Lethbridge Photography Studio, Photography Courses, Photo Printing & Exploring
Exploring blog with the White Turtle. Exploring can be a single day trip or multi day trips to many locations. Tag along as I head out in the White Turtle to in search of amazing images. I exploring our great country and taking pictures at the same time is GREAT!!!
Mud Flaps
Back in December I ordered a set of mud flaps for the White Turtle III. It was actually the van’s Christmas present. They arrived a week into the cold snap that we had and I was not going to try installing them at -30 or -50. So today all the ice and snow melted in the driveway and it was warm enough to install.
Read moreMud Flaps – White Turtle III
RV Heat
RV heat that magical thing that can turn a cold night into a toasty warm experience and make the great outdoors seem a lot more tame. When I wrote about cold weather camping I wanted to include more information on furnaces but it was quickly getting off topic. So I decided that I would write just about RV heat. There is a lot of misinformation about RV furnaces so I want to dispelled some of the myths.
WindRiver Outfitting winter boot update
Well it has been a while since I got my new boots. So I thought it would be time for an update. I did not want to test them in really cold weather, I would have enjoyed a warmer winter, but that is why I bought them so they did get tested.
If I was to rate them on a scale of 1 – 10 I would have to give them 10.
Once they got through the break-in period, or should I say once my feet got through the break-in, they fit really well. They have AMAZING traction. In fact now that I wear them out for a walks the shoes that I usually wear feel very slippery. On snow and ice they have amazing traction.
As for warmth. In -35C I can stand in one place and my feet stay perfectly warm. I do not need to moving my toes or shift around my feet are warm. As warm as at home with the heat on and wearing slippers. When walking they are also perfectly toasty warm. This is great if you are a photographer and you need stand for a while shooting. With warm feet you will not be rushing to get the shot and get back inside.
One thing that I really like is that there is a pull strap on the back of the boots to help pull on. It is not needed but sure is nice to have. Makes pulling on very simple.
So are the boots worth the money that they cost? YES and more. I do not mind paying more money for something that does what it says. These boots do that and more.
Now my issue is that I need to make sure that I carry them with me. I went shooting the other day and forgot them at home. WHAT a difference trying to shoot with cold feet! These are also great to carry if traveling. If you had any car troubles and had these boots with you your feet would be warm till you got rescued. I would also take these if you were camping in cold weather as part of an emergency kit.
Read up on cold weather clothes.
Ice fishing, another way to pass the winter!
I have never been ice fishing. But if I was to go it would be inside one of these amazing huts! Truth be told I am not big into fishing even in warm weather. In my books stopping at a grocery store to pick-up your fish is easier and more enjoyable. But that is me.
This past weekend with the slight break in the frigid temperatures I decided that I would head out. I wanted to see what I could find worth taking pictures of. There was a lot to shoot. It was not what I was expecting but there was a lot!
My first stop was at McQuillan Reservoir. In a very short walk I found a number of subjects to photograph. From the ice fishing tents, the animal tracks to some rabbits and a few birds it was a fun day. Cannot say that I got to walk very far as the slight breeze that was blowing was enough to make it painful to stay out. But with so many subjects to photograph I had to take pictures. It is also funny how after a number of days of clouds that a day of even a little sun makes being outside enjoyable.
So I tried doing a test for groundhog day and that did not work. I tried convincing my Gopher and Marmot subjects to come out for a picture this morning and they turned me down. So to make the prediction for southern Alberta I went outside to see if I could see my shadow. The result is that I did not see my shadow! I did get snowed on and I did get frost bite, but no shadow.
So seeing that I could not get a picture of anything close to a groundhog on this cold snowy morning here are a couple pictures from past years when it was warmer.
This gopher had built it’s home in a huge pile of dirt. One of the exits was about 8′ off the ground giving it a view that the other gophers envied.
Suppose to be a cold and snowy weekend. Cannot complain so far this winter with what we have had. I don’t hate snow pictures but we can have spring any time now 🙂 . The good part is when I am shooting with the White Turtle III I have the heat on so I can warm up when I get back.
McQuillan Reservoir, Coaldale
It is hard to believe that the same area that is so cold and lifeless today will take on an entire new look once winter leaves us. I cannot wait!!! I hope spring brings some rain. I do not want a flood just some warm rains to bring the life back.
Hopefully once spring and then summer shows up we will not get the smoke like in the past years. Really need to have a clear summer as the past two have been really smokey.
Canon 70D Sigma 150-600 @546mm
400 ISO F9 1/1000
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