Last day before the winter gates closed

This was our destination yesterday, 30 November 2013, when I went with a birding friend to Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, again. A week ago, we had been there, hoping to be able to find a White-tailed Ptarmigan, with no luck. Same story yesterday : ) We parked at the Ptarmigan Cirque parking area on Highway 40 and walked some distance in the area seen in this image, on very deep snow that had a hard crust on it. Every few steps, down I went, crashing through the snow up to my knees. I think it has to be my least favourite surface to walk on! We had one brief moment of excitement when Tony spotted what looked exactly like a Ptarmigan beneath one of the very distant trees. Even when I zoomed in on my camera, I could have sworn I saw the tail end and the head end, lol. However, it turned out to be a lump of snow that must have fallen from a branch. These birds are extremely difficult to find!! This was our last chance to visit the area again, as today, the winter gates across Highway 40 close and don't open again till next June 15th.

Highwood Pass is the highest drivable pass in Canada, at 7239 ft. (2206 m.) This road is Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country, Alberta south of Calgary. The road is closed from 1st December to 15th June every year to facilitate elk, big horn sheep, deer and moose doing their spring grazing during that time. As well, with spring babies being born, predators are attracted to the area.