Central Alberta Gems

Siffleur Falls - a family hike in beautiful David Thompson Country

9/2/2019

For the past two years, I have been somewhat immobilized due to a back injury that resulted in a spinal stenosis condition. That ailment caused debilitating nerve damage and muscle atrophy, particularly in my right leg. I had even taken to using a cane when I went on my seven-week journey to the east coast last year as I knew it would involve a lot of walking. The cane helped considerably but wasn’t practical for more vigorous activities such as downhill skiing and hiking. So, I have had to put those undertakings on hold, for now. I did have back surgery in March am now on the path to recovery. My surgeon told me that nerves heal at a rate of about one millimeter/day. Pretty slow, I thought.

The reason I mention my mobility issue is to emphasize the ease of a hike I challenged myself to a couple of weeks ago, Siffleur Falls located in my favorite mountain region, David Thompson Country. I had done this hike years ago and knew that it would be a suitable trail to test my stamina on. Siffleur Falls is located on the David Thompson Highway (hwy. 11), about 200 kms. West of Rocky Mt. House. This popular trek is suitable for all levels of hikers, including families with young children. The trail is flat most of the way with a bit of a steep climb when you get closer to the falls. Not a deal breaker, even for me. The trail is not well marked by signage and there are a few side trails that go to – I don’t know where, but if you stay on the main path, you’ll make it in and out with no problem.

I trekked to the falls viewpoint which is approximately a 10 km., round trip. At the falls, there are three viewing decks with guard rails from which visitors get a great view of the chutes and falls and the neighboring topography. I was compelled to stop several times to shoot the striking scenes I spotted along the way. On another day, I would have continued to the other two sets of falls further down the trail, but I decided that I had pushed my abilities far enough for my first outing in a long time so headed back to the trail head. The trail is open year-round, and I hope to do a winter hike to the falls, which will be soon, I think.

Things to remember. Always carry bear spray when trekking anywhere into the bush. There was a sign warning of a bear in the area on the Siffleur Falls trail. I have even taken to carry my bear spray when stepping a few feet off the highway to photograph an interesting scene, and for a good reason which I’ll share here.

A few years ago, while traveling on the David Thompson highway, not far from the Siffleur Falls trail head, I spotted a scene that I wanted to photograph. It was a mountain scene beyond an area of burned trees in a clearing of hip high wildflowers and grass. I didn’t carry bear spray then, but I did have bear bangers. I considered taking them with me but decided that it wouldn’t be necessary as I was only going to be about fifty feet from my Jeep. So, I toddled through the ditch, walked into the field and set up my tripod. After about twenty minutes, I packed up and went back to my vehicle. When I looked back, I was surprised to see a small black bear pop its head up above the wildflowers, only a few feet from where I was standing. The little guy was probably scared crapless wondering what harm this two-legged creature was going to befall it. I then remembered seeing a big black bear and her two cubs in that same area the year before. I deduced the small bear looking back at me was one of those cubs recently liberated from its mother’s care, now a scary thought considering mom might still be around. In the safety of my vehicle, that thinking was quickly replaced by the new scene that presented itself. The little black bear popping its head just over the wildflowers would have been an awesome shot. The problem. At that time, I only had one camera body and it had the wrong lens attached to get the shot. In my haste to change to the proper lens, the little bear had begun walking towards my Jeep. Before I could do the lens change, the bear had made it through the ditch and brushed the bumper of my Jeep as it sauntered into the bush on the opposite side of the road. Albeit a cool experience, it instilled in me not to be complacent when visiting their (all wildlife) domain.

I know that experienced hikers are mindful of the need to pack properly, even for a day hike. About half-way to the falls, it appeared that I might be caught in a thunderstorm. I even considered turning back but decided to keep on going. Luckily, the storm held off. Packing appropriate clothing for all weather conditions is always something to keep in mind. And, carry water and snacks. A couple of energy bars helped me get through the day.

If you are just getting back into hiking or you are planning your first venture into the wilds of Alberta, the Siffleur Falls hike is the ideal trek for you. There are many campsites in the area and off-road camping is allowed. There are some great camping spots right on the Saskatchewan River, but you need to know where to pull off the highway to get to them. The shore of Abraham Lake is always dotted with tents and small trailers. Nordegg is the closest town where you can get camping supplies, fuel etc. or you could drive to the end of highway 11 to the Saskatchewan Crossing. It’s all good. Be safe and enjoy David Thompson Country.

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Prairie Adventures

8/18/2019

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Karen Wahlund - manager of the Stettler Town and Country Museum

When I moved to Alberta in 1975, I straightaway became a mountain kinda guy—quite natural considering the Rockies are only a couple of hours west of Red Deer. To this day, every weekend camping trip, overnight getaway and multi-day road trip has taken me in that direction. I’d never really considered exploring the flat lands to the east. Despite that, there has always been something about the prairies that appealed to me. Maybe it’s the sense of freedom that I associate with the wide-open expanse or possibly my inquisitive nature. Whenever I do travel across the prairies and I see a silo or farm building off in the distance, I wonder what brought the folks that built them to that place. How did they end up living and thriving in what some would say is the middle of no-where?

A recent trip to Stettler, AB., (about a one-hour drive east of Red Deer), to watch my grandson play baseball got me thinking that I should venture out that way more often. I did, in-fact, work for the Stettler Independent newspaper for about 6 months back in the early 90’s as a staff photographer/reporter, so that seemed like a good place to start. And I do enjoy visiting museums in small rural communities where you can learn about the history of the area, and in some cases, discover that you are part of that history. So, I ventured out on a solo overnighter to start exploring.

The Stettler Town and Country Museum

The Stettler Town and Country Museum bills itself as the fifth largest pioneer village in Alberta. It is laid out as an outdoor walking tour featuring many original historical buildings inside of which the history of Stettler is presented through countless documents and artifacts specific to the area. Relics in the four old schoolhouses, the Lakeview church and the 1910 farmhouse provide visitors insight into everyday life in rural Alberta in the early twentieth century. The smell inside the harness shop is as pungent as it would have been in 1910. I could imagine myself listening for the whistle of the steam train as it approached the station or watching the operator as she sat in her hard-backed wooden chair plugging wires into the switchboard and maybe even eavesdropping in on her neighbor’s phone calls. I’ve probably said it before, but I think I was born one-hundred years too late. I don’t believe for a minute that life was easy then, at least by today’s standards with our technology and conveniences. But it was simpler.

Although tiny and somewhat primitive looking, the craftsmanship that went into building the log home at the Estonian Settlement exhibit is quite amazing. The story enlightens visitors about the first immigrants from Estonia who fled oppression to find freedom, land and prosperity in Alberta.

The history of the Stettler Independent newspaper is housed in a building that contains documents detailing the origins of the paper as well as artifacts like the old linotype type setting machine. Back in the day, linotype was considered state of the art and significantly streamlined the tedious process of printing newspapers and magazines.

I mentioned that sometimes one might discover that he’s part of the history when touring these exhibits of days-gone-by. I noted that I did work for the Stettler Independent newspaper in the early 90’s. While touring the building that housed sports memorabilia, I noticed a newspaper clipping reporting the story of two high school boys heading off to play in a badminton tournament in Edmonton. I spotted the author of the story as the newspaper’s editor during the time that I worked there. Although the photograph did not have a credit attached, I immediately recognized it as one of my own. Pretty cool, I thought.

www.stettlermuseum.com

Young volunteers, Brooklyn Chapman, Raina Wilson and Tynan Whiteside spruce up displays on the streets of Big Valley.

Big Valley

Big Valley is a small community (population about 350), located 35 kilometers south of Stettler (about 100 km south east of Red Deer, AB). In 1920, the population of Big Valley was more than twice what it is today due to coal mining in the area and the stock yards needed to support the numerous cattle ranches around Big Valley. Because Big Valley was such an economic region, it also became a major hub for the railroad including maintenance and repair facilities. Big Valley was also a place I enjoyed visiting while working for the Independent newspaper.

Just prior to commencing employment with the Independent, the Stettler arena burned down forcing hockey teams to find another venue. That was Big Valley and I travelled there frequently to photograph the games. One cold, stormy rainy night, I showed up in Big Valley well before game time and decided to snoop around looking for something to shoot. I came across an old church on a hill just on the outskirts of town and decided it would be a good subject. It was a spooky scene--the cross on top of the steeple glowed eerily in the dark as the rain poured down. I’ll admit that I was a bit jumpy when I got out of my vehicle and started walking up to the church. I set my camera on a tripod, opened up the lens and started doing random off camera flashing around the church. My activities attracted some attention because people started yelling from the bottom of the hill, wondering what was going on. They told me afterwards that it was an eerie and scary sight to behold. The Saint Edmunds church was built in 1911 and although currently in need of repair is still in use. Oh ya, I did get a great shot of the church with its steeple glowing brightly in the dark and my editor did publish it. That was back in the days of film and I will have to go looking for the negative someday.

If you read about rodeo photographer, Ken Marcinkoski in the Everyone has a Story section of hiddengemcanada, I mentioned there that my initial encounter with Ken was while shooting my first rodeo in 1994 in Big Valley, on assignment for the Independent. I’ve photographed many rodeos since, but I did learn a lot about being around the action just from watching Ken that day.

After leaving the Independent all those years ago, I hadn’t been back to Big Valley but thought about visiting that community many times. I finally made it back.

Okay, back to museums and attractions. Big Valley itself is a walking tour with attractions all around the core of the village.

There are three museums, a privately-owned museum called the Creation Science Museum and two museums operated by the Big Valley Historical Society, the McAlister Motors Museum and the Vintage Tool Museum. On the day I arrived in Big Valley, the doors to the creation museum and the vintage tool museum were locked. The McAlister Museum (it’s housed in an old automotive garage) was, however, open so I did get a chance to wonder through.

The McAlister Motors museum is quite small but houses many local artifacts as well as some restored vehicles and old tools. It was a quick walk through but interesting none-the-less and is an essential stop in the complete tour of the village.

I would have been interested in visiting the creation museum to see what evidence they presented that opposed biological evolution. I’m sure that it wouldn’t change my personal thoughts on the subject, but I’ll not debate that here.

Other points of interest in Big Valley are the railway station, which houses a museum and the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame and is also the final destination of the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion that departs from Stettler (a whole story for the site in itself), the working grain elevator, the roadhouse (the ruins of the locomotive servicing shops), the oil well pumper display, St. Edmunds Church (I already talked about that) the Big Valley jailhouse and the Jimmy Jock Boardwalk, which is where I had lunch and met the Boardwalk Bistro owners, Tom and Tanya Plante.

For a small village, Big Valley has a lot to offer. Whether you’re out for a day trip or need over night accommodation, Big Valley is one place not to be overlooked.

www.villageofbigvalley.ca

Bert, our driver from the Reynolds Museum to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.

The Reynolds Museum

A couple of weeks following my solo tour to Stettler and Big Valley, my grandson, Phoenix and I ventured out on another overnight expedition to the east country. Our objectives for that trip, the Pow Wow at the Samson Cree Nation and the Reynolds museum in Wetaskiwin. I will write about the Pow Wow in a separate blog.

I had visited the Reynolds museum many years ago and considered it to be worthy of a return trip. The museum houses and extensive collection of vintage vehicles, farm equipment and other artifacts that reveal the advancement of technology over many years. The museum also houses its own restoration facility capable of refurbishing everything from the smallest farm implement to vintage vehicles to the largest tractor.

Some will not be old enough to remember, but the mock up of a drive-in theater brought back fond memories for me. When I was young, I recall doing all-nighters at drive-in with my family, when they would show three or four movies in a row. On those nights, I probably fell asleep in the back seat before the second movie ended. When I was old enough to go with my friends, we would load as many in the trunk of whose ever car we took that night and hopefully not get searched at the pay booth. I only recall maybe one time that we got busted. I would love to see the return of the drive-in theater.

The museum is also host to many events, from vintage motorcycle events to the harvest festival. Areas of the museum can be rented for events such as weddings and conferences.

Another major attraction is Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, located in its own building and on the same property as the museum. This facility holds an impressive exhibit of vintage planes, some so delicate looking that it’s hard to imagine them in flight. The histories of aviation pioneers and the stories of more modern aviators including those Canadians that have travelled to space provide some interesting reading for visitors.

For details on these two great attractions, go to the following websites. In short, the Reynolds Museum and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame should be included in your travel Alberta itinerary.

www.reynoldsmuseum.ca

www.cahf.ca

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Sundre Museum and World of Wildlife - an essential addition to your day trip itinerary.

8/13/2018

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Volunteer Ruth Hahn threads her loom

I made my first visit to the Sundre Museum a couple of years ago. I was so impressed I went back for a second visit within a month and just recently made my third visit, this time with family in tow.

When you drive up to the museum and get your first glimpse of the unremarkable building, you might not have high expectations of what you’ll find inside. In-fact, both of my travelling companions commented at how small the building looked. I’m certain they were wondering why they agreed to make the one hour drive. It wasn’t long before their doubt waned, however, once we commenced touring the museum.

The museum is divided into three areas: the Pioneer Gallery, the Pioneer Village and the World of Wildlife exhibit.

The Pioneer Gallery features a well organized display of artifacts and household room arrangements that provide visitors a detailed glimpse of how the early settlers in the area lived and contributed to the development of the community. From cowboys to doctors, lumber camps to spinning wheels, the museum has a sample of everything.

If you hit the right day you’ll meet volunteer, Ruth Hahn who’ll demonstrate the old way of making tea towels on one of her looms. I was amazed at the amount of time it took just to string the various coloured threads onto the loom. On this day, Ruth had enough thread on the loom to make thirty tea towels. Ruth estimates that once the tedious work is done and the loom starts doing its magic, it works out to only about an hour-and-a-half overall to make one towel. Not bad for what we now consider an archaic apparatus. The loom was used extensively by the early pioneers to make fabrics for everything from clothing to curtains.

The Pioneer Village is a four acre site that houses eight heritage buildings, farm machinery and implements. Imagine children sitting at their wooden desks as you stroll through the old school house or a trapper living for months at a time in the small trapper’s cabin. Bring a picnic lunch and relax awhile on the village grounds.

On some days at the blacksmith shop, you’ll get to see bladesmith, David Borys meticulously poking and turning a red hot metal rod in his forge, getting it ready for the anvil where in due course, he gets it pounded into the rough shape of a blade. When David is done heating and pounding, the metal rod is eventually crafted into a stunning and functional blade. David will explain the process and you can also purchase one of his creations at the general store.

The Pioneer Gallery and the Pioneer Village are, on their own, good reasons to visit the Sundre Museum. There is, however, one other attraction that sets this museum apart and that is the World of Wildlife Exhibit. The first time I entered this room I was absolutely blown away by the quantity, quality and diversity of wildlife mounts displayed there. Not just that, the way they are presented makes this a world class exhibit. The mounts represent wildlife from many countries including Africa and Canada and are displayed in well designed reproductions of their natural environments. This exhibit on its own is well worth the price of admission.

Details on the origins of the World of Wildlife exhibit are well documented at the exhibit as well as on the museum’s website. The museum offers a number of services including school and seniors programs and facility rentals. Information on these services is also on the website.

www.sundremuseum.com

I recommend a visit to this museum to everyone. I know that my travelling companions were very impressed. I knew they would be.

David Borys at the forge

Pounding out the shape

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Paskapoo Park and Historical Museum - Rimbey, AB.

7/28/2018

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My tour of the Paskapoo Park Museum started with me approaching a young lady riding a lawn mower. When I presented my stamped ticket to her, Whitney, a young summer student, immediately changed roles from grounds keeper to tour guide. I have been to Rimbey many times but never took the time to learn about its history. Whitney did a first-rate job educating me.

For instance, when this central Alberta town officially became a community in 1902, it was named Kansas Ridge because many of the settlers living there were from Kansas. Due to a conflict with another community of the same name, the town’s name was changed in 1904 to Rimbey in honour of the three Rimbey brothers that originally settled the area.

Another interesting story that Whitney conveyed was how the Blindman River acquired its name. Whitney provided that in the mid-1700’s, explorer Anthony Henday and his Cree guides were travelling in the area during the winter and became snow blind due to the harsh reflection coming off the snow. So the story goes, the party sat on the banks of the river while recovering and the Cree named it Pas-ka-poo, which translates to blindman.

The Paskapoo Park Historical Museum & Smithson International Truck Exhibit can be found in the small town of Rimbey, located about 60 km’s northwest of Red Deer, AB. Over the years the park accumulated ten historical buildings and placed them on the ten acre site. These buildings are filled with artifacts chronicling life of days gone by in the Rimbey area.

One might argue that once you’ve seen one small town museum you’ve seen them all, that Rimbey’s 1908 church or the 1920 barber shop is no different from buildings found at other exhibits. So what’s the point of visiting more than one?
For me, I never get tired of imagining what life was like for the people that settled this country, the simple log dwellings they called home and the tools they used. And, every small community has its own unique history and personal accounts of the people that lived there.

Whitney told me of one man’s story as we toured the original homesteader cottage. It was a sad story. In 1932, Felix Edlund, a Swedish miner, started building what was to be his and his fiancées dream home, a small one bedroom cabin. Felix worked hard hewing and setting the logs and wanted everything to be perfect for his young bride to be. Unfortunately for Felix, his fiancée wasn’t a patient woman and left him because he was taking too long to finish the cabin. She not only left Felix, she left the area. Heartbroken, Felix abandoned the nearly completed project and left Rimbey. The unfinished cabin remained on its original site until the 1970’s when new owners of the land donated it to the museum. It was moved to the museum’s ten acre site where windows and a door were installed to complete the build.

My intention for travelling to Rimbey was to visit the Smithson International Truck museum. It was only after I arrived did I realize the extent of the museums historical displays. It was a pleasant surprise.

www.rimbey.com/visiting-rimbey/pas-ka-poo-park

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Smithson International Truck Exhibit - Rimbey, AB.

7/28/2018

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Jim Schneider-Volunteer

The Smithson International Truck Museum is a remarkable exhibit at the Paskapoo Park Historical Museum grounds. Even if you are not a transportation enthusiast, you will still be amazed at the time, expense and labour that Ken Smithson put into this display of every model, all nineteen, of International trucks made by the International Harvester Company.

The International Harvester Company began building half-ton trucks in 1935 and discontinued manufacturing them in 1974. Despite almost 40 years of production, there were only 19 models as they did not change models every year like most vehicle manufacturers do. Every truck is painted in authentic colours.

As you stroll down the line of trucks, you can read the placards placed in front of each one detailing its history; where and when it was purchased and from whom. This information also includes details of how the truck was restored as well as other interesting tidbits.

One such story that caught my eye was posted for the 1956 model. This truck was used by a professional painter and was splattered with paint of many colours. It also had a couple of serious dents on top of the cab. When Ken asked the seller how these dents occurred, he was told this.

“The previous owner had tried to drive it into a shed and found the entrance too low. So he turned around and tried to back it in. It was still too low.”

Volunteer, Jim Schneider has worked at the Smithson International Truck Museum for four years and he does know his stuff. Jim stated that he has worked on all 19 trucks in some capacity noting that most of the trucks run and would be driveable. In-fact, some of these vehicles are still used in parades.

Over all, a trip to Paskapoo Park Historical Museum & Smithson International Truck Exhibit is one family friendly destination that should be on your list of places to visit when travelling this area of Alberta

Click to find--Smithson International Truck Museum

www.rimbey.com/

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David Thompson Country

7/18/2018

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David Thompson Country is located in West Central Alberta and encompasses all of Clearwater County. The area that I am most familiar with is the stretch of highway 11, officially named the David Thompson Highway, from Red Deer through Rocky Mountain House to Nordegg and ending at the Banff Park boundary at the Saskatchewan Crossing.

If you were to drive straight through from Red Deer to Rocky Mountain House and on to the the Crossing, the trip would take about 3 hours. If you do travel that route, you will undoubtedly want to stop and participate in some of the adventures offered along the way. I would suggest stopping for a few nights at one of the many provincial campgrounds or find a random camping spot on the North Saskatchewan River. A popular overnight stop for travellers, particularly those pulling large trailers or travelling in motor homes is Preachers Point. Preachers Point is located about 60 km. southwest of Nordegg. It is a large open area right off the highway and there is no charge for camping there. The perfect spot from which to stage your daily adventures.

On that drive you would observe the transition from prairie to foothills to the towering eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. I have heard it said, and I agree, that this area is one of the jewels of the Rocky Mountains. When I first moved to Alberta in the mid 1970's, this particular stretch of road was not high on the list of places to go, mainly I think because people just didn’t know much about it. Over the years, however, it has become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. I frequently take this route when I travel to Lake Louise or Banff as it connects to Highway 93 at the Saskatchewan Crossing. I have also photographed many bears and other wildlife on this route.

The stretch between Rocky Mt. House and the Saskatchewan Crossing is where you’ll find much of the outdoor recreational hotspots. There are numerous provincial campgrounds right off the highway as well as random camping along the way. I have found beautiful random camping spots back in the bush and right on the Saskatchewan River.

For the hiking enthusiast, there are countless marked trails for every level of hiker. I was recently at Crescent Falls and did the short hike to a location from where you can view the upper and lower falls. This is a family hike suitable for small children. Other hikes are more vertical in nature and would require some planning. There are tour companies that offer guided hikes on many of the routes. One such company is Pursuit Adventures out of Red Deer. Due to years of wear and tear on my body, my preference now is to explore the back country on horseback. I have already posted a review of my favourite outfitter, McKenzie’s Trails West, but there are other outfitters in David Thompson Country that offer that adventure.

The abundance of activities and outdoor adventures to be found just along this stretch of the David Thompson Highway are too numerous to list. You will surely want to take in the mine tour at Nordegg—I’ll talk about that in another post.

I mentioned above that I am most familiar with the David Thompson Highway portion of David Thompson Country. One of my favorite camping spots, however, is deeper into the heart of DTC. Peppers Lake is a provincial campground located just over an hour southwest of Rocky Mountain House and only about a half-hour to the Ram River Falls Provincial Park. If you are lucky enough to arrive at Peppers Lake at the right time, you might get one of the four spots overlooking the lake. There is nothing more peaceful than listening to the sounds of loons in the evening and as the sun rises.

Here are some websites that you will find helpful when travelling to David Thompson Country:

www.davidthompsoncountry.ca
www.playoutsideguide.com/2016/09/camping-in-david-thompson-corridor.html
www.albertaparks.ca

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McKenzie's Trails West

7/18/2018

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Wilderness Horseback Adventures - www.mctrails.com

In my opinion, you will not find a more friendly group of people anywhere than the folks at McKenzie's Trails West. I frequently travel to David Thompson Country and have stopped by the family run guiding and outfitting operation numerous times, sometimes just to chat and of course, sometimes to ride. As soon as you step out of your vehicle and are greeted by Shelly, her husband Kelly or any one of the guides, you instantly feel welcomed and you instinctively know that you are in for a safe and enjoyable adventure. These people truly are great ambassadors for the tourism industry in Alberta.

I have done the one hour ride and the three hour canyon lunch ride and am looking forward to doing the half day and multi day trips. Once I have done a multi day trip, I will be better able to report on that adventure and in particular, the photo opportunities that I'm told are abundant in the back country. Right now I can only imagine scenes of crisp blue lakes, fast flowing rivers and majestic waterfalls all framed in the ruggedness of the Rocky Mountains. And, with some luck, a grizzly bear gorging in a berry patch, a moose browsing low hanging tree branches or bighorn sheep traversing steep cliffs. Better yet, two bighorns butting horns. Cougars, elk, eagles, deer, mountain goats, black bears. They're all out there.

The things that I do know for sure, the guides at McKenzie's Trails West are friendly, extremely knowledgeable, accommodating and they clearly love what they do. The horses are gentle and well trained and the scenery on every ride is awesome. The view of Abraham Lake from high on the trail is breathtaking. And it's no mystery why that is. McKenzie's Trails West is located in one of the most beautiful, albiet less frequently visited regions in the Rocky Mountains. This area I know as David Thompson Country is located between Nordegg and the Banff Park boundary at the Saskatchewan Crossing.

Specifically, McKenzie's Trails West is located on highway 11 near the mouth of the Cline River (45 km. southwest of Nordegg) and directly across the highway from the David Thompson Resort. The check-in cabin is just a short drive up the lane. McKenzie's Trails West can accommodate everyone from the experienced rider to the nervous beginner. Even the youngest of riders can experience the thrill with a pony ride.

To see all of the adventures and activities that McKenzie's Trails West has to offer and to book your trip, check out their website at www.mctrails.com

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Nordegg Mine Tour

7/18/2018

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Whenever I travel the David Thompson Highway I always stop in Nordegg, a small mountain community of about 200 people, 90 km west of Rocky Mt. House. Sometimes I stay for lunch and sometimes I just grab a coffee for the road. No matter why I stop, I always sense an energy there, I suspect due to the fact that Nordegg was once a thriving and bustling mining town with a population of about 2500 people. For as many times as I have been in Nordegg, I had never done the mine tour until a couple of weeks ago.

When our guide, Amanda, met our party at the locked gate blocking the road leading up to the mine, I was keen on finally going on the tour but I didn’t have high expectations of what we would encounter when we got there. When I stepped out of the vehicle and took a cursory look around the site, however, I became a little more excited. Most of the structures, albeit dilapidated from age and from years of looting, immediately evoked that feeling of energy that Nordegg has always given me. And when we started our walking tour around the site and Amanda commenced telling the history of the mine and of the town site, I could imagine the flurry of activity as workers did their jobs in the various shops and as young boys ran around running errands and conveying messages. The energy was strong and I wished I could have been there back in the day.

When the mine permanently closed in 1955, Nordegg become no more than a ghost town. Over the years, however, the area slowly became a popular destination for hikers, campers, fishermen, hunters and all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts. Now, many more people visit the area and, although not the bustling town it was during the mining days, it is a busy stop for campers stocking up and tourists visiting the area. From what I understand, there are plans to develop Nordegg to promote it as a major tourist destination.

As for the mine tour, when planning a trip to the area it is an absolute must if you are really interested in learning about the history of the town. Amanda was courteous and knowledgeable and I left with a whole new perspective of this town that I have visited frequently over the years. You will also want to visit the miner’s café for a piece of their famous pie as well as the attached gift shop that promotes local crafts and art.

Visit the following websites for more information on the mine tour and times:

http:/www.travelnordegg.com
http://www.unlockthepast.ca

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Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary

7/17/2018

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Most people that I know are either fervent admirer’s of the wolf or at the very least, curious about this elusive and often misunderstood creature. Most, however, are not aware that for years wolves have been bred with our most loyal pet, the dog. So, as a wolf groupie, would you like to know more about this phenomenon? If so, you need to visit the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary located on highway 1A, about 15 minutes west of Cochrane, AB. (about an hour east of Banff).

I have visited the sanctuary a number of times and learned much about these timid creatures whose origins are thought to date back to fur farms where they were bred for their pelts. Executive Director, Georgina De Caigny explained that it was the captive bred tame wolf that was bred with dogs to create some of the most common wolfdog bloodlines we see today.

Georgina grew up near Canmore, AB. and worked at a sled dog kennel near that town. That’s where she first encountered wolfdogs and in 2009, she adopted one of her own. That’s when she realized that she wanted to pursue her passion for wolfdog rescue. In 2011, Georgina started Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary on a small property near Canmore with the goal of creating a safe haven for displaced wolfdogs and stand up against the myths surrounding them. Then, in 2015, she was able to move her organization to a 160 acre plot just outside of Cochrane where she can now house more rescued wolfdogs and invite people to tour the sanctuary.

Georgina explained that as the popularity of wolfdogs as pets became more popular in Canada, she identified a need for a knowledgeable and experienced rescue organization that would make the rehabilitation and re-homing of displaced wolfdogs a priority. The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary is not only one of the largest sanctuaries within Canada, but one of the only sanctuaries to balance educational programs with a highly successful adoption program too. Approximately 50% of wolfdogs come to the sanctuary as owner surrenders, the other half are transferred from other rescues and shelters.

The number of wolfdogs that can be accommodated at the sanctuary depends on the number of enclosures that are set up. The last time I visited, there were 18 wolfdogs but due to expansion the sanctuary can now house upwards of 30 animals.
Visitors can take a self-guided tour or book one of the guided tours offered at the sanctuary. There is also an interactive tour where you can enjoy an up close and intimate look at wolves and wolfdogs.

To learn more about the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary and tour times, visit their website at: www.yamnuskawolfdogsanctuary.com

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Fallentimber Meadery

6/19/2017

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Fallentimber Meadery

www.fallentimbermeadery.ca

“Great mead starts with great honey.”

When I had first heard about Fallentimber Meadery earlier this year and then had the opportunity to visit, I must admit, I didn’t have very high expectations. I envisioned showing up to a charming little farmstead in the middle of nowhere to watch an enthusiastic but uninteresting farmer stir a big pot of boiling brew while nervously trying to explain the ancient art of mead making. Tour over. That image was reinforced even as we turned off of the gravel road and onto the long, narrow, tree lined lane heading deeper into the woods to what I was sure would be a backwoods still at best. A place that I would normally take the time to visit? Not likely, but this trip was necessary.

So, it was not only an unexpected surprise but a real treat when I stepped into the showroom, complete with bar, where the variety of products made at the meadery were displayed and eagerly sampled. And to top that off, I was totally taken aback when I looked through a viewing window and saw the large silver vats used to make the mead. A real brewery.

As it turns out, the Ryan family has been in the bee keeping business since 1969. While Kevin Ryan looks after the bee keeping and honey collection side of things, son Nathan takes care of the mead making operation. On a second visit to the meadery, Nathan told me that his father collected a record 58,000 pounds of the sweet stuff last year. 58,000 pounds of honey is a lot of honey. From that, they make bees wax candles and the mead. Oh ya, and they sell the finest, tastiest unpasteurized honey I have ever eaten. And I do love my honey. Like the old lady says, “I put that shit on everything."

During that second visit I had the opportunity to observe Nathan and his crew mixing up a batch if his newest flavour, Meadjito—honey, mint and lime. And yes, it’s Nathan’s interpretation of the mojito. Delicious and refreshing. I’m sipping one as I write.

If all of that wasn’t enough, you can book the grounds for private functions or attend the annual concert.

Bottom line, if you live in Central Alberta or are visiting this area and are looking for things to do, a day trip to the Fallentimber Meadery should be on your list. Check the website – http://www.fallentimbermeadery.ca – for a full list of activities, products and directions. You won't be disappointed.

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