Friday, August 29, 2008

Snow Patrol

There's Powder On Them Thar Hills (Already)

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


This photograph should give you a clue as to my whereabouts today. If you want a few extra seconds to work it out, let me give you some more information. I'm not in Melbourne. I'm not even in Australia. Have a good look at the traffic in this scene (I took the shot through the windscreen of a four-wheel drive) and you'll notice that we're driving on the right-hand side of the road.

Did you say the United States? Not quite. I'm in northern Canada, in the Yukon, a place that touched my soul the first time I came here, nine years ago. I left Melbourne before dawn on Wednesday morning, flew to Sydney on Qantas and caught an Air Canada flight to Vancouver before catching a connecting flight further north to Whitehorse, capital city of the Yukon.

There's something very special about seeing sunrise twice in one day, over two different countries. I saw one dawn as I flew from Melbourne to Sydney, and then I was privileged to witness Wednesday start all over again with soft tinges in the sky just before we landed in Vancouver.

Here in the Yukon, the colours are starting to change already. You know you're in a cold place when the captain announces the impending touchdown by telling you the temperature in Whitehorse is (and I quote) "Plus nine degrees". And so here I am in paradise, surrounded by mountains and as the low cloud starts to clear just after I arrive, I suddenly see that the first snow has already fallen.

Let's just call it a personal welcome-home sign.

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

46 comments:

Unknown said...

snow really makes me miss living in the north. what mountain is that?

gorgeous pictures...

aims said...

Wow David! You're in the Yukon?

I left at comment about you over on mine - go have a look.

Texas Travelers said...

Great post. Terrific photos.

Martha and I may live in Texas, but part of our heart is in the Yukon Territory.

Nice "Sky Watch" today.
Come visit, The Fire Storm.
Troy and Martha

PS: I found the e-mail and we will send it in this weekend w/ photo

Louise said...

You go from winter to impending winter. That's fine. I like winter. Especially snowy ones, and I LOVE snow on mountains no matter when it is. Beautiful.

Deb said...

EWitnessing two sunrises in one day truly is a gift! I am so not ready for summer to leave us yet here in New England. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

great pictures. We have had snow on our peaks too.

Leslie: said...

Glad to hear you made it safe and sound! It's a miserable rainy day here today and my toes are so cold even with socks on that I'm tempted to turn on the furnace. But I refuse! It's still August! Looking forward to seeing lots more photos of our Canadian North. :)

Millennium Housewife said...

Beautiful David, does two sunsets mean two breakfasts? MH

Millennium Housewife said...

OK, I meant sunrises, but you got my a-drift MH

Anonymous said...

Beautiful snowy mountains and skies. I imagine it was an awesome feeling to get to see two sunrises in one day.

EatPlayLove said...

we are graced with snow capped peaks nearly year round here in Colorado. It's wonderful to glance up on a sweltering day and see snow off on the horizon.

Pretty Life Online said...

Perfect catch for Skywatch! Mine's up too hope you can drop by.... Happy weekend!

Photo Cache said...

Beautiful. Snow covered peaks are always a delight to see.

imac said...

Holidaying again David?? You're as bad as me.lol.

Great shot- as usual, love the mountains, have a great time.

Pat - Arkansas said...

My goodness! You *do* get around! Enjoy your stay in the Yukon, and take lots of photos -- as if you would not. :)

Brad Myers said...

Great photos, I am not ready for snow just yet.

cheshire wife said...

In England we haven't seen a sunrise or a sunset for days. Just grey sky.

Pappy said...

Brrrrr. Add a zero and you have our average temp at this time of year. Pappy

Lee said...

Those look lovely, David. But I wouldn't want temperature that close to zero. Hope you're having a good time.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

You really get around David! enjoy the Yukon!

Cath said...

Ah David that is a beautiful sight. I knew where you were because of a visitor to my site as well as your own words. There is always something beautiful and majestic to me about mountains, particularly those with that powdery substance as their crown.

Great shots. And to see two sunrises on the same day - awesome. I always knew you secretly managed to cram 36 hours into our 24. ;0)

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

Beautiful shots! Goodness me... sunsets in two countries. Awesome!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Snow what is this snow you talk of! Nice crisp clean image. We seem to have had one long season of rain, no snow no sun.

lime said...

9 degrees, wow, you made a shiver go up my spine. fahrenheit or centigrade?

Kelly said...

We had fun trying to guess where you were! We decided that this would be a great blog game for someone to have...Give clues and make people guess where you are! Anyway, as usual, wonderful photos! The snow capped mountains are stunning! Yukon Canada looks like a wonderful place to go! We loved your post and enjoy going on your travels with you!

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

Wow! Good for that you are someplace special. And from your photos it is very special place to be. Very nice and enjoy yourself. Lisa

Kahshe Cottager said...

Oh my David, how lucky to see sunrise twice in one day! But then, if you stay long enough you will get to see the midnight sun too! Please tell them to keep the snow there - I can do without it this year!

My Sky Watch Photos are posted Here and Here

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Have a safe trip!

Anonymous said...

David, I felt exhausted just reading of your journey. That's a long, long way to fly. Get some rest! The snow will still be there tomorrow. ;-}

Cathy said...

Awesome photos. Have a good trip

Berni said...

I thought that looked as if it could be close to home. Have a wonderful time I hope the weather is a bit better up there than here it has turned quite cold, Fall is on the way.

Arija said...

If only I could still fly in monster planes I'd have joined you. I too am a cold regions person exiled to Adelaide.
Lovely s
now, love Canada.

Maggie May said...

You certainly do get to see some lovely places. Beautiful scenery!

jmb said...

Welcome to my part of the world. It's very much like Autumn, even in Vancouver and we had to put the heat on the other day briefly, in August for heaven's sake. Have a good stay.

gaz said...

2 in 1 day... nice!
looking forward to more shots from the northern hemisphere.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Love both pics! But that first one really fascinates me! The clouds seem to reflect the shape of the snow-capped mountain (or vice-versa)!

TwD said...

Congratulate!
I know what is to travel like that - two sunsets...and to discover the loved landscapes again...

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

David: A beautiful magicestic view of our 50th state. Thanks for sharing this great view.

Hilary said...

Ahh welcome back to Canada, eh? It'll be wonderful to see the north and west from your camera eye.

i beati said...

absolutely stunning!!exhilarating

marcia@joyismygoal said...

Wow i want to be there

Daryl said...

I so wish Air Canada had been more cooperative ... I digress .. these are as always perfection

:-Daryl

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous, and great this time of year when there aren't so many pictures of snow.

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Awesome! But I'm not quite ready for cold....I think the Yukon can just keep it awhile longer.

DeniseinVA said...

The Yukon is a place I don't know much about and I have enjoyed learning and traveling to it through your photos. Beautiful!

Jo Beaufoix said...

That was beautiful David. I would love to go there. Just having a catch up read and this post really struck me.