The Other Saskatchewan

I am vertically challenged.

Yes, I am physically short, but I also do not like being high up. I do my best to stay clear of standing on anything taller than my shoulders.  And don’t forget how short that is.

You would think that Saskatchewan would be an ideal place for me to hike. Everyone knows what the quintessential prairie province looks like, right? Flat.

No humps or bumps and definitely no cliffs or steep slopes.

So imagine my dismay when our daughter showed us the highlights of her province. High, being the operative word.

We camped at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park – as if there hadn’t been enough bison in our lives recently. But at least these hairy residents were tucked in behind tall fences, and observed at a distance.

This park is situated along a river, in the southern, and flatter, part of the province. But the river carved a few hills along its route. And it was these hills that we got to hike on.

Up and down we went, not a flat piece of earth anywhere. 

Nothing too terribly steep, but at one spot at least, the downward slope was such that I worried if I slipped, I wouldn't stop rolling until tomorrow.

Hubby and daughter were kind enough to leave me behind for the next hike. Castle Butte is a large hill of sandstone and clay, but it is craggy and steep, and I’m glad I stayed home in my cozy tent. For some reason, they seemed to enjoy the scramble to the top and the view of their tiny car at the bottom. I find it ironic that they had to drive over flat farmland to get to it.

Being in the prairies, it meant that when the weather changed, we could see it coming and act accordingly.  In other words, head for the car and keep ourselves dry. 

In fact, we headed for the underground. 

Someone in the city of Moose Jaw was smart enough to realize that outdoors was not a place to be when winter hits Saskatchewan. So, many years ago, under the downtown of the city they created tunnels to get across the streets and from one building to another. 

There is now a company that demonstrates what else the tunnels were used for in the past decades. They have recreated an old Chinese laundry, with bunkhouses and workrooms, and carefully explained the prejudice faced by these immigrants in the late 1800’s. Then they showcased the gangster life of the 20’s when Al Capone took the train from Chicago. They had hidden doors and staircases, and a tunnel behind a fireplace. 

Now, this is where I'm comfortable! 

I didn’t even have to duck under the doorways.

W

Scat

As an individual, I am not normally into scatology. But while hiking in the wilderness, it really is the best way to know what creatures are around that have their eyes on you.

At Elk Island National Park in Alberta we shared the woods with, surprisingly enough, not elk but plains bison. These big animals are almost as numerous as the mosquitoes. We hiked 21 km over 2 days and you really had to watch where you put your feet.

It was like taking a stroll in a cow field. With really big cows. But we knew for sure that they were around us.

Our first sighting of bison was along the road, a single bull grazing by the campground entrance.

Whether in a herd or alone, these park kings are totally unconcerned about anyone else’s agenda. They will stroll across the road at will, and regardless of traffic will get to the other side and immediately decide to go back again. They can do this for hours, occasionally stopping mid road to stare down an impatient little Honda. 

Even inside our truck we found it intimidating when one large patriarch chose the middle of our lane and walked straight toward us. All we could do was stop and wait and hope he swerved.

We were a lot less protected on our last encounter. Walking along a trail, dodging bison pies, we met a bull coming in the opposite direction. All three of us stopped, apprehensive of each other. After raising his snout to catch our scent, Daddy Bison continued on, confident that he had the right of way. We graciously allowed this, scrambling uphill into the raspberry bushes.

Bison weren’t the only ones we shared the woods with. As the trail wound among the numerous berry bushes, we saw lots of other droppings. Bear, for sure.

Scat!

I mean, Shoo!

W