27 December

 The east coast of central Vancouver Island rarely experiences heavy snowfall.  That has been particularly true this season, although  an accumulation is now building on Mount Arrowsmith and the Beaufort Range.  

The coastal towns of Parksville and Qualicum Beach have received what the Weather Office now calls "wintry mix,"  unpleasant combinations of rain and ice, but there have been minimal accumulations of snow.   As the land rises in from the coast, there have been minor accumulations.  Hamilton Wetlands and Forest is 88m above sea level-- sufficiently high to have received a bit of snow in the past days.   

Bundled up against the chilly weather, we made our way to the path through the forest.  The downed logs across the path remain, now coated with snow.

I have legs that have left me wondering whether there might be Corgis in my ancestry.  Stepping over snow-coated logs becomes --um--well, perhaps I can just say that  it renders me alert.  Woooh!  Brrr!!! And I wind up walking funny.  

A very audible but not visible flock of trumpeter swans flew over.  They sounded more like trumpets than I have recalled in the past.  I wish there were a more effective way of recording them than I have.   This recording from the MacAulay Library doesn't really do them justice. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/647737130  The birds who flew over yesterday sounded jubilant.  

The Marsh had a skim of ice on it, which retained the snow that had fallen.

The dock was sufficiently icy that I suggested that we forego the usual trip to the bench at its end.  My walking partner, who almost certainly could have navigated the ice, was a good sport, and we made our way back through the forest.