Tag Archives: Lakes

musings, nature, Photography

The Big View

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I love this trail above Penticton that looks down on Lake Okanagan, and to the south, Skaha Lake.

October 30, 2021

I’ve hiked this trail countless times and have probably stopped to admire this view at every opportunity. I have taken multiple photos during these stops and at every time of year.

July 17, 2018

Here it is in its full summer glory; grape vines in the foreground, lakes and hills in the background.

March 30, 2018

Just beginning to wake up from a winter sleep. Although this was a lovely warm day, you can see that there’s still a little snow in the opposite hills at the higher elevations.

February 7, 2016 (taken from a slightly different position on the trail)

Shhh. Everyone is sleeping.

No matter the season, this view is wonderful. Comforting, constantly changing in its seasonal cycle and always beautiful, it never fails to centre me, to provide me with serenity.

Happy Monday. 🙂

nature, Photography

Kokanee Salmon

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If you look closely, you will see three pink fish in the centre of the photo. These are small Kokanee salmon; they are a form of land-locked sockeye salmon that live all their lives in fresh water.

It’s thought that they became separated from their sockeye relatives and trapped in lakes and streams about 15,000 years ago. While they spend most of their time in lakes, they travel into creeks and rivers to spawn. Many of them die while following this biological imperative; you can see some dead ones in the photo above.

Photo courtesy of Canstock.

The average Kokanee only grows from about 1.5 to 3 kilos (six pounds). They are not the prettiest looking fish, but the males turn dark pink when they are spawning.

I have eaten Kokanee salmon and they have a very delicious, somewhat mild flavour; in my opinion they taste more like a richer trout.

Greetings from the Kokanee salmon of the Okanagan Valley. 🙂

musings, nature, Photography

Weather Change

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I took a long walk today along one of the shores of Great Slave Lake. There was a very fresh breeze blowing and it was a comfortable temperature, but I could see the autumn weather on the lake’s horizon.

And there was something very fall-like in the air; the smell of the wind, the changes in the foliage, the angle of the sun.

When I came across a couple of very fresh black bear footprints, I decided to walk efficiently back to my truck – I didn’t stop to take a photo of them.

Autumn is coming, but if the bears are still about we may have a while to go yet.