As the tide goes out, the ice  covering a briny tidal creek collapses, leaving  patterned cracks. Minette Bay, Kitimat January 1. 2016. (Robin Rowland)

I spent New Year’s Day on the mudflats of Minette Bay, near Kitimat, with other local photographers.   At low tide,  of course.   Ruth and Howard Mills who run the luxury B&B the Minette Bay Lodge invited us for the photo walk on the ice and mud followed by  hot soup and great New Year’s snacks.

Most of my images look best in black and white.  There are few in colour at the end of the blog.

Looking across Minette Bay with Kitimat’s iconic Mt. Elizabeth in the background.  Just after noon the water was just a couple  of centimetres deep, covered in thin layers of ice.  The cold made the mud solid enough so that it wouldn’t be boot grabbing ooze you experience in the summer. January 1, 2016 (Robin Rowland)

The beach, covered in seaweed, snow and old logs looking west from the trail,  January 1, 2016. (Robin Rowland)

Looking west toward Douglas Channel, and the Rio Tinto aluminum plant with the winter sun low over the hills to the south. January 1, 2016. (Robin Rowland)

The twisted roots of a dead tree lying on the beach in some ways reminded me of the Iron Throne. Game of Stumps, anyone? (Robin Rowland)

Walking back to the lodge along the creek trail. January 1, 2016. (Robin Rowland)

Another angle on the creek from a bridge a little further along the trail. (Robin Rowland)

Ice on a chunk of rotten log on the mudflats. January 1, 2016. (Robin Rowland)

An ice crystal floats on the thin layer of water on top of the frozen mud. (Robin Rowland)

The winter sun shines through the rain forest. January 1, 2016. (Robin Rowland)

Happy New Year! Kitimat’s photographers celebrate in the middle of a day on the ice. (Robin Rowland)