The Black and White of Emerald Lake

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Mid-winter excursions are made more exciting by the weather demons! Even signing up weeks in advance for the Skrastin's Outdoor Club day at Emerald Lake , I said to myself, "I hope it won't be the coldest day of the year!" It was. Arrival temperature was in the region of -27C! My wimpish self and a few others who were not embarking on a day of skiing or snowshoeing headed straight to the Emerald Lake Lodge for coffee. With great empathy, they dispensed coffee for free - hot and in finger-warming glass mugs.

Warmed, Candace and I repositioned our many layers and took our cameras into the visual paradise of snow-covered forests and lake. Fully overcast, the sky emitted pale light, rendering the scenes in natural black and white. The wind had sculpted the pure snow on the low-hanging evergreen branches into abstract blobs. The frozen lake was a pane of opaque frosted glass. In stark contrast, a winter water "pond" was open on the Emerald River, reflecting the dark trees and their adorning snow jewels. For a brief interlude, the sun pushed through the draping cloud, not to shine but to borrow the moon's glow.

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Photos

Romantic view into Yoho Park
Emerald River

Reflections of snow sculptures
Unexpected open water

Towering peaks
Light above the treeline

Emerald Lake
Majesty of rock

Snow blobs
Nature's gift to our imagination

Emerald Lake Lodge
Every structure a canvas

Warmth!
Emerald Lake Lodge

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Oh Canada
Beautiful