Hiker Hayes dreams of white ChristmasCOFFEE WITH WARREN, with Warren Harbeck |
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Nothing like a white Christmas to inspire the imagination – and to motivate a serious hiker/photographer. A recent coffee visit with Cochranite William Hayes, together with some of his photos, reminded me that this is, indeed, a season to be thankful for. It’s all about the gift of beauty! William treasures his many walks through the Bow River Valley and our foothills and mountains. He’s been making them regularly since relocating to Canada from Scotland in 1966. And every season has its special attraction for him. So, along comes winter with all its wonders! I asked him what especially attracts him. “The never-ending display of Mother Nature’s art work” is multisensory, he says, from the very moment the “cool, refreshing winds embrace your exposed cheeks, or the stillness of a windless day.” But for shutterbug that he is, it’s the visual encounters that really grab his attention, beginning with our brilliant blue skies while “hiking in the snow, with Microspikes, or if the snow is deep, then going on snowshoes.” Then there are those incredible ice formations along the waterways, and “the amazing beauty of a frozen waterfall.” Or the hoarfrost, snow and ice on “every blade of grass and twig.” And of course, the wildlife, he says – “seeing a rabbit scurry over the snow, watching mule deer munch on dried-up bushes,” and eagles keeping their treetop watch. “And there’s no mosquitoes!” He was so attracted to the wildlife recently, he couldn’t resist lending a hand in hosting a holiday feast. “It was for the birds,” he says. And dreaming of a white Christmas? From the tiniest snowflakes to mountain grandeur, here are the Creator’s gifts to satisfy hungry souls. “Thank you for giving me this gift,” William often prays while on his hikes. And he’s as “thrilled and in true awe” of the Creator’s handwork today as he was 57 years ago when he began his encounters with the Canadian Rockies. Thank you, William, for your inspiring Christmas gift of beautiful photos and story. And to all our readers, Merry Christmas!
© 2023 Warren Harbeck |