June 24 - One Year On

It’s been just over one year since the southern Alberta flood disaster. In June 2013, heavy rainfall brought melting snow from the mountain peaks in the west of the province to the valleys and rivers below. The trickling mountain streams engorged to become widened chasms and the torrent of water with its accompaniment of rocks and boulders, tree branches and indeed whole tree trunks, and other debris, spilled over into a raging and unprecedented flood in the southern part of Alberta. Many areas suffered intense damage with swollen rivers overflowing their banks. The muddy floodwaters even spread along the city streets of Calgary. Nevertheless, High River was probably the worst hit and to some extent restoration continues to the present day.

At the time of this disaster, Lyle and I were camping in the Kananaskis Valley. The light rain that began in the late afternoon turned to a heavy downpour overnight and by morning the roads leading out of the William Watson Lodge were washed away in several different locations. I remember the feeling of being cut off from everything – no cell phone coverage and no Internet. Before the day was out, the rain had turned to snow and it was cold. There was a grizzly and her two cubs in the area so walking too far afield wasn’t an especially good idea either.  Probably the worst feeling for all of us was the lack of communication and the uncertainty of our situation. At the time we had no real idea of the extent of the damage the floodwaters were causing in other areas. Along with other campers Lyle and I were eventually evacuated from the area by army helicopter. It was another seventeen days before we were allowed back to retrieve our motor home.

This past weekend, just one year and a few days later, we returned to Kananaskis for another camping weekend. This time we were very cautious in checking and rechecking the weather forecasts, and we also decided to stay at the northern end of the valley. In spite of all this, there were eerie reminders of the 2013 disaster.

For the most part, the landscape in the valley was green, but as we crossed the few bridges into the park there was definite evidence of what had been. The widened path of water under the bridges remained scattered with rubble, stone and gravel. There was a sign by the entrance to the previously spectacular 18-hole golf course announcing that it was now closed.  Shortly after we had set up camp, we heard the rumble of a distant avalanche. At one point, we heard the distinctive thump of the rotating blades of a sightseeing helicopter overhead reminding me of the army copters which had flown over and around our isolated campground of twelve months ago.

It was good to go back but our 2013 experience, and I am sure that of others who were around southern Alberta at the time of the floods, is a reminder of the force and unpredictability of Mother Nature. I am including a few pictures with this post.  The first two were taken at this same time last year.

Snow in the mountains - June, 2013

Aerial view taken from the helicopter over Kananaskis Golf course, June 2013

   

View of mountains, This year in Kananaskis, June 2014

June 14 - Follow-up

Following my last post, I had some interesting comments on my email. As you might recall I wrote that our thought processes are quite often prejudiced by our first visual impressions. It had not really occurred to me that I probably make similar judgements based on the sound I hear in another person’s voice.

Jill pointed this out when she wrote about the TV reality show, The Voice. Although I’m not especially familiar with this show, I gather that the four judges aren’t able to see the contestants when they audition but have to make their decision as to quality of the performance based on the voice alone. Jill wrote that as a viewer she found herself trying to anticipate both the appearance and personality of the performer based on the sound of the voice.

I suppose that I do a similar thing when I meet someone for the first time. Does the voice of the other person sound officious, too shy, impatient, too loud, too soft, accented, slurred, and the list goes on. What do I think when I hear these differences? I know that I often form an impression of another person based on their voice.

Taking this to yet another level – just this past week I heard another interesting comment. My friend, Joyce, was giving a blind friend a hug. Her friendship with this person was long standing but not close physically. As they hugged, the blind friend burst out, “Oh Joyce, I didn’t know that you were so short! I wonder if height and weight also influence our way of thinking about others?

I guess that touch – a handshake or a hug for instance – can also leave us with a first impression and perhaps an accompanying prejudice. For instance, I usually think of a limp handshake as a sign of a weak personality. Once, someone explained to me that perhaps the failure to crush my hand in a firm grip might be a sign of respect, or even warmth. In spite of this explanation, I find it difficult to rid myself of my initial reaction.

Truthfully I’m not sure where I am going with all this. I suppose that one personal outcome of my reflections is that I should be more cautious about judging a book by its cover. A second might be to strive more intentionally to create a good first impression when I meet others for the first time.

June 10 - First Impressions

First impressions of others are often influenced by what we see. Subconsciously our brains take into account every visual aspect. Even without thinking, we notice things like skin colour, height, weight, attire, facial expression.  Probably most of us are totally unaware of this little prejudice.

I have just finished listening to Blink, The power of Thinking without Thinking, an audio book by Malcolm Gladwell. In one section he describes the measured reactions to facial expressions. In particular, Gladwell explores how certain movements and emotions can be anticipated as we observe the movement of particular facial muscles.

I suppose that I found this section especially interesting because I can’t see faces even at close range, I can’t observe those changing facial expressions. I wonder if this puts me at an advantage or a disadvantage. I am freed from the prejudice of judging others by their physical appearance. The way I see it, (no pun intended!) that is an advantage. However, the inability to read facial expressions can also put us at a disadvantage when it comes to reading the mood of a conversation or discussion. Certainly for those of us who can’t see, we need to be more sensitive to voice tones as we try to read social situations more accurately.

All this has just been my thoughts of the week. Interesting to mull over but not something to dwell on ad infinatum.