Sept. 4th ... start of trip to Alberta & Saskatchewan

On our first day of the trip we drove the Hope-Princeton Hwy., through Osoyoos and on to Grand Forks. We stayed at a lovely B&B - Riverbend - on the Kettle River. With morning breakfast on the terrace, we watched a deer wade the river and a Mengesser take a bath.
We visited Emilie, a FAN friend and had a look at her wonderful quilts, including 'Poppies'. Among other awards, 'Poppies' was chosen as one of the best quilts of the Century.

Grand forks is a farm and ranchland area. There are many heritage buildings, for example the old court house.

Shortly after leaving Grand Forks, we were into mixed forest with lumber mills.

Lunch found us at Castlegar and a Dukabor restaurant with excellent food.Perched on the top of a hill is a Dukabor village with many of the original buildings. The Dukabors were a group from Russia who had decided they would have nothing more to do with war.

When the Zhar of Russia sent them guns, they burned them. Lenin and Tolstoy supported them and assisted in their move to Canada. They settled in Saskatchewan and some in British Columbia. The Dukabors lived in cooperative communities and were excellent farmers. There was a splinter group of extremists called the 'Sons of Freedom' who drew a lot of attention in the 60's & 70's when they set fire to the property of Dukabors who they saw as leaving the prime directives of the religion. For the most part, Dukabors are wonderful people who believe in peace and live a simple life.
From here we headed east to Cranbrook. We learned to check our maps - there were two branches in the road and we drove through some wonderful scenery, but were an hour late arriving at our destination.

We had a wonderful but short visit with friends from high school. This couple met in grade 10 and married after university. Linda introduced us to two wonderful quilters. Unfortunately, the only photos I took were of Linda's wonderful new kitchenOur next project is to re-do our 30+ year old kitchen!

Kootney Park

Leaving Cranbrook, we drove up a beautiful valley running through Kootney Park.
This is the less travelled road - Hwy 93. Along the way is Invermere and Radium, known for its hot springs.

Without signs of explanation, the road led through a tall canyon. I believe this is the Vermillion River.

Looking north, south and straight up.

It appears that the river runs under the road to emerge from the southern edge and plunge down a canyon.
Emerging from the canyon, the next amazing land feature is the 'Paint Pots'. Historically the native peoples from miles around used the iron oxide pigments from this cliff.

Shortly after that, are mountains laid desolute by the fires of 2003.
Among the charred stumps fireweed arises and blooms with great abandonment. Fireweed is the first plant to regrow after a fire.

And, then the Marble Canyon!

The water has carved through the rock to form a canyon and left a landbridge.
On one side of the creek, the burnt wood faces young trees that escaped the fires.

Onward to the north and the mountains turn rugged.

The storm clears and Canmore is just around the mountain!

Canmore, Alberta Area

Canmore, historically was a coal mining town. When we went through on our honeymoon in the 60's, there were small bungalo houses, a few stores, a gas station and a new motel. We stayed in the motel and did the tourist tour in Banff.

You cannot help but be aware of the huge mountains of solid rock, very different from the tree covered coastal mountains.
I have read about large lakes formed after the glaciers started to melt. Ice dams would break and send massive amounts of water down the valleys, carving deeply. I wonder if this was a 'spillway'?
Canmore today is an upscale town, a destination for winter holidays and retirement homes. It boasts nearby downhill and cross country skiing.

The Bow River snakes along the valley with pathways to walk. Mountain trails are well developed. The view is from Goat Mt.
The Seven Sister Mountains stretch like a spine along the valley.

The Nordic center for the Calgary Olympic games is located near Canmore.

We had a wonderful visit with my brother and a dinner with friends we hadn't seen for 32 years!

Banff, Alberta & gondola up Sulphur Mt.

Banff is a tourist town in Banff National Park, located in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.

One of the main attractions is the nearby Sulphur Mountain.
There is a breathtaking ride in a gondola to the top where a gift shop & restaurant perch on a view point.
From the viewpoint, the town of Banff is spread below with its world famous CPR hotel and hot springs From the viewpoint, you trek up a wooden 'trail' with platforms and stairs. The view is 360 degrees of mountains.
Saucy Wiskey Jacks will steal a sandwich that is unguarded.

This is me, about half-way up. It is an easy climb that takes 2-3 hours (return).
Once again, looking down at Banff.

Here is the destination of the climb. There has been a station here for many years. It measures radiation from space.

The mountain rocks are seabed that has been thrust up as the earth cooled and as forces pushed from within the core. Click on photo to read.

The trees are amazing, they grow out of the rock cliffs ... some make it and some don't!

The sky is the bluest of blues! Little ground squirrels collect the seeds from trees that are heavy with brown cones.

This truly is the 'big Alberta sky' in all its wonder!

Banff and Sulphur Mountain are known worldwide as a 'must see' destination.

from Canmore to Pincher Creek

We leave Canmore and travel south - Hwy. 40, 541 to Longview and 22 to Pincer Creek.The Rocky Mountains are in the backround, turquoise glacial lakes dot the area around Kananaskas Park.
Close examination of the cliffs show how the ancient seabed was twisted and heaved thousands of feet in the air. Notice the size of the trees (double click for enlargement)

Rocky Mountain sheep come down to eat mineral rich soil near the road.

The mark of past avalanches is the flattened areas with low growing brush, instead of evergreens.

Snow dusts the mountains and small plants glow golden, lime green and rust.

Soon the Rockies are replaced with the foothills and as we drive east, flatten into the 'endless' prarie.

Throughout Alberta, these oil wells constantly pump 'black gold'.

Head Smashed in Buffallo Jump

There was a time when buffallo ranged in herds of thousands over the prairie. The earth shook when they stampeded. The native tribes met in the fall to organize a stampede that would push the buffallo over this cliff. They would then strip the carcass of meat for winter food, robes for warmth, bones for implements. the meat was dried, pounded to powder and mixed with berries and fat to make pemican. This mixture kept for months. White explorers would not have suvived without it.

Head Smached in Buffallo Jump is a world class heritage site with an interpretive center built into the cliff. The life and times of the Pegain indians is displayed. Winter counts were recorded: who was there, their success and leaders.

Unfortunately, we have only small herds today. Ranchers didn't want the buffallo. With the building of the railroad, people hung out of the windows and shot these incredible animals. they were left to rot. The food source of the North American Prairie Indians was virtually wiped out!

Ian Tyson

Ian Tyson has a ranch in the Longview, Alberta area and a coffee shop called the Navaho Mug.

Also in Longview, the largest wagon wheel collection I've seen!