Waskahegan Trail Association

Forty-five kilometers west of Edmonton is the Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area, one of the more scenic woodlands for day hiking in the region.

Thirteen hikers came out on the sunny Sunday and walked from hilltop to hilltop, passing by and overlooking the frozen lakes.

Over the week, the warmer temperatures and the foot traffic had turned the snow-covered paths to ice, especially on the south-facing slopes. Those of us who had grips for their boots, or used poles, were glad they had thought to bring them. Stella, however, found the easiest way to descend one of the steeper hills—by sliding down on her down-filled jacket.

We had our lunch under the gazebo, and finished the day with a short hike around Dog Leg pond.

Thanks to Johanna for scouting and leading this hike. You can view more pictures on Flickr.

“You’ll see a lot more animals in the park at this time year,” says Scott Malcolm. “Elk, deer, moose—as soon as hunting season begins.”

The animals kept out of our sight, but their tracks were everywhere—from the large ungulates…to hares…to the fallen-in tunnel made by a mouse when it crawled under the snowy path to get to the other side.

Fourteen people came out to hike the trails of this provincial park. We noted that the forested, hilly country is dotted with lakes and ponds so that every few minutes you see something new. The winter season is especially rewarding because that’s when the contours of the land and the forest interiors really stand out.

The group had lunch at the site of an abandoned 100-year-old house.

Thanks to Irene and Scott for leading this hike. You can find more photos on Flickr.