Category: nature

May 11/12 Solar Storm

What a spectacular night. Lisa and I spent the entire night out. As soon as it got dark the auroras started and didn’t let up until dawn. We took lots of photos and are still going through them. Here are a few samples.

They were everywhere overhead and in every direction.
A butterfly or angel.
The mountains are illuminated by the shining auroras.
It is rare I point the camera directly overhead. For this night I made an exception.
The burnt snags reach towards the light.
Wondering the creek bottom by the light of a solar storm.

Spring

The garlic and daffodils are up. A bit of rain here and there, a few snowflakes, just winters way of trying to hang on. A few seeds could be poked into the ground. Carrots, radish, lettuce; maybe if I get ambitious this weekend.

Stars

An array of colours along the path of The Milky Way. This is ten photos stitched together in Adobe Lightroom. It spans from North to South looking East.

Tried again, this morning, to spot Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. This comet could be beyond Willow’s and my ability to track down. It is very close to the horizon beside the Andromeda Galaxy. By the time it rises above the mountains the sky is losing darkness. Also, we haven’t had super clear skies and the thickest haze is always closest to the horizon. That haze is in fact pollution. That’s why many cities have beautiful sunsets.

The moon as it appeared just after dark.

It is funny in a ridiculous way, our summers are filled with smoke from forest fires, now the spring and fall also has it’s share of smoke, as the provincial government and logging companies burn slash piles. Slash piles are all of the waste wood left over from clear cut logging. There is a lot of waste; branches, rotting wood, stumps, small trees, basically any mess the companies leave behind is pushed into piles and set ablaze.

The core of The Milky Way returns signalling spring and the coming summer. The green haze is a combination of haze, light pollution and maybe even some stardust. Lake Windermere still has its layer of winter ice.

It would be interesting to know if these C0 emissions are counted as industry emissions or if they get tabled under forest fire emissions. The latter not counted towards Canada’s yearly emission targets. Regardless, it is another case of the government saying one thing and doing another. The entire valley could drive around in Diesel Ford F350s for years and not emit the pollution that one of these massive slash piles produce.

I don’t think there is any big conspiracy involved, I just think government is incompetent in this regard.

This is how a panorama looks when I am stitching it together. This is ten individual photos taken left to right with overlap. This image is five frames wide and two frames high. The lens used was 20mm, which is wide, so a lot of the sky is captured. I did not do a very good job of keeping the bottom of the photo even. It can be difficult as it is dark and I can not see through the viewfinder, so it is done by feel. The bright lights in the distance is Invermere.

Comet Hunting

Perched above the Kootenay River. The clouds catching the coming dawn. Cassiopeia can be clearly seen above the clouds. A satellite streaks out of the frame on the left. But no comet.

Up early to try to find Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. The skies were sufficiently dark. Unfortunately there was a thin layer of cloud at the horizon extending into the area that would contain The Andromeda Galaxy and the comet.

As I had to go to work right after looking for the comet, Willow had to stay home. Now, if I am going to work she doesn’t make a peep. Somehow she knew I was going out in the bush and she was pissed off that I left without her. So much so that she awoke Lisa to complain of my impertinent gall to leave her behind.

Willow, minutes ago, barring the door, making sure she will not be forgotten again.

Jimmy

Jim Galligan is a coworker of mine. He is very dedicated to his job and can be depended on to lend a hand when asked. He is one of the longest serving employees at the resort. He is respected and well liked by management, staff and guests.

Lately, in his spare time, he has been creating art. He paints old furniture and clock faces and makes them into one-of-a-kind folk art pieces.

His work is bright and whimsical with shapes and subjects found in nature. To look at them is to see an extraordinary mind at work, and how Jim sees the world.

Jim is a rare soul whose good nature exudes optimism and humour. His artwork displays the same qualities. They can’t help but make you smile.

Jim’s earlier work has been collected and, I am sure, his new art will find its way to loving homes.

A Quick Dip

An old walrus wallows away the day in the icy waters.

Jumped in the lake today at the Annual Polar Plunge. The event is hosted by RAD Recreation Adapted Society, with funds raised going towards purchasing fitness equipment for people who have had paralyzing injuries.

It was great to support the event and a dip in the cold water is always refreshing.

Clear

Looking down from the banks of Lake Windermere at an ice road heading to the lights of Invermere.

Finally a clear night in what has been a mild, overcast winter. Willow and I took a quick trip behind Swansea, stopping to see Mom and Dad before returning home.

The clouds start rolling in.

It was good to look up at the winter stars. I was surprised to see how far they have drifted west since the last time Willow and I were under them. Spring is inching forward.

Away from light pollution. A keen eye can spot Orion, Gemini, The Beehive and Pleiades.

Skating

Look out! Scarlett skates with her hockey stick in one hand and a snowball in the other.

There is nothing like a fine day of skating. And to enjoy it with grandchildren makes the day even more satisfying.

Cooper rests in a snow drift.
A game of keep away. The old man succumbs to the energy of youth.
Enjoying the wind and ice.
Under Swansea on the ice of Lake Windermere. Showing off our gap toothed hockey smiles!

Chilly

The Columbia River.

It has been a mild winter, excluding this past week of -30 Celsius temperatures.

Lola after falling through some thin ice on the rivers edge.

The cooler temperatures have been welcomed by Lisa and I, as they have been accompanied by clear skies.

A friend with a solar panel system that keeps track of sun light recorded only 4 hours of sunshine in December. The rest of the time was overcast. That is not unusual here in the winter.

The mountain looks to the clear, cold sky.

To see the sunshine and stars, that have moved considerably since the last time seen, has been a relief regardless of the chilly air.