Bow Valley Provincial Park

Trip Date: July 2017

In mid July we made plans for a camping trip. This would be Cooper's first time camping and we were really looking forward to it. We settled on Bow Valley Provincial Park for its proximity to the city (less than 100km west of Calgary) in case we had to go home early. We reserved a site in the Bow Valley Campground, which would mark the second time we'd stayed there. The first time was over 10 years ago and I'd forgotten just how nice the campground is. Its riverside location and mix of big mature trees with quiet private sites make it an ideal spot. It honestly feels like you're a lot deeper in the mountains instead of just on the outskirts.

Bow Valley Provincial Park is the gateway to the mountains

We would be sharing Christine's parent's trailer as tenting wasn't a practical option with a two-month old. The Verdant Creek Wildfire was also burning out of control on the Banff and Kootenay National Park's border so there was a complete fire ban across the entire Bow Valley and raining ash was a constant issue throughout our trip. It did make for some awful beautiful sunsets though!

Family camping trip...the first of many!

Wildfire smoke as viewed from our campsite

Unfortunately a Grizzly Bear was struck on the highway and scampered off into the forest. This resulted in all of the trails in the park being closed while Conservation Officers monitored the bear's health. No word yet on the condition of the bear. Due to these unfortunate circumstances we explored the trails in the campground and along the river instead, which offer some fantastic views of the nearby peaks.

The Bow River Trails runs parallel to the river

The Bow River with Mount Yamnuska in the background

Wildflowers blooming along the river's edge

With Grandparents along Christine and I were able to get out for a couple of paddleboard sessions on nearby lakes. Our first paddle of the season was on Lac des Arcs. I'd always wanted to paddle over to the small island so we finally made that happen. It'll likely be the first and last time we paddle on that lake as we were both covered in small leeches afterwards!

This small island was our destination

Christine and Rome with Heart Mountain in the background

Island Selfie

Island Sunset

My GoPro paddlecam was back in action!

A smokey sunset over Lac des Arcs

As luck would have it Christine and I were able to sneak away for another afternoon paddle, but this time we went to Two Jack Lake along the Minnewanka Road in Banff National Park. We'd heard good reviews about paddling there and the scenery is incredible, even with all the smoke in the air. If you're looking for a great place to paddle with water that is warmer than other mountain lakes you'll definitely want to keep Two Jack in mind.

Paddling Two Jack Lake

Smile for the paddlecam!

Enjoying the mountain scenery

Sharing this end of the lake with a Loon

A few of the locals stopped by to say hi as we were leaving

To cap off the trip Christine and I took part in a Minnewanka Lake Cruise that's offered by Brewster Travel Canada. The one-hour tour guides visitors down the length of the lake and provides insight into the legendary lake's colourful history. It also offers guests the chance to get a new perspective on an old favourite, while also giving them an opportunity to spot elusive wildlife along the shoreline. To read the full recap of our boat cruise experience please visit my Minnewanka Lake Cruise post or read The Mighty Minnewanka.

I really enjoyed this camping trip and we will be returning to Bow Valley Provincial Park in the future. It's a wonderful spot for families and you can't beat the location. Until next time...

Fort Calgary

Trip Date: May 2017

What was it like to stand in the middle of a wide open prairie and imagine a city?

               ~Inscription on Mountie statue outside Fort Calgary.

Aerial view of Fort Calgary. Photo Credit: Yellowhouse Aerial

Fort Calgary Welcomes You!

The confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers is a culturally significant place that lies at the heart of traditional Blackfoot territory. Known as Moh'Kinsstis to the Blackfoot people the confluence has special meaning for the bands of the Blackfoot Confederacy. According to legend the confluence is the place where Napi created people, tracing history to the the roots of humanity itself. Considering First Nation people have inhabited the Bow River watershed for more than 10,000 years there might be an air of truth to that legend. The joining of the water has held its significance as a place of gathering for thousands of years.

Meet Buffy Bison. This statue greets visitors to Fort Calgary and also acts as a reminder of what the prairies were like prior to settlement.

A classic photo of Fort Calgary. Photo Credit: Glenbow Archives

An archived photo of the Calgary Barracks. Photo Credit: Glenbow Archives

The confluence was also chosen as the site of Fort Calgary; just one in a series of forts that were erected by the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) in an attempt to bring law and order to the unruly west, strengthen Canadian sovereignty, and to pave the way for treaties that were needed for settlement. In 1874 a large party consisting of officers and enlisted men completed their arduous journey from Fort Dufferin, Manitoba to Fort Whoop-Up, a notoriously raucous place with a reputation for whiskey trading. They found the fort mostly abandoned, so they moved in and later established Fort Macleod further to the west. In 1875 they broke ground on Fort Calgary, known at the time as the Bow Fort, without the slightest idea they were laying the foundation for a major modern-day city. The fort was built in as little as six weeks under the command of Inspector Ephrem Brisebois, who attempted to rename it after himself upon its completion. Due to the fact Brisebois had no authority to rename the fort Commissioner James Macleod recommended the name 'Calgary' after Calgary Bay on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, the commissioner's ancestral home. The name stuck and the emergence of Calgary was officially underway.

This statue of Commissioner James Macleod is prominently featured on the grounds of Fort Calgary

The reconstructed Calgary Barracks were designed to look as they did in 1888

The late 1800's was a time of unrest and transformation. European influence was wreaking havoc on the local First Nation population, the bison were being hunted at an alarming rate, and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was looming on the horizon. The Canadian Government needed to extinguish First Nation title to the land before settlement could occur and this was done through the use of treaties. While using Fort Calgary as his home-base Macleod was a lead negotiator for Treaty 7. He was a trusted adviser to the local First Nation community and was even bestowed the name "Bull's Head" by Chief Crowfoot. Treaty 7, the last of the Numbered Treaties between the federal government and the Plains First Nations, was signed on September 22, 1877 at Blackfoot Crossing. The Treaty encompasses virtually all of southern Alberta and is still in effect today.

There's a timeline of events outside the interpretive centre

A reconstruction of what the inside of the fort would have looked like

The original fort only lasted until 1882 when it was torn down and replaced with more substantial structures in preparation for the CPR's arrival in 1883. As the whiskey trade dried up Fort Calgary finalized its transition from simple whiskey fort to the Calgary Barracks and became the focal point of a burgeoning community. In addition to being the centre of police administration the barracks also contained a rudimentary hospital and was used for a variety of social functions. The post was also the main hub for settlers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs arriving in Canada's rapidly-growing west.

Fort Calgary was awarded National Historic Site status in 1925 with this stone marker

In 1914 the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway purchased Fort Calgary. Eventually they turned around and sold it to the Canadian National Railway, effectively concealing Calgary's roots for the next 60 years beneath a railway yard. Due to the concerted efforts of Alderman Jon Ayer the site of Calgary's origin was thrust back into the public consciousness when The City of Calgary purchased the site in 1974 with the intent of preserving it for its historical significance.

The illuminated outline of the original Fort Calgary was created by Jill Anholt and is called Markings. Photo Credit: Yellowhouse Aerial

Today the confluence is still a place of great significance as it's where the past meets the present. Although not much exists anymore from Fort Calgary or the Calgary Barracks pieces of the fort's original foundation were found during an archaeological investigation and are still in the ground til this day. The interpretive centre and museum are located inside the reconstructed 1888 barracks and feature multiple interactive exhibits from Calgary's first 100 years. Nearby you can visit the Deane House, the city's only remaining NWMP building and now a fine dining restaurant, and the Hunt House, the oldest building in Calgary still in its original location. The Hunt House was built in 1876 as part of the Hudson’s Bay Trading Post. Outside the interpretive centre is an art exhibit called Markings that was created by Jill Anholt and outlines the fort's original footprint. Strolling through the museum or exploring the 40-acre grounds allows visitors to discover the people and events that helped shape Calgary's legacy. Fort Calgary is not only a place where rivers and cultures meet, but is a living testament to the ongoing relationship between people and the land.

The NWMP Veterans' Association placed this historic marker on the site of the original Fort Calgary back in 1917

These modern pillars reside at the intersection of 6th Street SE and 9th Avenue SE

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Katie Novak and Erica Olstead, the past and present Education Coordinators at Fort Calgary, for their willingness to help with this story. Without your knowledge and expertise this story just wouldn't have been the same. For additional information about Fort Calgary please visit their website or connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also of note the original Treaty 7 document will be on display at Fort Calgary this summer. The 140-year-old document is on loan from the National Archives and will be on display from mid-June through October of this year.

Please note this story also appears on the Calgary Guardian website under the title, From Police Outpost to Modern City.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Trip Dates: September 2012 & July 2013

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world.  Many attribute its popularity with the ease of learning, while others say surfing legends, such as Laird Hamilton, have also played a major role in the sport's prominence.  Either way it looked like way too much fun not to give it a try.  We were blessed with an extremely warm September in 2012, so Jeff and I decided to rent a couple of boards from Mountain Equipment Co-op and try our luck paddling down the Bow River in Calgary.  We would be starting our trip in Bowness Park and then getting off the water at Sunnyside Bank Park, just west of the Centre Street bridge.  I ended up enjoying it so much that we rented the boards on at least two other occasions that month!  Here's a few pictures from the multiple trips we made down the Bow River last year.

The Jeep loaded up and ready to go!

Jeff on the Bow River

Jeff had an 11'6" fiberglass board

I had the same style board, but mine was 10'6" in length

Dan and I about to hit the water on my second trip down the river

Beautiful fall colours along the river

During my third trip I was with Christine, Ryan, and Ashley

Christine enjoying herself on the water

Mallard Duck

Ryan rented a kayak for the day and he let Christine try it out

Ryan on Christine's board

Taking a break on a beautiful sunny day

Me heading towards downtown

Christine and Ryan

Ashley

The $24.5 million Peace Bridge

In the spring of 2013, Jeff and I decided to buy our own SUP boards.  During the summer, Jeff works as a raft guide up north, so he has access to some pretty sweet pro-deals on paddling gear.  We each bought an NRS inflatable paddleboard.  With the awful flooding that happened here in late June, and the devastating aftermath, we haven't used them as much as we would have liked this summer, but that's alright, there's always next year!  We actually can't wait to try them at our lake at work when we start again in September.

The first day I made it out to Canmore we paddled on the reservoir below Ha Ling Peak

Paddling along the reservoir with the east end of Mt. Rundle in the background

Beautiful day in Canmore to be out on the water

Now that I own my own board you'll probably see a few more posts in the future about the adventures I find myself in while using it on the lakes and rivers in Alberta!

The first story I wrote for Calgary Guardian was called What's SUP? and talked about paddleboarding down the Bow River.