Southern Saskatchewan Safari

 Bailey and I are always watching the weather reports all around us - to find the next good opportunity to hit the road.  Well, I am always watching the weather reports, Bailey is keeping me pinned down by sitting on my lap!

After our last trip to BC, and Vancouver Island, it was time to find some flatter terrain.  I had wanted to go down to Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan the last time we were in Saskatchewan in June, but the weather was not cooperating then.  This time however, it looked good.

Lots of action on the home front, with the usual deer browsing in the front yard.

So, we set off on a Friday afternoon, with just enough time to make a rare visit to Calgary; both to drop one of my scanners off for repair, and to get a new battery in my iPhone.  The shop was quick to replace the battery while I waited, but it turned out that they would have to order some parts for the radio, so it would take a while longer.

We got off the Trans Canada highway east of Calgary as soon as possible, and found a nice quiet dead-end road spot to spend the night, with some horses to intrigue Bailey and keep us company. 

From there we continued eastbound on secondary highways, with a stop in Vulcan UFA to fill up our DEF from the dispenser there.  I wish more fuel places had them. 

There were huge solar farms we found west of Lomond.  It was nice to see these ones still had natural grass to provide needed habitat for the gophers, bugs, birds, snakes, and mice, unlike most of the sterile gravel ones we are accustomed to seeing in California or Arizona.

Strong winds from the west were pushing us along, but we dropped anchor at Bow Reservoir PP to take a break and have a snack.

We located a previously enjoyed scenic spot to spend the night south of Medicine Hat, before continuing cross-country into Cypress Hill Inter-provincial Park. 

After a quick check of the crowded beach at Elkwater, and it was time to head up to Walsh, for some of the cheapest fuel in the area.  

 

Then back into the provincial park on the Alberta side, before using the backwoods entry into Saskatchewan.  This road is very impassable in wet weather, but it was hot and dry today.

  

 

We stopped for a look around at a favourite viewpoint at Conglomerate Cliffs. 

Cypress Hills drive ...

Very much ranching country out here, with a great variety of gates and entrances.

Because of all the recent rains, there was tall green grass and good hay crops everywhere.  Cows were happy, grazing belly deep in the grass.  But it was hot out, so all the potholes full of water were also full of cows trying to cool off.

 

Huge fields of flaxseed (?) often made it look like water from a distance. 

 After a long drive, and an overnight thunderstorm and a bit of rain, we arrived at the East Block of Grasslands National Park.

When I last visited here 6 or 8 years ago, things were mostly undeveloped.  There were unimproved trails leading through the hills, along ridge tops, and down the valleys.  I quite enjoyed it, and was looking forward to a repeat, and spending a couple days here exploring.  But it was not to be.  Parks has done a wonderful job building a beautifully paved, single lane, 11km long scenic drive with various pull-offs and parking areas. 

 
But, virtually all the viewpoints require you to get out of your vehicle and walk up a hill to the view.  While I normally applaud the idea of getting people out of their cars to connect with nature, the mosquitoes were sooo bad this time, that I did not take advantage. But it also means that in times of pouring rain, howling winds, freezing cold, blistering heat, you don't get the best views to enjoy the incredible landscape.  I did not see anywhere that the elderly or disabled could take advantage of the view.  And for me, all the trails I previously enjoyed were gated and signed, and I could get nowhere near the US border like I did last time.  Yes, I suppose these areas may still be available by foot or bike, but with the heat and bugs, I was not about to take advantage.  So - my 'planned' two day visit lasted about two hours!

 

Rental accommodations in the East Block Rock Creek campground.

Some signs in the park have these bird deterrent spikes on them - I believe to keep raptors from using them for lookouts?

Unlike typical address signs at farm gates in most areas, some of these ranches just have the land's legal description posted at the gate - in this case shared with a road sign.

 

On the way back west, the plan was to go through a portion of the west block of Grasslands, but despite having GPS, a back roads map book, and always-on internet courtesy of Starlink, we got led down some garden paths, into ranch yards, through gates, and mudholes, community pastures, and only saw cows.  No bison this time.

 

Strangely, on this trip through miles and miles of prime antelope habitat, we only saw 3 separate individuals in about 6 days.

But, there were lots of small remote towns to discover on our way.  We cruised through East End, Climax, Shaunavon, and Gull Lake on our way back to the north west. 

There was even a Prairie Dog town or two in the park lands.

After topping up with supplies and fuel in the Medicine Hat area, we spent the night in another mosquito infested spot north of Jenner on the Red Deer river, then headed for Dinosaur Provincial Park.

We didn't see, or run over any ...

I think our next trip was some more camping in British Columbia, but that will have to wait till next post.