In late fall and again in late winter when snows cover the hills, we can go for a walk/hike on the wide winter beaches of our rivers.   There is a wide sand beach at Mission Flats Nature Park  across from the airport.   Check the direction of the wind before heading there since the settling ponds of Domtar have strong fumes, so if the wind is blowing from  the east, go somewhere else.  On a fall day with the wind out of the west on a grey day, I drove to the parking lot and walked through the forest out to the beach.

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Buried in the sand are the remains of a red car.

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Along the river shoreline was a layer of ice, shaped by melting and winds blowing waves onto the sand.   The river takes on shades of silver in the grey filtered light.   

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Air pockets, bubbles, and fracture lines form in the ice.

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The sun broke through the cloud layer and illuminated the cottonwoods on the Rivers Trail.

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At the west end of the area, the beach narrows down past this small bay.   We can walk on the sand all the way to the landfill dump turn and back. 

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The sand banks get shaped by waves as the river recedes and leaves the patterns for us to enjoy.

 

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On the way back on a forest trail, 3 bald eagles flew overhead watching for their next meal.   Two of them settled on branches, watching below for signs of movement. 

 

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The walk/hike loop was 3 km, taking about an hour (but photo stops added more time).   While on the beach, there was no one else around but some seagulls, crows, and geese.  I will be back to check out the ice ridges that form in late winter once the snow starts to melt.