Tag Archives: British Columbia

My British Columbia Home

Jul 24, 2018 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 27 Comments

Here’s a little tour of my home in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. When I am not working in the Northwest Territories, I am usually here.

Okanagan Lake is a very deep, very long north to south (135 km) body of fresh water with very different climates from one end to the other.

Even within short distances, there are extremes. Enormous sage bushes crouch in the dry soil in one spot, and a few meters away …

… there’s a vibrantly green apricot tree.

And then there are the grape vines. Many, many varietals. Some of these grapes will become very expensive bottles of wine while others are much more lowly, but pleasant and worthwhile all the same.

Part of this valley is classified as desert while other parts further to the north are made up of deciduous and coniferous forest.

Right now it is very hot (about 36°C) and dry and while the wine grapes might really like that, there have been some significant lightening-triggered fires as well. A few rain showers would be very helpful.

What are the defining characteristics of your part of the world?

Commentary, musings, Photography

Prairie Skies

Jul 17, 2018 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 14 Comments

We recently drove across Alberta’s northern prairies during a rain storm.

We passed beautiful canola fields.

And then we left the storm behind as we continued our drive through the Rocky Mountains.

The western provinces are very different from each other but very beautiful.

We are home now in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.

How is your July?

Commentary, musings, Photography

Naramata Peacocks

May 28, 2018 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 14 Comments

The Okanakan Valley is more known for wine and fruit than it is for peacocks but surprisingly, they have nevertheless become a part of the ecosystem.

About 20 years ago someone abandoned some pet peafowl to the forest near the village of Naramata. No one thought that in the long run they would survive, and there were attempts to capture them.

But here they are, years later, fitting in well and doing their peacock thing. They’re Canadian now.

It’s a bit odd seeing them strutting around, but odd can be a very interesting thing. 🙂

Commentary, Photography

A Drive through the Rockies

Apr 24, 2018 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 23 Comments

We recently left British Columbia to return to the Northwest Territories. We took a more northern route through the Rockies and past Jasper National Park.

Before entering Jasper, we came up to Mount Robson. It’s the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies.

Although there was still some snow on the ground the temperature was two or three degrees C above zero.

We were in high mountain country, but Mount Robson was still quite a frozen surprise sitting in the early spring sun.

The driving conditions were great and although our drive was long, it was incredibly scenic. To the east of Mount Robson, we entered Jasper National Park.

After this range of mountains, we started the drive’s next leg through the northern prairies.

Have you had any interesting road trips lately?

Photography

An Okanagan Hike

Apr 17, 2018 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 16 Comments

We recently enjoyed some hiking in the Okanagan.

The weather was glorious (especially after our chilly northern snowscape) and we enjoyed it immensely.

There was a little snow at the higher elevations, but mostly there was just some lovely melting.

There will soon be lots of grapes and a new wine season …

… time to enjoy some some summer sippers. 🙂

And an update: we have now returned to the Northwest Territories and have brought some favourite bottles with us. Wonderful to have the warmth of that valley with us as we continue to face up and down temperatures and more snow.

How is your spring coming along?

musings, Photography

Yup – It’s Spring

Mar 29, 2018 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 12 Comments

I’ve been taking a break from the northern -20° climes …

Site of the juvenile snowboarding venue – 2018 Arctic Winter Games, Fort Smith, NWT

… and experiencing much warmer weather in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. 17°C to be exact.

This is the NK’Mip First Nation winery and resort just outside of Osoyoos. M and I didn’t stay there (or swim in the pool), but we did stop for a really fantastic lunch. Osoyoos is about 45 minutes’ drive – through stunning wine country – from our home.

The grape vines are still dozing, but they will soon be fully awake.

After buying some favourite wines, we moseyed back. This photo is of a reflection over Osoyoos Lake.

Here it is again, right side up.

Having a break from the continuing cold weather in the north has been wonderful. *Sigh* 🙂

Photography

Spring Is on Its Way

Jan 26, 2017 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 10 Comments

It’s still January but about two weeks ago, the weather turned. The temperature crept up, the bit of snow we had started to melt, and the ducks started squawking and flapping. Every day now it’s a little warmer and a little sunnier.

This morning I was out walking and took this photo of Skaha Lake. I’m lucky enough to live across from it and have been watching its moody winter changes this year.

It’s still got some ice over the shallows near the shore, but I don’t think that will last long.

Spring is coming. 🙂

Photography

More Autumn Views

Nov 1, 2016 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 13 Comments

As the Okanagan descends gently into winter, here are a few more views.

On a recent sunny day, M. and I went up to Chute Lake. It almost felt like spring except for that sharp autumn-air quality.

Water-laden clouds arise more suddenly at this time of year.

While hiking along a back trail, M. and I found this sign.

The sign says, "See the Ponderosa Pine - 4.5 m Circumference." — The sign says, “See the Ponderosa Pine – 4.5 m Circumference.”

If you’re metrically challenged, 4.5 metres is 14.76 feet.

This is a very big tree. — This is one big tree.

Here’s another view. I had to strain my neck to get this tree in the frame.

There's a formula for figuring out the age of a pine. This one's about the same age as the U.S. — There’s a formula for figuring out the age of a pine. This one’s about the same age as the U.S.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “We are all poets when we are in the pine woods.” There are lots of pine forests in this area.

A couple of days ago, M. and I went to the small mountain town of Rossland, BC. It has produced four Olympian skiers including Nancy Green; two NHL hockey players and a prime minister, John Turner. Pretty good for a town of 4000.

A shrouded valley. — Rossland is under all that mist.

And finally, another yellow tree.

I’ve really been enjoying this autumnal bounty. 🙂

What’s fall like where you live?

Commentary, Photography

A Tamarack Forest in Autumn

Oct 25, 2016 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 10 Comments

Yesterday, M and I went for a hike in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park. It had rained earlier in the day, but when we got started at about one pm, it was bright and sunny with that sharp clarity of fall light.

We hadn’t hiked here before and found ourselves in the midst of a spectacularly yellow tamarack forest.

This forest is recovering from a large, ravaging fire that occurred in 2003. It’s amazing to see some surviving giants, seriously scorched at their bases, but still growing.

We climbed through the forest and up to a lookout over Lake Okanagan.

We finished out the day with a drive along an old railway track. This afforded us some impressive views; we were stopping every 10 metres!

The old railway tracks have been removed and the remaining trail is used for hiking, biking, or creeping along in a truck, as we did.

M and I have experienced some additional life stuff lately and so a day like yesterday was truly fabulous!

I’ll be coming by to catch up with all of you. 🙂

Photography

Okanagan Spring

Apr 26, 2016 Lynette d'Arty-Cross 13 Comments

Apparently, spring has been early, and I’ve been enjoying every minute of it, even when the temperature went up to 30C for a couple of days. It’s more seasonal now, but those warm days ensured that blooms are everywhere, that the hills are verdant, and that lushness prevails. The wine is growing! 🙂