back to Baja Day 1 - Oct. 31 2011 weather drama and larch fest

The sun was coming up when we left at 7:30 a.m, but the sky became darker and ominous as we passed Purple Springs and watched a big weather system winding south to the Sweet Grass Hills. We had a touch of snow at Taber and our stop in Coaldale, it was wet, cool and breezy. Our favourite bakery was closed Monday, so we checked in at the Subway next door for a quick snack and the once over by the coffee row regulars.

From the Fort Macleod Petrocan, we could see the weather drama forming over the Porcupine Hills and it seemd we were heading ever further into the black heart of Mordor. The mountains shone white in the distance and, so if we could just get through the fog, snow, rain and possible icy roads around Pincher Creek, we hoped for milder weather in the protection of the Crowsnest Pass.

Once into the pass, the wind picked up at Island Lake, the temperature warmed to 5C, the skies opened and the tamaracks & larches revealed their secret fall beauty for the next 3 hours over Little Fairy Creek, Little Lizard Creek, and the Kinsgate border crossing (where Vida and a friendly customs officer had a stare down that ended in a bark-fest).

We ended the day at Ritzville, Washinton after a beautiiful drive through every shade of fall leaves  on the way through Bonner's Ferry, Coeur d'Alene and Spokane with Jesse Cook, Tom Cochrane and Colin James.