Slow walking in Dunbar

It's business as usual in the lower parts of Vancouver, where salt, sun and proximity to the water have left streets and sidewalks summertime-clear. But hike up the Dunbar hill, where I live, and you're in winter -- testimony to the difference a bit of elevation makes. Even though the sun was shining when I went for a walk on Thursday, there were plenty of places where I was repeating my mantra for walking on ice: If you're hardly moving when you fall, how badly can it hurt after all? It was a very slow walk. Here are some photos of my own personal winter wonderland:

 Climbing back up the Dunbar hill at the end of my walk, I came across this tree bejeweled with icicles. Making it even better was the pink glow of the late-afternoon sun shining on the mountains behind. A sight like this makes up for a lot of very cautious walking on icy streets.

A scary sight for a pedestrian. A layer  of ice runs all along the front of this property, as if someone had let loose with a hose. Maybe a sprinkler system went awry in the cold weather?

And here's a nearby intersection. It would be good to have good grips on your shoes and winter tires on your car.

Like Dunbar, the North Shore mountains in the distance are sporting a coat of snow.

Green lawns and clear sidewalks are common at lower elevations, although there is still snow on the boulevard of this street. 

I photographed this snow fort a few days ago. It was built of blocks of snow, with holes for sighting the enemy. Some kids had a lot of fun.

A fallen snowman in Balaclava Park, a photo from a few days ago.

Here's what Balaclava Park, a few blocks from where I live, looked like after the snow first fell about a week ago.