crystallized underside

I've been terrible at keeping everyone up-to-date on my life in the North and my experience as a Daycare Manager. I mostly have J.K. Rowling to blame for that over the past few months, as Harry Potter was stealing all my time.

Anyway, a while ago I went for my first walk on the frozen ocean with my family, and here are some pictures I snapped while we were out there. It was the first day that it really started to feel like spring (-15, mild wind).

Clear enough to see the inside wall of the cracks. Super thick ice! 

I just couldn't get over how breathtakingly beautiful the snow looked glistening in the sun.

We came across some ice that had formed over an air pocket. After smashing it to pieces, we flipped the ice over to discover a crystallized underside.

The geometry and natural beauty of the earth is spectacular (you've got to click this to see the full version!)

Quadding

I finally got to go out on the land on a quad. It took until the first major snow fall, but I had a blast! The temperature was only about -2, warming up later in the afternoon when the sun finally came out from behind a thick blanket of clouds. To stay dry, I was suited up in my snow pants, parka, winter boots and some borrowed (and very manly) leather gloves. It was the coldest on my face speeding down the various trails in the snow left by others still eager to get out on the land before pulling out their snow machines. I even got to drive the quad...and I didn't crash! Though I did run in to a few bushes...whoops.

I was having a blast kicking around in the snow.

We could see the sun off in the distance, hoping for it to come out for us to enjoy!

Took a little break for some lunch and tea.

"S Lake" 

The sun!!! 

My turn to take a snooze in the snow

Possibly the most beautiful part of the day.

Reluctantly leaving the beautiful land behind.

We did see tracks of the following animals: hikhiks, foxes, ptarmigans, rabbits and grizzlies (though the latter was probably a day old, and could be debated, but we were almost eaten by bears as far as I'm concerned!)