Heavenly Paradise@AdelineAng.com

What? Snow again?! I felt the urge to write something about the major snowstorm that we’ve just experienced in Fredericton today. It’s the most shocking snowstorm I’ve ever observed thus far. The locals even claimed that it is the worst they’ve seen in a decade! It has been snowing heavily before midnight on Sunday and continued on until Monday evening, with a few short pauses in between. There is about 48 cm of fresh snow, if not more!! That’s bizzare!!!

The storm hits cities across the province, with wind gusts up to 50 to 90 km/hr! The visibility was next to zilch at times. The storm has caused power outages in various places and city plows were forced to be pulled out off roads. City plows across the province were already on the roads during wee hours; but yet, the high wind and zero visibility have made the plowing process a daunting task. According to the news report, roads were quickly filled back with snow within 15 minutes, after being plowed, owing to the strong wind and heavy snowfall.

Local business were closed and operations of city transit were stopped for the day, as a result of the adverse weather conditions. Condition of roads was terrible, and drivers were urged to stay at home. Fine… no driving. How about walking then? Together with my roommates, we ventured into the storm when the weather was milder in the late afternoon. We were curious to check out what the storm has brought us!

A homeowner was busy shoveling snow at his doorsteps. Some had trouble placing the shoveled snow. No room for more snow!

The campus is covered in white.

The Old Arts Building (a.k.a. Registrar’s Office).

I was on cloud nine, literally ;)

In front of the Forestry & Geology building. I was half-sinking into the deep snow!

Outside the Science Library, which used to be my second home :P

Can you find me in the snowbank?

The stairs were covered in thick snow. Watch your steps!

Snow shoveling is required to move the vehicle.

Scenic view by the window.

Melting snow on the glass window.

Can you see the snow crystals? They have unique patterns and shiny appearance.

Winter adventures haven’t come to an end just yet. There are lots of fun activities to explore, one of which is cross-country skiing, which I haven’t tried for years now. The Mactaquac Provincial Park offers groomed trails for cross-country skiers to spend some fun time outdoor. It’s enjoyable, especially when the temperature is mild. Other places, such as parks and trails in the city are easily accessible for skiers who do not wish to travel far.

Yesterday was a great day for skiing. It wasn’t windy at all, and temperature was around o °C. I couldn’t ask for a better day! The trail we went on, was about 5 km in length. Cross-country skiing is an exciting sport, even though it’s not the same as downhill skiing which I’m more familiar with. It took me a while before I grasp the skiing techniques. I felt great when I was finally able to coordinate my arms and legs, as well as feet movement, while cruising along the trail. Thanks to Dave for his demonstrations and tips! It’s amazing how fast one can move with cross-country skis, quicker than a runner!

The nicely groomed trails for cross-country skiing.

Skiers and their dog were having a great time on the trail.

Scenic winter view in the woods.

Thick snow on the ground, accumulated from numerous snowstorms.

Looking up to the sky in the woods.

Skiing while enjoying the beauty of nature was a serene experience.

A steep slope for recreational sliding and tobogganing.

The snowmobile trail.

Snowmobilers with their snowmobiles in front of the lodge.

The birch tree. Have you ever wonder what you can do with the birch bark?

Dave demonstrated how to light a fire with the birch bark, which can be easily removed from the tree trunk.

Besides using it to start a fire, the strong and water-resistant birch bark can be used for canoe, crafts, and even as a substitute for paper! Some valuable maps and manuscripts from the olden days were drawn and written on birch barks.

Treemoss (grey or greenish) was hanging on the tree branches.

Widely known as Treemoss, Beard Lichen, or Old Man’s Beard, Usnea is the generic name for this strange-looking plant. It’s sensitive to air pollution; the cleaner the air, the longer it grows (10-20 cm)! Usnea is famous for its medical applications. What else can you use it for? I’ve used it to clean dirt off my shoes when walking in the muddy woods during the summer. You’ll be amazed how useful it is!

Donning layers of thick clothing in the winter isn’t funny at all. Plummeting temperatures, biting cold wind, and slews of snowfall leave you with no choice, but to put on warmer and thicker clothing. After a few years of winter experience, I’m much used to knowing what to wear based on the daily weather forecast. Of course, always take the wind chill factor into consideration!

0 to -5 °C: A long-sleeve blouse or cotton turtleneck, and a fall jacket.

-5 to -10 °C: A long-sleeve blouse or cotton turtleneck; alternatively, a short-sleeve blouse and a fleece jacket. Top these up with a regular winter coat.

-10 to -20 °C: A long-sleeve cotton turtleneck, a fleece jacket, and a regular winter coat.

-20 to -30 °C: A long-sleeve cotton turtleneck, a fleece jacket, and a thick winter coat.

-30 to -40 °C: A long-sleeve cotton turtleneck, a thick fleece jacket, and a thicker winter coat (i.e. ski jacket).

-40 °C and below: Stay at home!!

It’s important to choose the proper clothing materials as well as understand the appropriate handling of winter clothing. I tend to stick with cotton blouse or turtleneck, and polyester-based jacket. I don’t usually put on wool clothing, except in extreme cold. Not only does it cause skin irritation, but it also requires special handling in washing (ie. should be hung dry, instead of machine dry). Water resistant outwear made of polyester and nylon is great. It keeps body from getting wet, and hence, avoid freezing. Winter coats filled with down and waterfowl feathers are excellent for insulation. Clothing that needs dry-cleaning? It’s troublesome. Try to avoid getting one, if possible.

Besides clothing mentioned above, a pair of warm gloves and winter hat are extremely useful too. I’m not a big fan of scarves; in my opinion, the more you carry with you, the easier it is to lose things. Hence, wearing light and staying cozy is my goal. Winter coats with hoods and high zippers are wonderful. You can stay comfy without a winter hat; neck and lips are well protected when zippers are pulled all the way up.

How about the bottom layers? You may now wonder… Most of the time, I survived with just a good pair of jeans. Under temperature -35 °C and below, an extra layer of insulation is recommended, even a pair of thighs. When it’s freezing cold, clothing tends to become rigid. This applies to jeans. It almost seems like clothing is undergoing the freezing state, and it’s sticking on body. In this case, a pair of thighs underneath can make a big difference. Having said that, it’s advisable to put on snow pants when it’s too cold. Snow pants offer great insulation and best of all, it’s water resistant! It’s a necessity for skiing.

Overdressed can be as bad as underdressed. You don’t want to suffocate yourself with thick clothing and that you can barely move. Perspiring in the cold winter will only freeze you up. So, don’t do that. Conversely, underdressed might cause frostbite and dry skins. Hence, dress according to the weather.

I’ve never worn Long Johns thus far. Why? Good question! With Long Johns, you may feel warmer in the cold, but it may result in skin irritation when you’re inside a heated building. The same idea applies to wool clothing. If you’re only going to be in the cold for 2 minutes (e.g. walking from car to a building), and staying in the building for the next 8 hours, why bother putting on Long Johns? Unless, of course, you’re staying outdoor for long hours. With a good heating and insulating system, one can be wearing a t-shirt and shorts indoor, despite the freezing -40 °C outside!

It’s worthwhile investing in winter clothing of good materials. The good ones can last for years. Same goes for footwear. A pair of non-slip waterproof winter boots can save you from painful falls and freezing feet. It’s highly recommended to own a pair!

Warm (e.g. 7 °C), mild, chilly, cold, very cold, freezing cold, extreme cold, unbearable cold… These are all relative and subjective terms often used to express the level of cold experienced in the winter.

After the long winter months, it almost feels like spring or fall when the rising temperature leaves the sub-zero zone. Lesser and thinner clothing is an indication of the arrival of spring. Hmm… this probably won’t happen anytime soon. Meanwhile, have fun with the snow everyone!

It was -13 °C in the afternoon. The blowing snow was whipping my face frantically at the speed of 28 km/hr, with constant wind gusts of 48 km/hr. The unplowed sidewalks left me with at least 10 cm of snow to sink in (as opposed to walk on). Even though roads were plowed, the blowing snow contributed to poor visibility and hence, bad driving condition. Walking or driving? I think it’s best to stay home during snowstorm ;) Don’t you agree?

Staring in front of window
Sitting in a little cozy room
Listening to soft whispering snow
Waving furiously before meeting its doom

Marvelous winter scene is beyond description
Experiencing the season to truly believe
Some dislike snowy winter with a passion
I appreciate the gift from nature & gladly receive

Long & freezing winter can be annoying
Chattering teeth & shivering bones in the biting cold
Sliding & drifting is frustrating
Making footprints big & bold

Fluffy snow is piling higher than ever
Building a cute little snowman
Cheering me up with his laughter
Rejoicing in this snowy wonderland

The winter season in Canada can be long and painful (for most people).

1. 3 months of winter, you’d think? Spring, summer, fall, and winter; four seasons in one year. A simple math calculation tells you that season changes every 3 months. As a matter of fact, NO!! Be ready for 6 months of winter, if not longer! Here is a general season pattern: spring (May-June), summer (July-August), fall (September-October), and winter (November-April).

2. Winter boots. Do you really need one? If you’ve to walk in the winter, of course YES! However, some can survive with just a good pair of sneakers. How? Ask them! Nonetheless, wearing winter boots doesn’t mean that you can run on ice. You will still slip on ice, especially when you’re not paying attention. For myself? It’s usually one painful fall (on average) each winter, on the black ice (covered with snow). I just hope that my laptop is not with me when that happens :)

3. Dry skins and cracked fingers, leads to bleeding. It’s hard to keep your skin moist when the weather is so dry. Cranking up the heat and washing hands on a regular basis are not helpful at all, but making skin condition even worse. What to do? Apply hand moisturizer as often as you possibly can.

My dry, cracked finger joint that was bleeding.

4. Wind chill factor. Even when the temperature is as mild as -5 ºC, the wind chill factor can easily make you feel like -15 ºC!! Watch closely to the weather forecast when planning for a trip, even stepping out of your comfy home for just a few minutes.

5. Raining in the winter. The icy condition from the freezing of melted snow can be disastrous! Hence, I favour snow over rain in the winter!

6. Winter tires, antifreeze windshield washer fluid, windshield ice scraper & snow brush, and block heaters. Trust me, you’ll need these in your car! Be sure to plug in block heater overnight when the weather gets really cold, usually below -30 ºC. As well, allow some time to brush off the snow, scrap off the ice on windshield and whatnot, before you hit the road!

The power plug (in red box) of a car block heater.

7. Snow. A snowstorm can result in 20-30 cm of snow. Clearing the driveway with a shovel or snow blower can be a hard chore, especially in the cold weather. The city uses snow plows to clear off the roads and highways; spreads liquid salt to melt ice and snow, or sand to provide traction.

Watch out for the snow plow!

8. Painful frostbite. Try to avoid exposure of large skin area under extreme weather; by wearing appropriate winter clothing, including a pair of gloves and winter hat.

9. Dry weather. Lint particles are often found on clothing. They are apparent on darker clothing, especially black. Static shocks can be annoying too, simply from grabbing on the doorknob (usually metal objects).  Solution? Try touching something with a piece of metal (e.g. key), before holding it by hands. Keep the air moist in your room by placing a cup of water on the desk. You’ll be surprised how quickly it evaporates!

10. Falling snow and ice. Avoid walking under buildings with overhanging ice and rooftops with thick snow, especially when the weather starts to warm up.

Have a safe, pleasant, and enjoyable winter!

After all the inspiring winter stories you’ve read about and breathtaking winter pictures you’ve seen, you’re now pumped for the true winter experience yourself! Wait a minute… even though I enjoy winter (the good part of it) myself, I’ll have to reveal some winter scenes that are rarely publicized. Why? It’s because I’ve to be honest to you that winter is not always as pretty as you think it is!!

See it for yourself… 

The high pile of snowbank is no longer in white, but black (literally) instead…

The sidewalk is not scenic like it used to be… 

Looking foward to a nice spring? Before we get to that point, here’s the challenge… walk on the slushy melting snow!!

In spite of the unpleasant sights of winter, including the disasterous icy condition that I’ve previously shown, winter is still great after all. Some dislike winter with a passion and some take delight in it. Other than the bitterly cold and windy winter days, I’ve been enjoying winter thus far. My sixth winter, and still counting…

Winter can be long, as you may have realized. Well, if you’re not into skating, skiing, or any fun adventures as such, you’re missing out a lot! Guess what? There is always something you can do, ensuring an exciting season with a wide array of winter activities!!

Are you curious now? What are THEY??

Fun #1: Dipping (more like sinking) feet into the deep, soft, white snow! How deep does the snow get? Check it out!

Fun #2: Climbing to the top of a 10-foot snowbank!! Smiling at people who look at you as a weirdo, while enjoying the scenic view!!

Fun #3: Making snow angel!!! You’ve experienced winter? Really?? Not if you haven’t made a snow angel!

How to make one? First of all, make a jump on a cushion of soft snow. Be sure to stay clear of obstacles.

As you land on the snow, on your back, move arms and legs in the snow to form an angel!

I’m obsessed with picture taking of overhanging ice lately :P Pictures are best taken under the sun, at the right angle. The overhanging ice varies in length and thickness. It is a result of melting snow from the rooftop when temperature rises, followed by dripping water from the roof edges; and finally, freezing of water in the sub-zero climate. There forms the overhanging ice!

Even though they are nice to look at, be aware of falling ice as you walk pass these buildings. Don’t take the risk parking your car close to them! I can’t picture what would happen if the ice falls on someone’s head…

Of course, there is always pretty snow in the winter that we shouldn’t miss!

Have you had a chance to take a close look at the snowflakes? The gorgeous snowflakes don’t come by easy, depending on the temperature, humidity etc. These snow crystals are formed as a result of water vapour condensation, which leads to the creation of ice. This process takes place in clouds. The growth of crystals contributes to the unique pattern of snowflakes. You’ll be amazed to find out that there is no two snowflakes that look alike! This is comparable to the DNA profile of human beings; snowflakes have individual identities! How neat  =D

Winterfest NB is an annual event held in Fredericton. This was my second visit, after the first one in year 2005. Weather was mild for this outdoor event. It was awesome! Nonetheless, the traffic was incredibly ridiculous. I wished the organizer would have done something to solve the problem. Even though the parking space has been expanded, the entrance & exit site was so narrow that it slowed down the traffic. Some visitors even claimed that they had to wait in the car for 1-2 hours before getting to the site!

I went with some friends. We were lucky that the traffic wasn’t too bad when we were there, around 3 p.m. The actual ground wasn’t very big, a reasonable area size for visitors to have some great fun! Free car parking on the site, and $3/person for admission.

There were snow sculptures, giant slides, snow maze, and sleigh ride. Besides, food stalls were available on site. Freezing and need some warmth? The “warming tent” was setup with picnic benches in a heated tent!

I enjoyed (getting lost in) the maze and giant slide with friends. It was wonderful to be a kid again ;)

A long lineup for the giant slides.

The long, wide, and extremely slippery giant slides!

A cute snow sculpture with tunnel that allows young kids to crawl through.

The penguin snow sculptures.

Polar bear snow sculpture.

Mini snow castle with a Canadian flag.

Spongebob was invited to the Winterfest?!

The sleigh ride.

We were there for about 2 hours. As we made our way to the exit after all the excitements, we bumped into this warning signage that we should have noticed earlier =D

Skiing is a great sport. It requires body strength, flexibility, and endurance. This is my sixth winter in Canada thus far. I’m an amateur skier who usually visit the ski mountain 2-3 times every season. I’d have gone more often if it’s easily accessible; and having my own ski equipment would help too, I supposed.

Listed below are some tips you may find useful for your upcoming ski trip:

Use ski poles appropriately. They are useful when you need to speed up, do a turn (sometimes), and release skis. Ski poles can also be extremely helpful, as a support to get up after a fall :) You’ll be surprised that good skiers can ski without ski poles! Hence, use them only when needed.

Use hip and leg strength to maneuver skis. Try not to rely so much on ski poles.  

Useful tip for ski beginners to reduce speed: Keep skis with tips pointing each other at a sharp angle, and form a “V” shape.

Ski in a zigzag pattern on steep slope. This allows better control of speed and body balance. Wider zigzag results in a lower speed, and vice versa.

Keep skis in contact with the ground. The moment skis are lifted in the air undesirably, body will most likely lose its balance.

Avoid ice patches. Skiers are prone to losing balance on ice, due to the lower friction between ice and skis.

Prevent ski goggles from fogging up. Moisture from the air or sweat may cause fogging of ski goggles. Hence, try not to rest goggles on forehead (though it looks cool); release of body heat creates moisture that promotes fogging.

Read the signs before proceeding. There are different levels of difficulty and steepness for each trail. Understand the trail map and avoid any unfavourable route, e.g. an expert hill for a ski beginner and a long, flat trail for an advanced skier ;)

Skiing on ungroomed trails can be challenging. Skis often lose its flexibility when covered in snow. Skis are harder to maneuver due to the friction with snow. More often than not, you’re left with no choice but to ski straight down the slope!

Powder snow is great for skiing, especially after a snowstorm! Try to avoid skiing on ice patches or icy snow. It hurts real bad when you fall!

Skating techniques help in mastering skiing skills. It’s easier for someone to learn skiing if he/she already knew how to skate.

Dress appropriately. Ski hat, ski goggles, neck warmer, ski gloves, wind breaker (if not winter jacket), ski pants, and a pair of warm socks. Avoid overdressed. Why? First of all, winter clothing can be rather bulky; it reduces your flexibility. Also, body warms up as you ski. Try to avoid sweating as the moisture will cause freezing in the cold air. Overdressed is as bad as underdressed. Thus, doffing and donning of ski attire according to weather and comfort level as you ski.

Fall safely. Huh? What does it suppose to mean? If you have to fall, fall on the snow rather than bump into the tress. When you lose control of your direction and self-balance, be sure to land on a clear spot.

Ski with a buddy. Anything can happen when you ski. Seek help from your buddy when something goes wrong, especially to pick up skis that are few feet away from where you landed :D

Last but not least, ski with confidence and full concentration. Stay positive and ready to be challenged. After all, you’re just going to stumble on a cushion of white snow, if you lose balance. What’s the big deal?!

Ski safely. Have fun skiing!

Why do I enjoy skiing? I had a previous post entry that may answer this question. My experience from skiing in Banff a month ago was different from skiing at the Crabbe Mountain. Having said that, I enjoyed skiing at both locations.

To me, skiing is not merely a sport. It provides a great insight into building personal development and a wonderful interpretation of life. How? First and foremost, be bold. Downhill skiing is a risky and challenging sport. I’ve had two friends who broke their legs from skiing in the past. I came to realize that it’s all about skiing responsibly while enjoying the fun of it; just as my perspective of life. You don’t avoid doing something just because you’ve to step out from your comfort zone to reach out for it. If you think it’s worthwhile doing and to avoid regrets later in life; by all means, go for it!

The positive attitude in facing new challenges in life. Even though you are informed about the level of difficulty of each trail, you’ve absolutely no idea what to expect. Is it going to be a smooth or bumpy descend? Regardless, you do your level best to overcome what lies ahead of you.

Thirdly, there’s no turning back once a decision is made. You pick the trail, and no matter how steep the slope is or how bumpy the trail is going to be, you’ve no choice but to apply the skills you’ve built up in the past, and move on courageously.

Falling is inevitable. I still remembered the bruises I’ve got during my first few ski trips and the serious muscle soreness I suffered from. The main point is to learn from experience; the more you practise, the better you’ll get. “Practice makes perfect.”

Be independent. There are times when you stumble and fall, you’ll have to get up with your own strength. Reach out for your fallen skis and reattach them to your boots, in order to continue on with your journey.

Take control of yourself. To ski fast or slow, to make a turn or not etc., it’s all up to you! Make use of your own skills to overcome upcoming challenges and not to panic, it’s a positive way to clear the obstacles in life.

Building self-confidence. If you think you’re going to fall; the chances are, you’ll fall! Have trust in yourself in everything you do, and know that you’ll do it well.

Be attentive. A full concentration is required in skiing. There were times where my mind was drifted away when something caught my attention. The next thing I realized was a painful fall!

Perseverance. You maybe exhausted and wanted to give up, but press on with things that you do. The joy of achievement is rewarding!

Lastly, appreciation of life. The beauty of nature becomes apparent, by looking at the surroundings from the top of mountain. The view is gorgeous and breathtaking. After one day of excitement from skiing, I’m glad that I’m still in one piece and be thankful for the enjoyment I’ve had. “Life is good!”

Today’s weather is perfect for skiing! High of -2 °C, low of -8 °C during the day, with sunny periods and light flurries. Honestly, I can’t ask for any better ski day; especially with 27 cm of fresh snow at the mountain for the past three days! It’s too bad that all my ski buddies are unavailable. There I was, got up early and arrived at the Crabbe Mountain around 9:30 a.m. It was about a 45-minute bus ride from the city.

Kids at the ski school were getting ready for their lessons.

Chairlift ride (~ 5 -10 minutes) back to the mountain top.

Each ski trail has a designated colour code, depending on its condition and difficulty. Details can be found in my previous post.

This is an intermediate trail. I skied Dave’s Dream via Upper Dave’s, and met some adorable kids who attended ski lesson.

The King’s Horn! An expert (black diamond) trail with an extremely steep slope at the beginning. I’ve skied on this trail twice with my buddies.

Caution sign!! Too late… There I was, exploring “The Glades” trail cautiously.

Then, I bumped into this trail named “Little Brave.” The condition of this ungroomed trail was quite bad.

And… It was a steep slope too!!

Interestingly, there was a more challenging trail ahead of me. The “War Dance” which has the black diamond code. Looking down the trail… Should I proceed?

You bet! There is no such thing as turning back in downhill skiing. After going through this mess (on left), there was another huge slope (on right).

My next adventure was “Lower Norm’s Nightmare” via the “Tippy Canoe” trail.

The “Norm’s Nightmare” with the intermediate code.

The wide and steep trail ahead of me (left), and what lied behind (right).

My favourite trail at the Crabbe Mountain thus far, is the last stretch of King’s Horn (expert trail) via the first half of Hume’s Flume (intermediate trail). Basically, it provides the level of difficulty that I’m comfortable with; wide and steep slope with barely any ice patches, and well groomed.

Taking a glimpse at the King’s Horn trail while waiting for my chairlift ride.

A snowboarder was making a graceful descend via the King’s Horn trail.

It was one full day of skiing! I skied from 10 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., with an hour lunch break in between. Downhill skiing is always a fun, challenging, and exciting sport! I’m looking forward to another nice winter day with excellent snow condition for my next ski trip ;)

Freddy was covered in white, as a result of the major snowfall (~ 15 cm) from the night before. Of course, this wasn’t as bad as the one we had last Monday. Details can be found in my previous post.

As always, the city transit does a great job in keeping the buses running. However, there is no guarantee that buses will be on time. There I was, standing in the cold at the bus stop (bus stop pole, to be exact) and waiting for the bus. Even though it was -9 ºC in the morning, it felt more like -17 ºC with the wind chill factor (20 km/hr wind speed)! 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes of waiting… The bus hasn’t arrived yet. Finally, I decided to walk to downtown, where the city transit terminal locates. At least, I’d stand a better chance of hopping on the bus there. Great, after all that cold from standing in the wind, another 15-20 minutes of chill to walk. Some of the sidewalks were burried under the snow banks. What to do? I walked by the roadside and hoped that the cars behind won’t bang on me.

Although snowstorm can be disastrous, it’s still not as bad as the icy condition where roads are literally coated with a treacherous sheen of  ice layer. It can be life-threatening to walk, let alone drive. Further information can be found here.

Below are some pictures taken from the bus, on my way to work. How do you like the pretty snow?

The pictures below show the snow-covered entrance of several homes. Imagine yourself trying to open the entrance door to leave home in the morning, and surprised by the amount of snow you’ve got! Can you actually get out of the house?

Snow, freezing rain, blizzard, or strong wind in the winter? If you have to take a pick, which one would you go for? Personally, I’d prefer snow. Walking in the knee-high snow can be very challenging, but it’s nothing compared to the icy road condition mentioned in my previous post.

Furthermore, the weather is relatively mild when it snows. Today, the city of Fredericton had 21 cm of snow, if not more. It was -9 °C in the morning, around -15 °C with wind chill. That wasn’t too bad, considering the freezing cold weather (-34 °C) we had last Friday.

Having said that, heavy snow is always a problem for homeowners and drivers. Shoveling the driveway at home can be a hard chore. Without the city plowing the main roads and highways, and clearing off the sidewalks, no one can get to anywhere… I’m considered lucky that I only have to worry about clear sidewalks. Landlord does the snow plowing outside the apartment, and the city does the snow blowing on sidewalks. As long as the roads are cleared and public transit is operating, I should be able to get to work.

Snow piled high at the parking lot, beside the government building.

Left: Taking heavy steps on my way home. Right: Cars left at the parking lot behind my apartment, are covered in fluffy snow.