Hikes

Ten people came out to hike the Snow Valley Trail in Edmonton’s White Ravine. The day started out rather cold and overcast. As we walked by the Snow Valley ski hill, we noticed that Edmonton has a lot of hardy skiers.

A highlight was seeing again the trio of lush spruce trees decorated for Christmas. This seems to be an annual tradition. A big thank-you to whoever is responsible.

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After a short stop at the Alfred Savage Centre, the hike continued for a loop around the Fort Edmonton Park and back to Alfred Savage for lunch.

Gradually the skies cleared and the day warmed up. What a treat it was to have the sun on our faces when the days are so short.

Thanks to John for leading the hike. You can see more photos on Flickr.

Fifteen people came out to hike the Edmonton river trail sections east of downtown. From the Capilano Park parking lot, we crossed the North Saskatchewan River on the footbridge going north. The trail followed the river until it turned in to Kinnaird Ravine.

Returning to the river valley, we walked past the hoodoos. This is a fine example of some of the interesting terrain described in the book Edmonton Beneath Our Feet, published by the Edmonton Geological Society. The book is out of print, but you can still buy it from the University of Alberta Bookstore.

After lunch, the sun broke out. We crossed the Dawson Bridge and took the trail along the south bank back to Capilano Park. Coffee afterwards was at Anvil Coffee House, a friendly shop with a cool industrial/vintage vibe.

Thanks to Helen for leading the hike. You can find more photos on Flickr.

It was the final hike of the “Summer” hiking season. Ten people came out to enjoy the bracing, fresh air on a walk around the Blackfoot Recreation Area, starting and ending at the Blackfoot Staging Area on the east end of the park.

One of the joys of hiking in this park is the chance to have lunch around a campfire.

On this visit, we discovered a unique memorial bench dedicated to a Cole Thomas Lawrence. The bench hardware includes old tractor wheels and iron saddlery pieces (bits, rings, and horseshoes).

You can find all the pictures on Flickr.