Tag Archives: Forest fires

Smoky and Hot

MacKinnon Ravine under a smoky morning sun

Another early morning walk (before the 32C heat kicks in and the Blue Jays game starts), but not too early (about 7:30 am). Beautiful and a bit smoky from the fire in Jasper. During our 90+ minute walk, the temperature went from 15C to 21C. 10,000+ steps.

Morning dew on a spider web
Wild rose in repose

Smoke Show

MacKinnon Ravine, dry and smoky

It’s been exceptionally smoky (BC forest fires) these last few days, but to put a positive spin on it, if there is one, the temperature has dropped drastically. What a summer. First it’s too damn hot, now it’s too damn smoky. I think it was smokier in 2010 but yesterday (July 18) the air index was 10+ (high risk) so Tom and I did not walk. Neither one of us has any lung issues, but just to be safe. Also, the air smells gross. Coming home from a restaurant (yay!) around 7 pm, it was like a cold autumn evening (about 13C). Definitely not shorts weather, I discovered…

We did walk July 16 and 17 in the mornings, around 6:30 am. Hard to know what to be more distressed about: the smoke or the drought, although they are related. Always good to get out and walk though, and as mentioned, the temperature was about 17C, so it was very pleasant.

The Smoke Has Arrived

View to the south west was a haze of smoke

An extra long after work walk today because I didn’t realize the trail that goes up from MacKinnon Ravine to Glenora (near the Alexander Circle Fountain) was closed off for repair!

In MacKinnon Ravine, looking east. Just blue sky, no smoke!

Sooo I had to take the long way to Tom’s, back down into the ravine, up to 142nd Street (I cheated and took the stairs) eventually winding my way back. By the time I reached his place, and we walked to mine, 12,206 steps and about 90 minutes.

Gorgeous day
Deeper into MacKinnon Ravine
Stairs were longer and steeper than they look here, I swear…
View from the top, overlooking MacKinnon Ravine

Definite smoke from the US on the horizon, depending on which way you looked. East, clear blue sky. West, smoky haze. Gorgeous day though. Sunny and 19C. Even saw a random Buddha.

Hey buddy…