Fascinating Ice Formations on Lake Ontario’s Shoreline

ice coated shoreline and trees, lake ontario, ontario, canada, 7

Our winter here in southern Ontario has been a real mixed bag to say the least.  Yoyoing between a series of very warm spells and frigid Arctic air has left us, here in Toronto, with no snow to speak of, and it is now the end of February.  What a surprise then, when Bob and I walked along the shore of Lake Ontario in Whitby, to find the water thick with slab ice and the most fanciful ice formations decorating the shoreline. Read more

Shoreline Ice at Tommy Thompson Park

Shoreline Ice at Tommy Thompson Park

shoreline ice at tommy thompson park, toronto, ontario, 7

On our one and only outing to Tommy Thompson Park this past winter, Bob and I felt like kids let out of school for the summer.  It was a pleasantly warm, sunny day…typical March weather with a persistent wind out of the north that threatened to chill us to the bone if it weren’t for the strong rays of the sun beating down on our backs.  Still, winter had its icy grip on Toronto’s lakeshore. Read more

Ice Climbing In Johnston Canyon At Banff

ice climbing in johnston canyon - banff 5

While visiting Banff National Park,  Bob and I learned of a hiking trail at Johnston Canyon that promised views of frozen waterfalls after traversing the length of a deep river gorge beneath sheer canyon walls.  We knew the experience would be right up our alley.  What we did not anticipate was finding a group of ice climbers actively ice climbing the frozen waters of the Upper Falls. Read more

Crushing through ice aboard a Toronto Island Ferry



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Crushing through ice aboard a Toronto Island Ferry

toronto harbour in the winter

One winter, Bob and I decided to make a trip to Ward’s Island aboard a Toronto Island Ferry in Toronto Harbour.  It is one of 13 in the chain of islands that gives protection to Toronto’s Inner Harbour.  With the winter of 2014 being the longest and coldest in recent memory, the bay separating the mainland from the islands had become totally frozen over.  We thought it would be a neat experience on board the ferry as it negotiated the icy waters on its way to Ward’s Island. Read more

Icy Waves break over Sunnyside breakwater in Toronto

Icy Waves break over Sunnyside breakwater in Toronto

Waves breaking on Lake Ontario at Sunnyside in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

On a winter morning, Bob and I left our house to scope out Colonel Samuel Smith Park at the edge of Lake Ontario.  We were on the hunt for some Snowy Owls that had been seen there a couple of days earlier.  We had no idea that, later that same day, surging waves driven by gale-force winds would be battering the Toronto waterfront. Read more