Author: underswansea

Solitude

The quieter days, darker evenings and lower temperatures have been a relief from a busy summer that saw hordes of tourists; many of them rude and overbearing, also fires that raged nearby and long hours at work that seemed to get the better of me.

I feel tired and in need of quiet. This past week I have made a point of seeking solitude after work for at least a few hours. It is what I need and what I value right now. I have let being alone, walking in the bush or along the river escape me for many years now. It was something I used to do often and had done so since I was a child. I have always enjoyed being alone. This past week has reminded me how important it is to my sanity. During the day at work it is what I look forward to and it gets me through.  

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I hiked on a trail last weekend that is maintained by, Summit Trail Makers Society. They maintain eleven popular hiking destinations by clearing the trails, putting up signage and publicizing the locations and themselves on social media.

The trails they have taken over were always popular, now however, due to increased awareness are incredibly busy with locals and especially tourists.

To hike one of these trails is the equivalent of playing a game of golf, either you are approaching another group or being overtaken by one. They do, however, serve a valuable purpose and the Society should be commended.

When The Village of Radium Hot Springs started to develop 2nd and 3rd homes for our Alberta neighbours, many of these dwellings were placed on a hill where the old drive-in theatre use to stand. To locals they were hideous abominations. An old-timer put it into perspective for me and made me accept it a little better. He said, “The Albertans and their city condos may as well be all grouped together overlooking the Radium sewer lagoons then spread throughout the valley.”

By the same token tourists may as well explore, The Summit Trail Maker locations en masse then be spread in every direction. Again, this is not a criticism of the Society or the people who frequent the trails. They are people who love nature and enjoy the sights and exercise these trails provide, however, what they do not value is solitude that the mountains can provide in an ever increasing busy world. 

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Unfortunately now, the 2nd and 3rd vacation homes are not just overlooking the Radium sewer lagoons anymore. They make up the majority of real estate surrounding the lakes and can be found in every nook and cranny stretching from one end of the valley to the other. Soon it will be the same of the recreational enthusiasts, checking off the hikes they find on the internet.

For people who call the valley home; our sense of place, the place we love, where we have laughed and cried, where our children were born, will be stripped of flesh. Soon only scraps will remain.

Early October

Way up the creek looking for fall. Photo by Lisa.

It’s been a very fine few days off. Got plenty done, the garden is pretty much put to bed, got out in the bush looking at the ground, sky and everything in-between. It will be tough going back tomorrow, but it has to be done.

Early morning from the creek bottom.

Falling

The dorgs, Willow, Lola, and I headed behind the mountains where the creek runs dry this time of year.

The snow started low and fell heavy further up, big juicy flakes. We met a couple of mushroom pickers. They were discouraged. I told them I saw plenty of shaggy manes down below. They were after portabella and chicken mushrooms. Once the snow melts they will be out.

Good to be out, running the muddy roads before they are frozen, facing skyward catching snow and spitting it out, watching dogs twist, chasing their tails, while the mountain pulses in silence.

Tamarack

A very fine view after a few hours hike.

It was nice to get out with Jack and Dave for a day hike to see the tamaracks turning colour.

Willow getting in the picture. She looks like a stump, while a stump, that looks like a dog, barks at her presence.

We even had a few snowflakes fall upon us. Even though the sun stayed hidden the colours still popped.

Tamarack or Larch, as they are often called, are deciduous conifers. They have bright green needles in spring that turn golden in autumn. The time they are brightest does not last long before the needles fall. To an untrained eye they don’t look very much different than fir, pine and spruce, but differ, among other characteristics, by shedding their needles.

Jack and Dave walk along the trail.

It is always a treat to hike among these majestic beauties at this time of year.

Old Places

Places you feel good in. I’m a guy who doesn’t own anything. There is nothing I can call my own. The sky can be out or not. Up there the creek is always clear. Long ago I said to my father, ‘this is my creek’. He knew I didn’t mean it belonged to me, but I felt peace there. There were places he felt the same.

Lisa and I, along with Willow, spent the night up at the top of the creek, we went high where the water runs out at this time of year. We starred skyward and felt the spirits fly through our chests. Lisa counted the piles of bear shit, noted if they were fresh, she carried bear spray and a knife with a quick release. She pointed out cedar boughs in the darkness and asked if I could cut her a few.

A mountain Martin stood stiff, eyes glowing, curious at our intrusion. A large bull elk climbed a rock slide to stay clear of us. There is still enough of my self to quicken my heart and want to go after him. When young it is simple to kill. A pellet to a birds breast. Killing is easy, now older, I even have trouble pulling the trigger on plants in fall. My edge now is not killing.

This place can punch your heart and make you cry.

Mid September

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Early morning Saturday.Lake Windermere. Bright Venus, Zodiacal Light, Cancer, The Beehive, Gemini, Sirius and Orion (Wintermaker).

With luck this should be the last of the busy weekends. It will be good to get back to a regular schedule with days off. Both Lisa and I are just about of steam.

We have let a lot slide: trips into the bush, the garden, yard and the house have suffered. Also the time we have spent with Scarlett and Cooper has been limited. All is unacceptable, going forward we will have to figure out a balance.

This summer and the amount of tourists took us by surprise. Lisa and I are in the front lines and have always taken pride in being able to step up when called upon. It could be we will need to dial back facing the same next year.

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The garden still producing.

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The ambulance, medical helecopters and first responders have been busy this weekend with several accidents and a possible drowning in Lake Windermere. So far the young man has not been found.

I remember talking to an old-timer. He said he and his friend were diving off a raft at the mouth of the lake. He said his friend went in and never surfaced. They found him days later down the Columbia. Things can happen quick, seemingly without reason.

The water is low this time of year. The young man should be found close to where he fell off the boat.

***

We had Cooper and Scarlett over for dinner and a sleep over last night. They are such good kids. I left for work at 4:30 while they were still asleep. I went out the side door to not risk waking them. They consider our place their second home. It makes us all feel good.

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1lb 10oz.

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Clear skies, still warm, the Horsethief fire flared up again. The Provincial Government has kept it going, instead of extinguishing it, so it won’t burn again. That could be the new way to fight fire. Get rid of the fuel (trees).

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More impressive than its size, when turned upside down it ressembles a voluptuous woman bent over exposing her ample behind!

Good Work

The moon and Venus.

It is good to feel fall. It hasn’t been chilly. No sign of frost. The garden tomatoes are ripening.

Everyone I talk with is happy to have less tourists. It should be noted, these are folks, me included, who depend on tourism to live. It would be like a miner wanting the coal to disappear or a logger who didn’t want to cut down trees. What would we do without the thing we hate. The thing that feeds us.

A female Kingfisher hanging out on the old bridge.

It’s more reason to grab hold of every piece of peace you can, wherever it comes from. There is plenty in your control and more that isn’t. Figure out the difference and influence what you can. It’s good work if you can get it.

Damn big tomatoes!

Weed

Ready to be picked and trimmed.

Good to be up a little later. Tomorrow will be the first day in a very long time I won’t have to get up for work at 4:30am.

No bugs to speak of. The garden is hanging in there without a sign of frost. Tomorrow I will have to pick a few flats of tomatoes.

Plenty has been neglected. Wood needs piling. Photos need editing. The yard and garden needs sorting.

Bought a small axe, wooden handle, short at 28″. It kept slipping out of my hand as I am used to a three and a half foot handle. An axe with a wooden handle that long is hard to find and expensive, but worth it. If I ever win the lottery I am going to have bunch of axes, fancy ones, made in Sweden and Germany, and split wood just for fun.

A couple pictures of colourful cannabis flowers. It is coming good and needs to be harvested before frost.

The tomatoes are in the same boat. Same as the spuds.

Tomorrow is a day off. With luck I’ll get some work done.

Labour Day

Coming fast. Quite an assortment of heritage varieties. I will have to look at my notes to see what I started. There are some big ones out there!

Everyone hopes things settle down after Labour Day.

Not sure what to do with them all so put them up as an art installation. Waiting for SFMOMA to call and have it reproduced.

The garden is dry and neglected. Beans that should have been picked, broccoli in flower, zucchini the size of prosthetic rhino legs, cabbage splitting, tomatoes fallen over and growing on the ground, beets the size of turnips and onions saying, ‘get us out of this parched earth’.

The one and only Calendula that survived the grasshoppers.

It got away from us this year.

Electric lettuce. Just like ordinary lettuce, you can’t even give it away.

Footing

The roar can be deafening, misty and slippery. To find yourself in such a place is luck. When unfortunate things happen its bad luck. We take credit for the good things, giving ourselves credit, we say, manifesting our destiny. It is luck one way or the other.

That doesn’t mean you don’t put on good shoes when you tackle the canyon or climb the rocks. It ain’t all up to destiny. You have to give yourself the best chance and except whatever is coming.