How would you feel if you didn't get what you are used to having? Would you be happy without your morning coffee? What? It hurts even to imagine that? Sorry. Let's imagine how a bear feels without a hibernation period. Unrested, upset and dangerous. Could you picture an unhappy bear? Good. Now, put me in place of that bear. I grew up in an area where winter lasted 5 months. Suddenly, I have this winter which is mild even by Pacific Northwest standards - warm, wet and green. Embrace yourself: I'll show you a couple of the most wintery images we had this so-called winter.
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Light frost, that's it. It was time to think about spring and spring plantings, and I was still craving for some, at least short, white period of hibernation. The mournings about heavy snowfalls coming from other states and Europe just made me more miserable. So, the decision was made: if I don't have snow, I need to find it. Thus, off we went to Mount Bachelor in our neighboring beautiful state of Oregon.
We couldn't stop noticing how different the scenery looked in comparison with previous years. Even Mt. Hood didn't look very ski-friendly. There wasn't enough snow! Central Oregon looked nice, but snowless:
Sun River Resort, where we stayed, had only patches of snow. But, when we arrived at the mountain, our fears had gone away. There was lots of nice clean white stuff!
No, this is not Mt.Bachelor in the picture above. It's the mountain that we admired from the ski lift.
I enjoyed the lift rides as much as the skiing itself. There is such beauty around!
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Isn't it a wonderland?
I can even say that I've done some bird watching. The bird sitting on this giant tree was huge. I couldn't say if it was a crow or a raven.
Now, can you see two birds on that tree? If the line to the ski lift was longer, I probably would have seen three birds, and four or five, but the lines were short and moved fast.
While skiing down, I was admiring the trees with snowcaps on them.
Trees are majestic even when they are not alive, aren't they?
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The sun was setting. There were no crowds, no lines to the lifts, and we had several slopes just for ourselves.
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Cross-country skiing was just as enjoyable as downhill. Being in the magnificent silent forest for several hours was very therapeutic.
Although, I should admit that I was thinking about meeting a bear and tried not to go too far into the forest.
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So, there is nothing left from my snowless winter blues, just this blue color in a snowcrack in the picture:
The Russian bear is happy. She saw the real winter.
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Copyright 2010 TatyanaS
Those are gorgeous snow pictures, Tatyana! It is truly a winter wonderland up there. I am amazed that you had such a mild winter when we had the longest cold spell in Florida ever...well, at least in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteGood I'm glad you are better now...don't need a grumpy gardener! These scenes are majestic here...
ReplyDeleteA bear too happy to go through undisturbed through winter. While everything else seem to be hibernating, a gardener will work out plans for the next growing season. Just wonder, what is in the mind of a resting bear.... ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteI am from Alabama and not used to long winters but after living in Indiana for nine years, I would miss winter and snow too. I can't believe I just admitted that!
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to see snow and thank you for sharing you beautiful pictures! That scenery is gorgeous!
Dear Tatyana, I think that I know exactly what you mean when you write about missing the snow. Although this winter has been different in the UK, what I so enjoy about my time in Hungary is the fact that the winters are still proper - snow, freezing temperatures and ice on the Danube.
ReplyDeleteYou do seem to have had a wonderful time. I am so pleased and relieved that you did not actually encounter a bear or, worse still, a broken leg [lol].
Beautiful pictures!! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous, I miss skiing so much. I haven't been in likee 7 years. We have ski resorts in the Western part of NC, but we just never seem to get out there and do it. :( And the mountains are nothing like the ones in your photos lol.
Hi Tatyana, we are glad you enjoyed your snow. Climate change is true, hopefully the drastic change will not be so abrupt that we can see in our lifetime. But the effects are now here, our agricultural lands are already affected with thousand hectares of crops wilted.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what your subjects are, if you take the photo it will be awesome, always a joy to look at!
Thanks for the snow pictures, Tatyana! I'm glad you got your fill. I agree - winter serves a purpose, and without it, well, we are left with a longing and a sense of loss.
ReplyDeleteI wondered how they tamed bears. LOL! I am glad you got your snow fix and had a very nice time in nature. It looks so beautiful even for this "sick of snow" girl. It is such a lovely picture to see the clouds below the mountains in the valley. I admire anyone who can stay up on flat sticks. LOL!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
Lona
What a beautiful place you were able to visit and enjoy the snow. The blue color of the snow crack is so interesting. Your last photo captures the coldness of winter so well, I think.
ReplyDeleteПривет, Танюша!!! Прекрасные фото как обычно, так захотелось побывать в лесу и в горах) МЫ в этом году не выбрались ни разу в лес.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful country there in the snow covered mountains. I like those trees too. It certainly is different from what we have here in the Gulf Coast. Looks like a great fun time.
ReplyDeleteBeautifuil pictures. The snow does look so pretty (until you shovel everday for 2 weeks-then it loses it's appeal!) Glad you enjoyed you time away.
ReplyDeleteI must say, not having snow at home and driving somewhere snowy every once in a while ha always seemed like a good solution to me. Glad you had a good time!
ReplyDeleteI think your snow flew south for the winter!
ReplyDeleteAre you Russian? I (a long, long time ago) celebrated my 21st birthday in Moscow while on a trip with the university. My first husband was a Russian history major.
Cameron
I'm not sure I can really sympathize, but maybe I would feel the same way if I moved to a warmer climate. I think you'd be happier in Chicago, we've had snow on the ground pretty much continuously since the beginning of December. Now I'm sick of it.
ReplyDeleteOh Tatyana, I'm so glad you were able to enjoy the beauty of winter, but it sure makes me shake my head in wonderment when people actually *long* for snow and winter. It's such an absolute foreign concept to me! While you are longing for snow, I am pining away for summer, beaches, flowers and sunshine! You can have all my snow, and then some.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you got the winter therapy you needed. :) I could tell from the tone of your earlier posts that you were not happy about the lack of snow. I've known people who love winter; all were from the Northeast.
ReplyDeleteThat last photo is awesome. just beautiful. I am glad you found your snow. I wouldn't like it if we got no snow at all. I do love a good snowstorm but at this point, spring can't get here soon enough. .
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos! So glad you got to enjoy yourself in this beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful. Glad you got your snow in the end, even if you did have to go looking for it.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty -- and happy to meet a fellow skier. I live in a ski resort and we've had the worst snow year on record... It's a tad depressing. Though your lovely photos easily cheered me up! :))
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to have some time in the snow ... loved your photos. Of course I'm a person who lives where we never ever see snow ... so I just love any snow scene.
ReplyDeleteFabulous pictures and blog....so glad I came across your post! judy
ReplyDeleteThis is the best way to enjoy winter, Tatyana--go somewhere where there is snow, enjoy it, and then come home to warmer temperatures! I'd gladly send you some of our snow if I could:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos; I can't help asking, though--were you taking these photos while skiing down the slopes??
Thank you so much for your comments! I know that many of you got tired of snow. I'd gladly take some part of your white stuff! Saying that, I remember how upset I was last year, when I needed to brush heavy snow off my plants so many times! As some of you said, it's nice to be able to go somewhere to enjoy the snow and then, come back to warm temperatures.
ReplyDeleteRose, yes, I was taking pictures while skiing. I used my small Kodak camera which fits into any pocket.
Welcome back, Tatyana! It looks like you had a wonderful time. Your snow pics are so beautiful. I can understand why you missed it so. Last week we had snow here in Alabama! Enough for some photos (if you haven't seen them you can check out my "A rare sight" post), then it was gone the next day. But it was fun while it lasted.
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana~~ Beautiful photos. It sounds like a wonderful trip. I'm sorry you had to drive so far to find snow but it looks like it was worth it.
ReplyDeleteSuper photos - makes me wish I could ski ...
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana,
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos, such amazing scenery!
Isn't it strange how differently you can view situations... Here we've had the worst winter of my lifetime and it's still going on.. and on... I'm wishing back my mild winter that you've had and here you are wishing you had our winter (although perhaps nothing in comparison to a true Russian winter!)
Winter certainly seems necessary, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. The extremely mild winter in the Pacific Northwest has been great for the propane bill, but my plants hardly died off, and now it's nearly time to get back at it before I've had a rest. I mowed yesterday and am probably going to pass out from exhaustion in June.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad your winter bear self got the snow she craved, Tatyana! What a delightful read and the views were breathtaking. I have never been skiing before, only once had on a pair of cross country skis on loan from a friend and enjoyed it. Thanks for taking your camera on the ski lift to share the views with us. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
I'm glad you enjoyed your fix of snow and skiing Tatyana
ReplyDeleteПривет, Танюшка! Ты заставила меня вспомнить давние давности: Домбай, лето,зоопарк и белый медведь в шикарной по тогдашним российским меркам клеточке - метров 500 квадратных, бассейн с огромной глыбой искусственного льда... Стоит на краю бассейна, рычит отчаяно и валится набок, камнем падает в воду... Ничего ему не мило. Выбирается назад, смотрит на нас, зевак, невидяшим взглядом, и снова валится в воду... Я его рычание до сих пор помню...
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