OK, at least there’s still ice.

Thanks to this incredible warm streak, the snow is pretty much gone. From the high vantage point offered by my little drone, I could see a few patches of snow on Gladys Ridge and, of course, the mountains. Canola stubble held the most snow for some reason.

But the dark shapes of the Porcupine Hills on the far horizon looked bare, and so did the flat lands further south. The only bright spot was the thin strip of white that I knew was Frank Lake.

And that was ice.

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The day was very spring-like, a bit overcast but warm. There was no wind despite the chinook clouds that spread overhead, and as I stood at the side of the road controlling the drone, I could smell the damp soil in the fields around me. I half-expected to hear a robin break into song.

It looked a little more wintry down along the Little Bow River. The river itself was mostly frozen but with a few breaks here and there. More snow tucked into the shady parts of the steep banks where the warm sun couldn’t get at it. Still, there was meltwater on top of the ice, and, looking down from the bridge I was on, I could see the ice had that leathery look it gets just before it falls apart.

The fields were completely bare of snow, though. I found a couple of mule deer bucks lazing around not far from the river, and they likely wouldn’t have bothered to get up if a whitetail doe hadn’t bounded by. Their antlers looked worn out, dry, and chalky. They’ll be dropping off soon, I’m sure.

Below the Twin Valley Dam, the Little........

© Calgary Herald