I’ve been walking in Edmonton’s river valley and ravines for over 20 years – taking photos, writing stories, and generally bubbling over with appreciation for the beauty and diversity of nature with every step I take into the woods. I’ve seen a moose, deer, coyotes, a bobcat, and every kind of bird, rodent, and even one or two snakes in my travels. Most I’ve been able to capture on film, but some (like the moose), I saw when I was without my camera. (After that travesty, I never leave home without it.) There is one creature, however, ubiquitous in the woods, who should be on a film roll somewhere but isn’t. In 20 years, this tiny creature is so shy and so fast, I haven’t a single shot of a single hair on its tiny, striped head.

Until today.

Yes, it’s the chipmunk. My white whale.

Not only did I get a bunch of photographs, I had three different opportunities to snap them. What up, chipmunk? Why now? Anyway, it was a critter-filled afternoon in Whitemud Ravine. People-filled too, with plenty of gorgeous birdsong, some of it familiar, some tantalizingly unfamiliar, in the greening canopy. I tried to capture the birds on film, but was unsuccessful. But that’s OK. I got a chipmunk today. My god, first the NDP win and now this. What have I done to deserve this happiness?

Yeah, the chipmunk may not be on any life lists for nature enjoyists, but it was definitely on mine.

Check.

1:00 to 3:00/16C

It came! Our annual May snowfall. More than 10cm of heavy, wet snow Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday. The words that come to mind: beautiful, tragic, funny, BETRAYAL, resignation, depression, ennui, wonder, DEATH, life – an entire Shakespearean library in one day. It will be gone by this afternoon, so really, whatevs.

Instead I will talk about the day the storm began, Tuesday May 5th, Cinco de Shitto, which was overcast and cool. I walked from the University to downtown, via the Walterdale Bridge followed by an upwards trek along 105th Street. I haven’t walked over the Walterdale since I moved out of my ‘hood to southwest Edmonton in 2011. Only the west side of the bridge is open. As I descended from the University, it was funny how familiar the route seemed. I mean, it should be familiar. I’ve walked it hundreds of times, but it was like I had just walked it. My brain is so imprinted with the sounds and sights of trail routes, no wonder my short term memory sucks.

The area around the bridge has been transformed by cranes and construction vehicles and accessories. And giant holes. Kinda cool. I miss the trail that leads to Skunk Hollow on the south side and the one that leads to Rossdale along the river on the north, but I am looking forward to the new bridge. Hopefully I am back in my old neighbourhood by the time it’s finished.

Tuesday (14C), Wednesday (3C), Thursday (6C, so far)

Didn’t go for a walk on the weekend, because the weather Saturday and Sunday was very changeable, and both days it hailed. However, I thought I would post these photos of an ex-wasp nest, prior to its removal from the bottom of a bench seat on the deck. Amazing little engineers, these wasps. Too bad they’re such bastards.

I rarely get unnerved when I’m walking in the ravines or the river valley, but when I do, I pay attention. Not sure why I had the heebs today, but I shortened my walk to an hour – and half of that was above ground. When I left, the sky was a mix of cloud and blue, but by the time I entered Whitemud Ravine at the Aspen Gardens trail head, it was completely overcast. And really low, oppressive clouds. I had weird sensations, like I was going to fall over the edge of some of the trails. I only met two other people in the ravine, one with a dog, and one without. Basically, I was alone.

Whitemud Ravine is deep. You are really in the woods when you’re down there, as opposed to Mill Creek Ravine where city traffic is always audible, if faint. I left at 2:30ish, and so many of the folks who might otherwise have been in the ravine were probably picking up children. Also, I’m still getting used to walking Whitemud without Maggie. For 12 years, whenever I have been in that ravine, I have been with her. Now, it is out of the question for her aging body, willing though it may be, so I am now forced to walk the trails without my security detail. Next time, I’ll wait until the sun is out.

2:30 to 4:00/15C

Another gorgeous April day in Edmonton. Somehow we managed to avoid the snow on Saturday, and it’s been getting steadily warmer since then. Feeding cats in Rossdale this morning, and later I walked up to the trail that ends at Skunk Hollow. Nice to walk along that original monkey trail. There were remnants of a small fire at one point, and a very strong odour. Luckily, it didn’t spread because the woods are very dry. (Wait, I should clarify one point. I was not feeding feral cats. I was feeding my sister’s cats.)

Across 99th into Mill Creek Ravine. No frogs, and the bog itself seemed quite shallow. They need to hop on over to Whitemud.

Mid-morning, the skies were a bit overcast, but they eventually cleared. Rather spectacularly, I must say. By the time I was crossing the low-level bridge back into Rossdale (around noon), the sky was blue, the sun was hot, and I was in dire need of a cold beverage.

10:22 to noon/18C

Somanyfantastic sights and sounds in Whitemud Ravine this afternoon! First of all, on the way to the ravine I captured (photographically) the woodpecker who has been serenading the neighbourhood for a couple of weeks. We thought it was a pileated because of the noise it was making, but it’s a northern flicker. Beautiful bird. Stood right under it as it screeched at me.

And then, under the blue sky and slowly greening foliage, the frogs were out, singing their lovesick frog songs! Didn’t realize the finger of creek water between the second bridge and the boardwalk was a frog bog. My experience of Mill Creek is that the song making time is short-lived, and so I always feel lucky when I happen to be in the right place at the right time to hear their cracking love sounds.

There were unfamiliar ducks on the water, and a pileated woodpecker (for sure) a foot away from me. A couple of women strolled by as I was huddling under a tree and asked what I was photographing. I said it was a pileated woodpecker. They thought it was fantastic. I mentioned that it looked a lot like Woody Woodpecker. One of the women, who was clearly my age, said I wasn’t old enough to know who Woody Woodpecker was. I laughed, but she was serious! You know, I was happy enough seeing the woodpecker. Getting this (I think) compliment was just too much. Must be the old shitty capris I was wearing. Anyway, I didn’t get great photos of the ducks or the bird, but the experience of being in the critter-filled ravine this afternoon was incredible. Spent a lot of time on monkey trails and was entirely and completely happy. In the moment. Feels like spring now.

1:05 to 3:30/7C