Brown Lowery February 5, 2026

When I walked out my door at 7:20am this morning, the temperature was at +12 Celsius accompanied by a strong warm wind.  I debated whether I was over-dressed yet knew it's always colder further out into the foothills. Well, it was not colder when I arrived at the parking lot for Brown Lowery Provincial Park.  Then I thought I will leave my layers on because it will be colder in the forest where the sun does not shine. Well, it was not colder in the forest!  

It's been five years since I hiked here.  Many trees were downed yet recently cut to clear the trail. The trail was mostly clear of snow but had lots of ice so I was thankful for having my spikes with me.  Intermittently I looked up to see those wispy clouds that I love so much.  

All the while, I too looked for birds. I heard many but was not able to spot them, or if I did they were too quick to snap shots of.  A herd of deer probably heard me from far off as my spikes were rather noisy on the ice.  This one was curious enough to come for a closer look.  It monitored me until I was long gone further up the hill.  

trail near the summit of the hill

When I reached the top, a few Canada Jays (also known as a Whisky Jack) flew in for a visit. 

This is the back view of one perched on a tree close by.  

The plan was to spend a little time here at the Lookout. 

I dropped my backpack then pulled out snacks and the thermos.  

Before settling in, I made sure to capture a location selfie. I kept the hat on to keep my hair under control, it was certainly not needed for warmth.  I could not layer down my top any further but eventually pushed the sleeves up.  My winter hiking boots were way to warm.  

My beverage was coffee mixed with hot chocolate!  

The winds gusts were not constant which allowed me to get all the beverage into the cup.

Many squirrels of various species scurried about, this one stayed put!

male White-winged Crossbill

Canada Jay

female White-winged Crossbill

By the time I completed the loop and arrived back at my vehicle, I was a hot mess of sweat.  The temperature showed +18C which means another day of record breaking.  When I arrived home after the hour drive, I quickly delayered and cleaned up. It was time to open all the windows in my home and let the fresh air blow through.   

With these winds along with the high temperatures, with no moisture of any kind for days on end and none in the forecast, a fire advisory has been put in place.