I am beginning to realize how much I now enjoy Sunday evenings! It's a whole new ball game now, after dinner is done and clean up has taken place. I can sigh, I can relax, I can do absolutely nothing and still be fully ready for Monday. I can wake Monday mornings and decide what I would like my day to look like. The only thing I did know about today beforehand was that I wanted to be out there some where! Last minute decisions mean I will be soloing so I wanted safe surroundings. Introduce Prairie Mountain into my day, one is never alone there. Weather reports said fog and cloud out that way which would lift mid morning. I knew from experience this could mean a spectacle!
The spectacle I expected transpired!
I was not first at the lot even though I was on the early side for a Monday. Others were already out there, up there, some where. A local lady pulled up beside me, she was soloing also. We soloed separately. This time I kept my head down watching my foot placement as it was somewhat slippery and muddy in sections. I pushed up on onward covering ground at a better pace than usual for me. I was on a mission, I wanted to reach the opening to witness that spectacle. As the sun worked its way through the fog & cloud, the snow began to fall off the trees onto me.
I reached the first opening!
Voila! It appeared as I hoped it would!
higher up to where it was more opened up
Through the trees and out in the open, the view was grand.
The wind was whirling, clearing the clouds and fog quickly.
As I passed a soloist heading down while I was on my way up, I knew no one would be here declaring ownership. So I did! New to me for the summit of Prairie Mountain were the new Canadian flag plus the Alberta flag and the Calgary Flames flag. I was happy they were all proudly waving!
Then came tea time. Ever since a Valentine's Hike Celebration back in 2011, I have been trying to accurately pour tea into my cup while it's windy. To this day I have not been successful nor was I today, although I was a bit more successful that previous attempts.
today's outcome
the white line follows the tea stream
The local lady arrived and we chatted for a while. She carried a heavy load as she was training for a November backpack trip in Chile. I admired here! Her plan for today was an up and down, mine was to linger long. She left and I went about my summit visit.
The view east shows more hanging clouds.
wild life sighting for today
Icicles hung in the trees below the summit and I spent quite some time trying to capture a clear drop in action. No success though then I realized that I would not be able to with the camera setting I was on. I need to figure out what to do to capture a photo where the icicle and the drop would both be clear.
Back into the trees I moved with a method. It was very slippery and I wanted to arrive back at my car fully in tack. It seemed my down trip was slower than my up trip, it wasn't pretty but I got the job done. I undid the hatch of my hatchback and sat basquing in the sun and savouring the balance of my sandwich and tea. That was a delightful way to cap off a satisfying morning!
An enviously brilliant day!
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