Hikes

On Sunday six hikers came out to fend off the wild animals along the valley. We started in Camrose and soon turned onto private land that runs along the railway track to Happy Valley.

The Happy Valley hike is the perfect hike in winter or summer. The owner of the Happy Valley land encourages people to walk, bike, run, snowshoe or hike on the trails they maintain.

Throughout the trails are creatures, farm equipment, crooked houses and signs that give hikers encouragement to keep going.

The saskatoons were perfect for picking and we ate our weight in berries as we hiked. We had lunch at the lookout, and on the way back took the bike and ski trails on the other side of the Stoney Creek.

Thanks to Irene for scouting and leading the hike and to the landowner for providing such a fun experience. You can see more photos on Flicker.

Where we’re going next.

In spite of the rain, and to the hike leader’s surprise, nine people came out to hike Stoney Creek. We met at the south access. Many had never hiked it from this point before. We found the grass lush and long, reaching the top of the legs. And it was wet. So, we all drove into Camrose and started the trail from the north end where there isn’t tall grass.

Surprise! The path soon turned into a dirt trail which was muddy and super slippery. (Lesson learned: It’s good to take a walking pole when you go hiking.) 

We managed to get to our destination with no injuries. And by then, the rain had stopped. But we decided that it would be better to continue south through wet grass than return on the slippery, muddy path. The hike leader phoned her husband and he agreed to pick up the drivers at the south end and bring them back to their cars on the north end. With that arrangement settled, we were on our way.

In the Drumheller-like terrain, another surprise—a lot of cactus flowers in bloom! When the trail was scouted a few days earlier, the flowering seemed to be over.

We also saw hawks, two blue herons, deer, and a deer skeleton, and two ruffed grouse flying onto and landing on trees. We ate some ripe saskatoons, dew berries and strawberries.

We finished the day eating ice cream cones from the stand at Mirror Lake in Camrose.

Thanks to everyone who came out and to the landowners for their continuing generous permission. There are no photos this week.

Where we’re going next.