On the Road: Exploring the ice

Six dogs crossed the Bow River by Morley on the edge of the river.

The dogs, led by a momma dog, started making their way between the jagged blue slabs toward a narrow stream of open water.

Some years the ice piles right up to the edges of the road and it looks amazing with the sun shining through it. But I would never walk on it. Not only are the slabs jagged and slippery but there will always be hidden thin spots.

Grotto Pond was warmer than the main part of the pond but the ice wasn’t the same at all.

Barrier Lake , just a half-hour away along the Kananaskis River , was covered in snow.

But along the shore a dozen or so springs were bubbling away and the water was crystal clear.

Swans were swimming through the turquoise waters in groups of five or six .

But I didn’t forget about those crazy dogs on the ice back at Morley and I thought about them as I watched the waxwings finally fly off further into the forest. They’d made it across without mishap the first time. I really hoped they wouldn’t chance it again. Ice is beautiful and fun to explore but don’t be like those lunatic dogs. Friends, be careful out there..