The lakes along Torrey Creek are beginning to freeze.   The small, often overlooked Lake Julia appeared to be covered completely with a thin sheet of ice. Since there is no public access and it’s too far to throw a rock, I wasn’t able to verify that observation. The eight trumpeter swans in residence last week were air borne when I arrived, stark white against the pale blue dawn sky.  I suppose they have moved to open water on one of the larger lakes not yet frozen. Torrey, Ring and Trail Lakes were in various stages of freeze; feathery crystals forming around the edges (except at the inlets) inching stealthily toward deeper water. Although the wind was howling down the main valley, it was perfectly still along the lakes and their fragile coating was undisturbed. Higher up at Lake Louise that was not the case; the transparent, wafer-thin, razor-edged shards had piled up in a creaking, scintillating mass between granite walls at the narrow outlet. Winter is not far off from these lands.  

 ~Ellen Vanuga