The leaves disappeared quickly but the early sun still painted a streak of gold by the river.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-October-light-1024x768.jpg)
The last of the willow leaves looked like lanterns.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/25-lantern-leavevs-1024x904.jpg)
Now we were getting frosts. The single-paned windows on my new deck shelter created wonderful patterns. They never happen on the double glazing.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-window-frost-1024x768.jpg)
And the low sun set off rainbow sparkles.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-fairy-lights-3-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-fairy-lights-2-1024x768.jpg)
Unsettled weather produced lurid sunrises.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/5-sunrise-1024x768.jpg)
And bits of snow on the mountains.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6-snow-dusting-1024x768.jpg)
Sometimes there was unmitigated gloom
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7-storm-1024x768.jpg)
And sometimes rainbows.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8-rainbow-1-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9-rainbow-2-768x1024.jpg)
I went to Bella Coola to pick up some groceries. The distance is a little less than going to Williams Lake, but it takes just as long – and is a much more interesting drive. East of the Bella Coola Hill is Green River. Even in the coldest weather it never completely freezes.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10-green-river-1024x814.jpg)
I was surprised to see goldenrod still blooming at the top of The Hill.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/11-goldenrod-768x1024.jpg)
Down through last summer’s burn
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/12-through-burn-1024x768.jpg)
The fall light was rich and created strong shadows.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/13-strong-shadow-1024x768.jpg)
There were still some fall colours at the bottom.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/16-valley-bottom-1024x768.jpg)
Vine-leafed maple.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/17-vine-maple-1024x690.jpg)
A lot of the valley gets no sun in winter because of the high south wall. Humidity is excessive down there and as bits of sun hit surfaces they steamed.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/18-mist-rising-1024x768.jpg)
This is the blueberry patch!
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/19-blueberries-1024x783.jpg)
And here is McCall’s Flats looking north.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/20-McCall-Flats-768x1024.jpg)
Back home, we had a small snowfall. The pond was trying to freeze.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/21-snow-and-pond-1-2-ice-1024x768.jpg)
A lone muskrat tried to sit on the ice. He kept breaking through. I have not seen so many muskrats this year.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/22-muskrat-647x1024.jpg)
The weather continued mild but it was often foggy and frosty.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/24-frosty-sunrise-1024x663.jpg)
The sunset point had often been hidden by cloud, but on this day, at the end of October, I could see that it had cleared Nogwon and was heading for Middle Mountain.
![](https://www.wildernessdweller.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/23-Oct-2-1024x810.jpg)