62nd (?)annual Calgary Christmas Bird Count and I was signed up for it, as usual. However, I had been worrying all week about how on earth I was going to be able to cope with a day of walking the city residential streets. Last Christmas, I had to stay in the car and wait while the other few participants in my group walked some of the areas, as I was in just too much pain to continue. After doing little other than sitting at my computer recently (well, the last few months!), the pain level is even higher, so I knew I was going to be of little use yesterday. Rather than sit and wait in the car for long periods, I decided to cancel. This meant that I also missed the evening get-together for all the city birders who had spent the day out in the field, and this is always so enjoyable. I felt really bad about cancelling, as I dislike letting people down.

Instead, I spent the day without any walking, other than a few steps whenever I got out of the car to take photos. Friends Cathy and Terry and I drove out to Kananaskis and along the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Lakes road. They were really hoping to see Moose. For me, seeing anything from scenery to maybe a bird or two, is more than enough to keep me happy : ) The only birds we saw were a couple of Ravens and two (or was it three?) Gray Jays and a beautiful male Spruce Grouse. The latter was down on the road when we first saw it in the distance, eating gravel to help its digestive system. Wouldn't you know it, just at that moment, a vehicle came from the opposite direction around a corner, and the bird flew up into a tree and "hid" behind a tangle of branches. You know how that goes - any birder / photographer will have had many similar experiences. Was able to take photos, but nothing too brilliant. Just thrilled to see one of these Grouse, especially a male.

There was a lot of snow on the ground out there, though not on the trees. The road itself had been ploughed, which made driving easier. In one spot, the snow plough must have ploughed a little closer to the snowbank along the edge of the road and then drifting snow had been blown on top. Our front wheels started out in snow that was maybe an inch deep, but the deeper snow pulled the car closer and closer to the snowbank - and into the ditch we went!! We were only driving slowly, thank goodness. The snow came well up my side of the car and there was no way I could get out. Within just a matter of minutes, on this quiet mountain road where we had seen little traffic all day, several cars all came at once. Everyone stopped, discussed the situation, and within a very short time, one of them attached a rope and had us pulled out of the ditch. To say we were very thankful and grateful is an understatement! Can't thank all those people enough for rescuing us - it was later in the day and I knew that light would be fading, and I had visions of us having to spend a very cold night in the car! So, it felt wonderful to once again be on solid ground! For years, I have read about how dangerous this gravel road is, especially in bad weather, but I'd never pictured ending up in a snowbank, lol. Both Terry and Cathy are excellent drivers, so I always feel totally safe being driven by them - this was just one moment of bad luck. One that thankfully ended safely, so we were able to laugh about it afterwards. Thanks, guys, for a lovely day in beautiful scenery! And no walking : )