Nature happens and it does not care about your plans. Go with the flow and remember to create a plan b and c.
In the photo above, you can see a haze looming over the mountains within the San Juan National Forest. We could even smell the smoke as we hiked higher in elevation to reach Ice Lake. The Ice Lakes basin's beauty was not diminished because of the neighboring wild fire near Durango.
Planning ahead can help but some weather patterns can be fickle and certain natural disasters cannot be detected. Best practices are to research the area, decide when you want to visit, look up the average temperatures and weather for that time, and then look at TripAdvisor or another travel site. Then take what you researched and apply that to your planning and packing list. This can work for most places, but make sure you plan for the unexpected.
"Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy - your work becomes a dance with light and the weather. It takes you to a place within yourself." - Annie Leibovitz
Predictable Storms
By predictable I mean the type of storms that are being actively tracked by meteorologists. If you are traveling during tornado season and you aren’t a storm chaser, I would make sure to check the weather forecast even the day prior to your departure. Same thing applies for hurricanes and monsoons. Imagine if you did not do any research about a place and end up traveling during monsoon season. Talk about a trip ruined unless you plan on doing some dancing in the rain with an umbrella. We got lucky when we traveled to Colorado in July because monsoon season was approaching and there was a good chance we would get caught in the rain. We kept a close eye on the weather app and made sure to pack the appropriate attire.
Unpredictable Nature
There is a coin toss on this one. Some nature events can be monitored and people can be alerted to a possible threat, but for the most part it isn’t foolproof. There is no “Earthquake Season”, “Fire Season”, "Volcanic Eruption Season" for you to track. These things just happen. I experienced an earthquake in California and had our Colorado trip change because of a wild fire. We did not let these events prevent us from having a great vacation. (More on my Colorado trip soon!) Earthquakes are a little harder to schedule around, for obvious reasons. I experienced an earthquake in San Francisco last year and did not realize it was one until I got the news alert thirty minutes after the fact. My only advice for earthquakes, fires, and eruptions is to make sure you know how to react when it is happening. Look up the steps to ensure your safety and know what to do in case of an emergency. You and your travel partners will be grateful! Don’t let Mother Nature Stop you
The Earth is constantly on the move. Go with the flow and if you experience something like an earthquake on your trip, you at least have an additional story to tell. There is no planning around some events and the best you can do is be aware of the possibility of a natural disaster. Plenty of people travel to Hawaii where they have numerous active volcanoes. People still go, and don’t let that threat get in their way because they want to relax on the beach with a drink in hand and their toes in the sand. Travel is all about perspective. If you only think about the negatives you tend to forget the positives.
I can't even imagine what the historic Quebec City looks like during warmer months. I think the city comes to life in the winter and becomes a true winter wonderland. Sometimes the weather enhances your experience!
Location and Time of Year
Sometimes traveling during specific times of the year will enhance your experience. I traveled to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada at the end of November/early December. Snow was on the ground, the temperatures were incredibly low, and everyone was wearing snow gear just to walk around. The true magic of Quebec City is heightened during the winter. They have so many fun winter activities for people to enjoy. When else could you explore an Ice Hotel, ride down a toboggan sled, eat maple taffy, and walk down a storybook road as if you were strolling through a French town. If we had visited during the summer, I don't think we would have fallen in love with the city in the same way. Even though the threat of a snowstorm was possible, we made sure to take advantage of every single moment.
What I hope you take away from this is to put your concerns to the side, but don’t ignore them. Use your planning skills and research to choose the best location for that timeframe. Then plan for option B and C in case something major and unpredictable happens. You will feel less disappointed and overall happier because you would still be able to spend time on vacation.
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