On Your Doorstep Issue 6 | Page 31

I immersed myself in this landscape for nine exhilarating Skyline Trail without seeing another soul. I sat at empty look- days. Photographically it was a bonanza; I came away with offs for hours, soaking up the winter vistas. And pondering almost 1,500 images. Admittedly many were of the “Yay, I their future. I couldn’t help wondering, given the ominous Found Winter!” holiday snap variety, but others are more trajectory of global warming, whether I will be able to find enduring. My favourites are those that evoke winter’s wide- winter here in March a decade from now? And if not, will ranging moods and sense of infinite space. anyone else mourn its loss? Anyone who has visited Cape Breton during the Celtic My nine days passed all too quickly. The time came to Colours Festival in October will know that its scenic hairpin gather up my camera, cat and bags and return to the brown highways can resemble a geriatric conga line. So it may be world back at home. As I closed the cottage door and set off hard to imagine that in March I was able to stop my car down the highway, I smiled at the happy irony as huge soft anywhere along the road – often in the middle of the road – snowflakes began to fall. to set up my camera. I hiked for a whole day on the popular Twig Ballet: Magic on a forest trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park 31