June 2009 • Vol. 17, No. 3

AWA

Ridge Hike, Willmore Wilderness Park Photo: © R. V. Rasmussen

A Be a u t i f u l b u t Fr a g i l e In h e r i t a n c e / 4

Ca n o e i n g Al b e r t a : A Na t u r a l Ch o i c e / 6

Wi l l m o r e Wi l d e r n e s s Pa r k / 8

To Wo r k i n Na t u r e : An Ou t f i t t e r ’s Li f e / 11

De f e n d i n g a n d Pr o t e c t i n g Wh a t We Lo v e / 14 Editor: Ian Urquhart

CjuneONTENTS 2009 • VOL. 17, NO. 3 Graphic Design: Ball Creative Printing: Fe a t u r e s Wi l d e r n e s s Wa t c h Colour printing and process is sponsored by Topline Printing 4 A Be a u t i f u l b u t Fr a g i l e 20 Up d a t e s In h e r i t a n c e : Al b e r t a ’s Wi l d e r n e s s Ar e a s De pa r t m e n t s 6 Ca n o e i n g Al b e r t a : A Na t u r a l Ch o i c e 22 Re a d e r ’s Co r n e r 8 Wi l l m o r e Wi l d e r n e s s Pa r k : 26 Re c a l l o f t h e Wi l d : A Li f e Th e St a r t o f a Tw e n t y -Ye a r We l l -Sp e n t i n Go d ’s Co u n t r y Fr i e n d s h i p 28 Le t t e r s t o t h e Ed i t o r To Wo r k i n Na t u r e : An 11 Ba c k c o u n t r y Re c i p e s Ou t f i t t e r ’s Li f e 29 Alberta Wilderness Association De f e n d i n g a n d Pr o t e c t i n g v e n t s 14 E “Defending Wild Alberta through Wh a t We Lo v e : Bi o p h i l i a Awareness and Action” a n d Cr e a t i n g En v i r o n m e n t a l 30 AWA Su m m e r Hi k e s Alberta Wilderness Association is a Ci t i z e n s h i p charitable non-government organization Su m m e r So l s t i c e St r o l l 31 dedicated to the completion of a a t t h e De v o n i a n Ga r d e n s As s o c i a t i o n Ne w s protected areas network and the 32 Wi l d We s t Ga l a conservation of wilderness throughout the province. To support our work Cl i m b & Ru n f o r Wi l d e r n e s s 17 with a tax-deductible donation, call (403) 283-2025 or contribute online at AlbertaWilderness.ca. Wild Lands Advocate is published bi-monthly, 6 times a year, by Alberta Cover Photo Wilderness Association. The opinions expressed by the authors in this Ray Rasmussen captured this image of two companions enjoying the trackless publication are not necessarily those ridge between the Wildhay and Rock Creek watersheds in Willmore Wilderness of AWA. The editor reserves the right Park. Like most features in Willmore, the peak in the background in unnamed to edit, reject or withdraw articles and and is on the north side of Eagle’s Nest Pass. letters submitted. Please direct questions and comments to: (403) 283-2025 • [email protected] FEATURED ART Subscriptions to the WLA are $30 per This issue of the Advocate features public art. Throughout the Journal you will year. To subscribe, call (403) 283-2025 see some of the ninety-three murals, painted over the last seven years as part or see AlbertaWilderness.ca. of AWA’s annual Climb for Wilderness, that adorn the stairwell of the Calgary Tower. Public art aspires to make art, not artists, visible. The murals in the Tower are special; they record our need to pay respect to nature and, ironically, record that respect in a dramatic symbol of our detachment from nature – the Tower. “Public art,” says the Newport News Public Art Foundation, “can make strangers talk, children ask questions, and calm a hurried life.” May the Tower’s murals accomplish those ends and deepen our community’s appreciation of the natural world. Box 6398, Station D, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 (403) 283-2025 Toll-free 1-866-313-0713 AWA respects the privacy of members. Lists are not sold or traded in any manner. AWA is a federally registered charity www.AlbertaWilderness.ca and functions through member and donor support. Tax-deductible donations may be made to AWA at Box 6398 Station D, Calgary, AB T2P 2E1. Ph: (403) 283-2025 Fax: (403) 270-2743 E-mail: [email protected] www.AlbertaWilderness.ca [email protected] Lo o k i n g f o r Va l u e i n Wi l d e r n e s s Re c r e a t i o n

It is that time of the year again, that time when I rummage through the basement looking for the essentials of summer – backpack, boots, walking stick, fly rod, tent, and, alas, raingear. This year I added something to my ritual – I also have been looking inside this aging body and mind for answers to a simple question: “Why do I value wilderness recreation?” To assist me in my search I essentially asked for help and ideas from the contributors to this issue of the Advocate. Why does Nigel Douglas go back, year after year, into Alberta’s “official” Wilderness Areas? Why has Ray Rasmussen pilgrimaged to Willmore Wilderness Park for the past twenty years? What makes Darin Zandee want to pick up and use a paddle – whether on a weekend outing or on a two month, 3,600 kilometre trip as he did in 2008 as a member of the David Thompson Brigade? Why does Mishka Lysack care about trying to encourage more people to become committed wilderness activists? Why do outfitters love to work in a nature that may be as harsh or punishing as it is beautiful? When we think about valuing wilderness recreation we might want to think about its economic value. Frankly, I do not believe we do a good enough job of impressing politicians with just how much money wilderness recreation activities generate and inject into their communities and constituencies. American statistics and studies demonstrate the considerable monetary value wilderness recreationists generate. For example, overnight stays in wilderness areas managed by the United States National Park Service exploded from 15,244 in 1975 to 738,434 in 1994. John Loomis estimated, in a study published in 2000, that the annual economic value of wilderness recreation was $574 million. That sounds to me like a pretty nice piece of change. I could not find strictly comparable numbers for Alberta. But, government has told us that more than 8 million people annually visit Alberta’s protected areas and that those visits generate an eye-popping $2.7 billion in economic activity. But, as impressive as these numbers may be, to dwell on them is too mercenary for me to think about as I am trying to locate my missing stove. Instead, I want to hear more about the physical, psychological, or spiritual benefits of wilderness recreation; I want to hear more about the strengthened bonds among family, friends, or even casual acquaintances that participating in wilderness recreation activities may produce. What follows in this issue does not disappoint and is just what this doctor ordered. The experiences and values you will encounter in the following pages reinforce some of the points Roger Kaye, a wilderness specialist with an intimate knowledge of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), makes in his look at the symbolic importance of ANWR to Americans. People treasure America’s last great wilderness, in part, for reasons such as: - it “provides a connection to… cultural heritage.” - it is “a place of mystery and unknown, a place for exploration and discovery.” - it “provides psychological benefits associated with solitude.” - it “provides a connection to the natural world and our species’ evolutionary past.” - it “is a place to approach and experience humility.” - it “is a place of intrinsic value.” Photo: N. Douglas - it “is a bequest to the future.” - it “is a sacred place.” So, read on. Join us in learning about and celebrating the amazing recreational opportunities Alberta’s wilderness offers. May the summer of 2009 not disappoint in your efforts to discover or reaffirm why you value wilderness recreation. - Ian Urquhart, Editor iver Wilderness Wilderness Ghost River 2 , Stutfield and Collie describe Today, government brochures for the Today, likely that travel was only ever for the hardy in these wild lands. In a 1903 book, Climbs and Exploration in the Canadian Rockies hard going in the Siffleur: “The logs, piled in wild confusion, one on another formed a tangle that made our progress Standing dead trees added to very slow.” the hazard: “Fallen trees, intercepted in their descent, rested on the branches of some neighbouring giant of the wood; and with every passing breeze there arose a great creaking and groaning among them, like the wailing of lost souls in some arboreal Hades.” Siffleur likewise emphasize that travel in these areas should not be taken lightly: “Anyone using a wilderness area should be well prepared. Users must be well- informed, self-sufficient and experienced in order to accommodate the varied risks and challenges which await them.” Wilderness Ghost River The 153 km Area, just east of Banff National Park, Area, just east of Banff from Waters was established in 1967. here nourish the Bow River to the benefit : n c e a s a n h e r i t I r e A g i l e a r iffleur Wilderness Area was Wilderness Siffleur 2 F Like the other Wilderness Areas, the Wilderness Like the other n a way, these three Wilderness Wilderness these three In a way, u t b i l d e r n e s s

established in 1961. It is a land of majestic mountain peaks, picturesque valleys, hanging glaciers, mountain lakes and alpine meadows, home to mountain goats and bighorn sheep and other wilderness denizens such as grizzlies and The South Jasper caribou wolverines. uses decline, 2005 as in in identified herd, the area at certain times of year. Siffleur is visited mostly by experienced backcountry travelers. Indeed it seems Areas, which date back to the 1960s, hark Areas, which date back to the 1960s, hark back to more open-minded, less cynical times. Brochures from the 1970s tell us these areas were designated to “protect their unique beauty and natural character, and to safeguard them from infringement, development or occupation by man, It is difficult to read except as a visitor.” them now without feeling nostalgic: “Our wilderness,” claims a 1970s Siffleur Area brochure, “is a beautiful Wilderness but fragile inheritance.” Area Wilderness Siffleur National Park the Northeast of Banff 412 km gateway to the White Goat Wilderness. Picking a way up the trail to Cataract Pass, OTO: N. Douglas PHOTO: W s ’ a u t i f u l a e r t e about b l By Nigel Douglas, AWA Conservation Specialist Conservation AWA Douglas, By Nigel A B A A of some of 2

areas. here is something special pick our We a mountain pass. trail, heads way up a long, steep

Alberta’s three Wilderness Areas are Wilderness three Alberta’s Alberta’s protected areas come in Alberta’s The White Goat, lying immediately The

among the most strictly protected areas in Canada; no developments of any kind Areas Wilderness in Travel are permitted. is by foot only; hunting and fishing are not allowed. It is difficult to imagine Alberta in created being Areas Wilderness today given our obsession with exploiting natural resources. Alberta’s most breath-taking and pristine Alberta’s wilderness. a confusing mish-mash of different designations, from National Parks to Ecological Reserves to Provincial Wilderness Areas. (Willmore Recreation Park has its own level of protection, indeed its own legislation, and is not discussed here). Including federally protected areas, there are at least 10 Alberta. Some in designations different of these areas are more protected than others: many people are surprised by the levels of industrial activity and motorized access taking place in the our nominally protected T down as our packs grow heavier and down as our packs grow the crest until finally we reach heavier, new world opens of a ridge and a whole back the way up in front of us. Looking views are ample we came, the panoramic reward for aching muscles; looking the tantalizing prospect forward offers of new vistas and unexplored valleys. Standing at the top of Cataract Pass, White Goat peering expectantly into the looking back into Area, is like Wilderness simpler age. an earlier, and to the east of the junction of Banff Jasper National Parks, is one of the Areas, along Wilderness three province’s The with the Siffleur and Ghost River. protected Alberta’s least heralded of areas designations, yet probably the most comprehensively protected of all, they cover 1,010 km

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F 4 Fe a t u r e s WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 5 Stepping down from Cataract Pass opposition forced the government to then Minister make a U-turn. Gary Mar, for the Environment, recognized the strength of public sentiment. “Albertans he said at the time. have been clear,” Wilderness three Alberta’s “They want Areas to remain among the most protected in Canada. Keeping these areas in their own separate classification will continue this strong protection.” we Wilderness, Goat White into the feel immensely grateful to those who went before us, and had the foresight While we are to safeguard these areas. welcome as visitors, what we do in these special places must take a back seat to the preservation of the wild landscape. It is indeed a “beautiful but fragile inheritance.” Alberta’s East Slope, stressed that the Alberta’s removed area “must be given protection for its wildland recreation values… Hopefully the deletion of most of this valuable wildland area from protective legislation will only be temporary.” this land remains unprotected; Today continues to push for it AWA today later to protected. It is integral to the Bighorn Wildland. The Future Alberta’s What does the future hold for Areas? If implementing the Wilderness Plan for Parks tampers 2009 province’s with the level of protection enjoyed Areas such government Wilderness by action will be strongly resisted. In 1999, Act when the draft Natural Heritage Areas Wilderness proposed reclassifying Parks, considerable public Wildland as MAP: S. Nichols Goat in the White in the – or 65% – of the 2 litter blitz was first recorded by Ghost was first recorded oat Wilderness Wilderness White Goat , is the 2 AWA’s involvement in the White White the in involvement AWA’s The White Goat has had a more White The The name Again, government brochures for Again, government If these newly “unprotected” lands Area. A breath-taking landscape of A Area. rugged 10,000 foot peaks and hanging White Goat is part of the glaciers, the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan drinking Rive, one source of Edmonton’s water. Then to 1971. Area goes back Wilderness a organized AWA Goat, calling for help from “individuals with two feet, a strong back and a weak mind who are willing to spend several days during the summer filling Volunteers gunnysacks with garbage.” spent a weekend collecting literally a ton of garbage. chequered history its two sisters. When it was created in 1961, 1,259 km2 was protected. Some influential voices objected to its restrictions. Some wanted to hunt and fish; industry wanted “special interests” won. These access. Amendment Areas Wilderness The 1973 Act removed 814 km Ghost The Calgarians. million of one terrain rugged mountain of River consists and is home to valleys and glacier-carved found same wildlife species many of the increasingly Alberta In an in the Siffleur. these industrial access, fractured by for species havens areas are undisturbed activity. sensitive to human White Goat Wilderness White Goat Areas, at Wilderness of the three Largest 445 km ector of the Palliser expedition and Hector of the Palliser Dr. originates from a Stoney legend in which the river picking ghosts were seen along The killed in battle. up skulls of warriors area is reflected ethereal sense of the names such as in beautifully evocative Mountain. Apparition Spectral Creek and indicate Wilderness the Ghost River that travel is tough but rewarding, and the visitor the opportunity can “afford a for isolation, challenge and solitude in natural undisturbed setting.” oat from the Wilderness Area. Wilderness White Goat from the (government preferred to label them “unallocated”) had been assigned a lower level of protected area status which just allowed hunting and fishing then the natural values of the area might have 1975 book, AWA’s been preserved. on areas - Nine for recreation Wildlands OTO: J. Chandler PHOTO: Paddling in Alberta for the last 18 Paddling in As president of the Borealis Canoe years has provided my family and me with the opportunity to experience some most special places and Alberta’s of fostered a deep sense of connection to the diverse natural areas available in this we have explored Although province. Alberta there many of the waterways in are so many more wonders yet to see, more than can be experienced in one lifetime. Club in Fort McMurray I get many requests about how and where to paddle Although I have my personal Alberta. in favourites I encourage people to decide and discover for themselves. I reinforce that, like all outdoor pursuits, paddling has unique challenges and hazards and there are a few simple steps to follow to ensure your outdoor experience is safe, environmentally responsible, affordable, h o i c e /s 3 C l a t u r a : A N A : a e r t b ourselves in. This was a calculated and ourselves in. experienced decision we made on a Alberta’s regular basis when we paddled foothills rivers in the spring at the This particular event annual peak flow. happened June 22, 2003 on the clear River in southwest Waterton and cold Alberta. My family and I camped on the river and ran the 23-km route twice that weekend because it was so much fun and the conditions were favourable. Alberta according to the The river flow, Environment website, was at 70m which was the highest flow the river The weather was sunny reached that year. and 15 degrees but the strong westerly Waterton winds from the mountains of These are the National Park chilled us. physical details and conditions from my trip log book; the experiences and memories are stored in our hearts and minds. Canada Day 2008 as a member of the David Thompson Brigade on a 3,600 km Canada Day 2008 as a member of the David Bay. Rocky Mountain House to Thunder trip from l A n o e i n g a By Darin Zandee By Darin C

he river was fast, cold, and full he river was fast, cold, the The waves piled high on on. corner. rock wall of the sharp

My mind raced to process two linear I called to Jennifer, I chose the latter. This was not an accident or T Our canoe bucked like a rodeo bronco. Our canoe bucked like canoe, was in the bow of our Jennifer, icy water as we taking full hits of the chest high wave train. crashed though the Justin, held tight to My 13 year old son, Stephanie, in the his 10 year old sister, They hollered over centre of our canoe. My cliff. the against waves the of roar the senses were focused on the conditions of the waves, the rock wall, the current, the canoe angle, lean, and speed that we my entered the corner at. Subconsciously, canoe, and my paddle moved my body, as one in experienced harmony with the forces of wind and water. The first was scenarios simultaneously. how do I negotiate the corner to keep from swamping our canoe; the second was, if we were swamped, I had to remember the actions we practiced to dropped into We keep my family safe. the corner and, even with a spray deck The waves on, the canoe took on water. rushed over the deck into the open hatch where the kids knelt ready to eject on the upstream side of the canoe if we flipped. Half way through the wave train we had taken on so much water the canoe became unstable and difficult to control. I had to make a choice – push through the wave train to the calmer section below but risk being swamped by the waves, escape into the eddy with a difficult or, manoeuvre and an unstable canoe. “eddy out”! She executed a solid cross bow draw and I applied the correct lean The canoe spun into the eddy. and pry. over when the water almost rolled We sloshed to the side of the canoe but I was The canoe ready with a counter lean. came to rest against the cobble shore. While I exhaled the kids exclaimed, “aw Dad, but we wanted more big waves”! uncontrolled event that we had found

e a t u r e s WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3

F 6 Fe a t u r e s WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 7 Most importantly perhaps, paddling Alberta The paddling destinations in and that paddling is sustainable. Canoes and gear last a very long time with little maintenance required. Paddlers leave almost no trace and move quietly with We nature instead of crashing through it. can put everything we need in our two canoes to happily exist in the wilderness. Whether it is just for a weekend, or for many weeks, all the essentials fit in the middle of our canoes. It improved helped us grow as a family. our communication and cooperation. It strengthened trust and patience. It fostered individual accountabilities, self- reliance, and confidence. My daughter Stephanie refers to us as river gypsies. flow and can carry our go with the We lives on our backs to anywhere in Canada via our lake and river network. OTO: K. Kroeker PHOTO: This lifestyle ended when one would help us in decided a canoe We Some benefits of paddling are In March the Kananaskis River provides challenging, and potentially bone-chilling, the Kananaskis River provides In March white water canoeing opportunities. evening I picked up the 150-page spiral the kitchen table. It bound notebook off contained our daily notes and instructions to each other and I realized it was full. I read back through the hastily written notes and instructions and decided enough was enough. It was time to get back to the basics, reconnect with each other and with nature. figured canoeing We our new direction. was the right activity for us because paddling is environmentally friendly, deeply rooted in Canadian affordable, history and would enable us to move at a more natural speed. unlimited exploration, adventure, We exercise, fresh air and sun light. knew we can paddle our entire lives Luckily for Albertans there are many Albertans there are many Luckily for The reasons we go out on the water kids were pre-teens our When the Eating supper together at home sufficient for the adventure, sufficient will for the conditions you resources likely encounter. be prepared and have a good plan, have a good and • be prepared and knowledge are • ensure skills and equipment • have the appropriate good resources available throughout good resources available paddlers to cover the province to enable good start is to A these fundamentals. for Alberta, the central voice visit Paddle The organization’s Alberta. paddling in There, website is www.paddlealberta.org. information, courses, you will find route and resource paddling club listings, your be should stop next The information. local paddling club; almost every major This Alberta has one. town and city in is a great way to gain local knowledge and to meet other paddlers. Local courses, seminars, paddling clubs offer trips. Other convenient and organized information sources are club websites These like ours at www.borealiscanoe.ca. sites provide local travel advisories, local destination routes, internet forums, and opportunities to communicate with most other paddlers in your area. Finally, Alberta have paddling or major centres in outdoor retail stores where you can find books and maps specifically for paddling. These stores have knowledgeable staff who can help you choose the right gear for your preferred adventure. and paddle are as varied as the types Although I Alberta offers. of water have been in canoes since I was two years old I did not consider myself a paddler until my family and I made the conscious decision to choose paddling The as our primary family recreation. importance of family inspired our choice. in family was involved, individually, three or four activities each (such as dance, curling, ball, skating, soccer, The coordination ringette, volunteering). required so that we could be in four doing our activities places different simultaneously was, at the very least, challenging and hectic. became infrequent; rushing here and there was the norm. Driving, picking up, being late, waiting, and dropping off, following an itinerary consumed all the time between our activities. and enjoyable. These steps include: These and enjoyable.

a

n the future when my family recalls when my family In the future o f Willmore Wilderness Park is a 4,600 Wilderness Willmore square kilometre (1840 sq. mi.) wilderness area directly north of the world famous Jasper National Park. But it is far less known and visited than Jasper National Park.

entire galaxy. The next day, when we when day, The next galaxy. entire Writing- of landscape the surreal reached we Park, we thought On-Stone Provincial back in time. had paddled had in adventures we the wonderful appreciate wild lands we will Alberta’s and a canoe all that the wilderness I hope that, Today enabled us to share. and a canoe in the future, the wilderness children to share will be there for my like my parents with my grandchildren, as I rediscovered shared with me, and with my children. in Fort McMurray Darin Zandee lives and current and is the co-founder Canoe Club. of the Borealis President r t a t S h e T : r k

a p : © R. V. Rasmussen V. : © R. PHOTO

P r i e n d s h i F The first few miles on the trail flip me i l d e r n e s s r not have because I was in a national park. But, I digress. My story is not about the merits of horse-assisted hiking – it’s about exploring an unknown (to me) wilderness park. the background left. the background Hiker on the crest of Persimmon Ridge. Chown and Resthaven peaks and icefields in of Persimmon Ridge. Chown and Resthaven peaks and Hiker on the crest of being watched until we discovered discovered until we watched of being of a prairie stare just the intense it was wall. high on the canyon falcon perched of the seated in the centre My children, swallows at the cliff canoe, marvelled to the of mud nests stuck peering out several occasions we On cliffs. overhung seemed unconcerned drifted by deer who treasured the with our presence. I as a family on a moment when we sat the column of rock and watched large of the high, melodic sunset to the sound That night we voice of a horned lark. meadow beside the stood together in the stars seemed It was so dark that the river. reached up and We just above our heads. with our fingers. traced the constellations felt like we were the only humans We standing on another planet viewing the a e W -Y e n t y i l l m o r e w T W By Ray Rasmussen

always have been a backpacker. With With always have been a backpacker. that preference came a disdain for the havoc horses make on trails and The first day we meet outfitter Rocky The horses also are loaded with

ince we decided to spend more Since we decided to spend I owever, twenty years ago, a campsites. However, friend invited me to join a horse-assisted hiking trip in a relatively unknown The word “unknown” wilderness park. sold me – I was in. Notnes at the Rock Lake trailhead. Once Team, Nordic Ski a member of Norway’s Rocky is not only a horse person; he has Willmore’s walked and climbed most of ridges and peaks. His horses are being 40 pounds of packed with each hiker’s personal gear plus the food and camp equipment needed for a 14-day trip. When I heft my pack it weighs a mere 20 pounds, not the usual 50, and 30 pounds of disdain slip away. tent that will provide a wall a large welcome escape from the heavy rains or the occasional summer blizzard that one And can expect in the Northern Rockies. stove for cooking a wood-burning there’s When a saw and axes go and drying out. on I think of the many cold nights when I craved a warming fire, a comfort I could are so abundant that choosing just the just that choosing abundant are so way to One be tricky. route can right routes by is to group the make it easier region, – such as their characteristics the route is and whether difficulty, lakes. For some people, on rivers or part of a route is an enjoyable researching the actual journey. as a family we Alberta time paddling in journeys. have had many memorable truly magical was One route we found started at the town We the Milk River. a hidden of Milk River and paddled into of southern world found in the grasslands glided beneath 80-million- We Alberta. sandstone cliffs. year old Cretaceous shapes of The bizarre, creature-like, the hoodoos gave us the eerie feeling

e a t u r e s WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3

F 8 Fe a t u r e s WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 9 I lose all concern on this second day In late afternoon, we pick a route for the next stay at this campsite We esignated a park in 1959 by the in 1959 a park Designated has Willmore government, provincial tourism and recreational seen little pristine leaving the area development, explore. enthusiasts to for backcountry in memory of Norman It was named Minister of Lands who, as Willmore the creation of and Forests, promoted enjoyment the park for the recreational Albertans. of we easily ascend through an old growth we easily ascend through of the ridge—about pine forest to the top big we in the Were a 400-metre climb. a Jasper or Banff mountain country of to ridge or peak bottom valley from climb – at least 1,500 would be very difficult trees and deadfall metres with stick-like creating endless obstacles. But here the and well spaced and the trees are large is what I Willmore deep. valleys aren’t call ‘human scale.’ about having made a serious error in coming on the trip. Once up on top, we walk through fields of wildflowers and along the rocky buttresses of a serpentine, share the ridge We but safe, ridge-top. with caribou and bighorn sheep and enjoy a 360-degree panorama of mountains, basins, lakes and valleys. In my mind, has become “Walking-in-the- Willmore sky Country”. the ridge and at the bottom stop for off sweat. the day’s a brief dip to rinse off Reaching camp, we put up our tents and settle in for a prepared dinner by The sunset on Persimmon campfire. long days are – summer is stunning Creek in the Northern Rockies and a sunset can linger for 3 hours. two days. Our options are day hiking, doing photography or whatever tickles After consulting our maps, fancy. one’s several of us hike into the headwaters of Persimmon Creek; sometimes we follow light horse and game trails; sometimes The Persimmon we pick our own route. headwater basin, with three branches, is typical of the extensive and multi- Willmore. branched basins found in the branch up a slate follow the right We rock streambed past a series of waterfalls and enter an alpine meadow that looks The creek as if it has never seen humans. meanders through fields of mountain avens and is edged with cottongrass. I cup my hand for a drink of crystal

Some of our hiking group has Willmore is home to some of Alberta’s Alberta’s is home to some of Willmore the iconic species – the grizzly, wolf and the caribou – and it serves to protect roughly 20% of the total population of mountain goats and Alberta. Other bighorn sheep in mammals commonly found here cougars, coyotes, include elk, deer, wolverines, lynx and black bears. Marmots, rock pika, and ptarmigan can be found in the higher alpine sub-alpine environment The areas. contains white spruce, lodgepole pine, balsam fir and aspen poplar. Skyline trail. Rocky tells us, during dinner at the campfire, that our next camp will be on Persimmon Creek, sixteen If we Valley. Wildhay kilometres up the want to avoid the horse trail, we can pick our own route. I pull out my topos and see that by climbing the unnamed ridge that runs north of and parallel to River (we now call it the Wildhay the Ridge), we can walk in the Wildhay alpine for almost the entire distance fourteen That’s to Persimmon Creek. kilometres of walking in the sky without trails! extensive backcountry experience; others are making their first trip and are unsettled by the prospect of climbing to we set a the top of the ridge. However, enjoyable for everyone and pace that’s We come to the first stream crossing We Nest Pass region reach the Eagle’s We Hikers on the unnamed ridge running parallel to the Wildhay River. For more of Ray’s of Ray’s For more River. to the Wildhay Hikers on the unnamed ridge running parallel http://raysweb.net see his website photos and information about Willmore : © R. V. Rasmussen V. : © R. PHOTO back into disdain mode. We follow the We back into disdain mode. Wildhay heavily forested, relatively flat on an abandoned dirt road Valley River built 50 years earlier to fight a forest fire. closed to motor vehicles and it’s True, has partly reclaimed itself, but “Why,” I ask myself as I trudge along, “have I elected to spend any time at all on a dirt been beaten to road that looks as if it’s death by horse traffic?” I have since come to realize that the road in is the price of paid, and a fair one at that, for the rest the trip. There are no after three kilometres. a and today it’s Willmore bridges in The crossing is cold, knee-deep wade. but bridgeless wilderness is a plus for me. More good news comes over the next Valley Wildhay few kilometres as the broadens out and the Berland Range to the east and the Persimmon Range to the west begin to poke up above pine, now that spruce and aspen benches. It’s I relax into the steady rhythm of walking that breaks down the urban armour I have built up since my last visit to the mountains. eighteen kilometres later and find our camp. None of the six well established campsites in the region is visible or we pitch our tents this As easy to find. first night I notice that no other camps or people are visible—a rare treat for someone used to routes like Jasper’s Fourteen days after starting we return at the Willmore My thoughts about for Willmore Having now hiked in basin, from there cross a bench into the basin, from there cross a bench into the South Sulpher watershed, and then move across a divide into the upper Rock Creek take a layover day to climb We Valley. and walk the crest of the 12 km long we cross from Starlight Range. Finally, through Eagle’s Valley the Rock Creek Nest Pass and reach our first camp in the Valley. Wildhay along the dirt road that I objected to so Our feet have strenuously on the first day. toughened up, we have gotten leaner, and even the most inexperienced person in our group now has an enthusiasm for ridge hikes and a reluctance to return home. end of that first trip were overwhelmingly scale a gentle, human positive. It’s wilderness. Its wide valleys are surrounded by mountain ridges less high, forests less dense, and contains streams more easily crossed than what you find Waterton, in the Rocky Mountain parks: possible to explore It’s and Banff. Jasper, days with no signs pointing for off-trail Seldom does one encounter the way. Those other hikers or horseback riders. experiences have brought me back to the every summer since that first Willmore trip. 20 summers, I can give some advice to people who wish to visit the park as tempting to do While it’s backpackers. a big circuit to see as much of the park as possible, I have found it far more . Vonesch D. PHOTO: Here we take two more layover days, And so it goes. Our trip winds Recreational possibilities in the park include camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross-country There are 750 skiing and hunting. km of trails. Fishing for bull trout is strictly catch and release. Canoeing and whitewater rafting can be done All motorized on the Smoky River. vehicle use is prohibited. am fairly certain that few people have set foot on our eight kilometre ridge trek After reaching the pass along the crest. we follow a trail through extensive alpine meadows, pass through an old burn filled with twisted, silver trees and reach our camp at the junction of Snow Creek and the North Fork of the Berland River. hiking into a chain of small lakes on one day and into an unnamed and untracked In the basin, there’s basin on the other. an ancient rock fall of irregular stone strewn across the meadows and I name Rock Garden.” On one it “the Druid’s see two wolves chasing a group we day, of mountain goats into some rock bands, only to turn back, heads hanging down. we encounter a group of On the other, sixty bighorn ewes and lambs. through places whose names and beauty West move up the We captivate us. Sulpher River into the Hardscrabble Pass area and make camp more than We fifty miles from our starting point. return cross-country into the Marie Lake Sharpe Visions by Sherri Sharpe, 2009. Sharpe Visions the battle to keep the battle Several of us opt for a more strenuous On Day 5, we plan to move our Conservation groups and outfitters outfitters and groups Conservation to prevent battles fought several have commercially from being Willmore included the They have developed. petition GA AWA/AF successful a of the 1970s against campaign ski-hill proposal, Willmore under the terms of its under the terms of Willmore of folding it own legislation instead Act in the 1990s, and into the Parks the campaign to have more recently, Heritage World named a Willmore site. clear water that has just come out of the clear water that has I would never mountain – something and Jasper Banff do in the heavily used watersheds. follow a We excursion the next day. trail into the South Berland headwaters basin, find a route to the ridge between it and the Persimmon Basin, and walk the spiny ridge between the two. Over the millennia, sheep and goats have made this easy by slowly beating a path into the scree-covered ridges with their hooves. From the spine of Persimmon Ridge we can see the headwaters of peaks of the Sulpher River, West the Jasper. and Northern Willmore Western Poking above them, we see the top of Mt. Robson and, the Chown and Resthaven peaks and, ice fields. On the ridge, we come across a group of fifteen bighorn rams that typically travel in all male is There groups until the mating season. and unlike Willmore a hunting season in their roadside cousins found along the highways, these rams Jasper and Banff on a rocky spur and cautiously move off continue along the ridge We disappear. until we find one of the best scree slopes I have ever run, descending to the bottom follow We centre basin. of Persimmon’s the creek reaching camp just before dusk, refreshed by a dip in a deep pool along the way. camp to the Jack-knife Pass region. we pick After consulting with Rocky, another route to the top of the Persimmon Range and make our way north along the crest until it descends into the Jack- The ridge is spiny knife Pass region. and challenging in places, but never is Willmore dangerous. Perhaps because more human scale, I find the views more famous pleasing than those on Jasper’s Skyline trail. Unlike the Skyline trail, I

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F 10 Fe a t u r e s WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 11 “City folk” should appreciate the oing to the wrote: “Going to the As John Muir horses – those men and women and their animals who take us into this province’s backcountry – although many other representatives of “adventure tourism” could have been chosen. long, distinguished role outfitters have environmental Alberta’s played in Outfitters from southwestern history. AWA’s Alberta played a crucial role in will find that the physical condition of the condition physical that the will find important. is not very camps Willmore is going home.” mountains a special kind Park is Wilderness be home that should of mountain wilderness. by every lover of experienced Willmore, enjoy I hope you are able to then some other big Willmore, or if not wilderness, as I have. in Edmonton. He Ray Rasmussen lives AWA member of has been a long time the from Retired and is a past Director. is filled Alberta, his time University of haiku poetry, with hiking, photography, changing the cat’s walking the dog and litter box. i f e L s ’ u t f i t t e r O n : A : tthews t u r e a What follows challenges White and What follows challenges Be prepared to spend your evening to spend your evening Be prepared : J. Ma PHOTO Outfitter Dewy Matthews overlooking the Continental Divide in Kananaskis Country. N perhaps how some or many readers think about work in nature. Since this issue of about concerned largely Advocate is the celebrating wilderness recreation some space is used here to discuss those who help “greenhorns” like me experience To wilderness. Alberta’s the wonders of make my challenge I rely on the strong outfitters and their Alberta’s backs of alpine grasslands that can be walked for be walked that can grasslands alpine make basins deep The numerous miles. into daylong excursions for enjoyable sense you will have the places where set foot in the first human to that you are them. camps time in primitive, established will have a Most located near water. of a board consisting fire pit and a biffy a simple pit between two trees with from the Some camps suffer below. hackings and impact of horses, tree more responsible litter—although today’s the most part outfitters have for Willmore problem. Even if the taken control of this pristine, you will camp you select is not day hiking and you spend most of each i n

o r k Are You You Are W o T By Ian Urquhart

(can you get any further

et me start with a confession. The closest I have come to being on horseback in the past twenty

Outside of the movies, Curly’s Outside of the movies, Curly’s And, as environmentalists, another L enjoyable to make base camps and do and base camps to make enjoyable Seep Creek the Hike into day hikes. from (about 10 kilometres watershed from for example, and the trailhead), interesting can do three or four there you alpine excursions to nearby cross-country and Nest Pass it to Eagle’s ridges. Make await you. It’s five or six scenic hikes top of to the possible to hike off-trail ridges and even to the Willmore most in complete safety tops of many peaks But moderate effort. with several hours of through the park, if you’re backpacking have an easy time hefting a you won’t tops of those ridges 60-pound pack to the you’ll be stuck and for the most part along the valley walking the horse trails trackless The ridges tend to be bottoms. years was by watching the 1991 movie years was by watching the 1991 movie City Slickers Work or Do You an Environmentalist . Most Nature and for a Living?: Work White argues, modern environmentalists, “equate productive work in nature with destruction.” away than that?). In that film, when Jack a grizzled character Curly, Palance’s cowboy weaned on the wilds of New Mexico, snarled “City folk!” at his clients I cringed; I knew he was venting at me. characterization of me – and I would wager of at least some who read the Advocate – is important to consider for snarl suggests, several reasons. Curly’s first of all, that urban dwellers like me do not or cannot appreciate people whose office is in the outdoors as opposed to a downtown tower of concrete and glass. inference we might take from Curly’s comment is that many in our community regard work in nature to be, by definition, This is the position adopted destructive. White historian Richard American by the in a powerful, provocative essay Later in this issue Margaret Main Later in this issue Margaret But the experiences children and Although I have yet to be face-to-face I see it happen over and over and over again but you know you watch those kids, when they get out, they have way stick playing in fun with a crooked more rock in the crick a or throwing the fire mean they or playing with a rope…I can occupy themselves with things that totally natural and they – the kids – are at all adjusting have any trouble don’t you know, good to see because, and it’s they do an absolute, total, flip-flop and meadow the in out are they hours within petting their horse…. as a simple, uncomplicated love or love or uncomplicated as a simple, some horses, provides of appreciation Tom motivation. outfitter’s of the good is further most of his clientele noted that nature removed from animals, and further hesitant are apprehensive and too; some large prospect of riding such about the trails. Seeing animals on backcountry or connect for people either reconnect horses and the natural the first time with will introduce wonders those horses Tom’s part of them to is a gratifying gain confidence business – to see people like they have around horses and feel something in the really accomplished mountains is very rewarding. award-winning reviews Richard Louv’s . Louv is book Last Child in the Woods very troubled by the development of “nature-deficit disorder” in many of children – modern society denies today’s them the opportunity to develop a crucial relationship with the natural world. The apprehensiveness towards horses this underlines that Tom mentioned by disorder is not limited to children; adults from it. too suffer young adults gain with horses and nature view of Vinson’s Tom is central to why his work in nature is very worthy. Parents invariably are concerned that their children are going to be bored on his multi-day pack trips, that “they are not going to have anything to do because bring their electronic toys.” they can’t compelling description of how Tom’s most children adjust to what I would call “life without Playstation” on his trips needs to be quoted in its entirety: with either of my interviewees I can tell you that, courtesy of the internet, Dewy Matthews looks every inch the iconic His weathered face, Alberta cowboy. etched by sun and wind, testifies well to

The hours good outfitters spend Is the demanding nature of the words, a “nine to fiver” the outfitting When business “is not your cup of tea.” as you run more than one hundred horses, Dewy does, much of your winter is spent preparing, working, and shoeing horses Tom for the upcoming seasons. For too, many hours are spent training his horses so he can deliver safe, enjoyable backcountry experiences for his clients. The quality of that training really “makes you or breaks you” when you are out on the trail. working with their horses is probably more important now than it was for father when he took people to Tom’s the backcountry of Jasper in the 1950s. people had could presume Sr. Tom Then, a familiarity with and a knowledge of horses that is much more rare among the clientele who come through urban largely Tom as Now, gates today. an outfitter’s in most cases the horse told me, “it’s looking after the person.” vocation enough to make it outfitter’s What aspects of their a rewarding one? Tom work in nature make outfitters like and Dewy Matthews want to get Vinson out of bed in the morning and jump into the saddle of a good horse? Elsewhere in Advocate Mishka Lysack this issue of the introduces readers (at least this one) to “biophilia,” a term coined to describe to affiliate with other our natural “urge manifested This urge, forms of life.” tthews : J. Ma PHOTO In writing this piece I was fortunate Outfitting is nothing if not demanding formation in 1965. Alberta’s outfitters in Alberta’s formation in 1965. the northern Rockies, joined by Jasper guides and Métis families, were the catalyst behind the establishment of that wilderness jewel Ray Rasmussen Willmore celebrates in this issue – Park. Outfitters more than Wilderness members AWA a generation ago, like very troubled about oil were now, and gas exploration and exploitation in the Rockies and Foothills. “So we (MLA) Willmore pressured Norman to do something about the oil and gas Vinson Tom exploration,” said outfitter “and he did. He declared the area a Sr., wilderness park where trapping, hunting, That was and fishing would be permitted. what we That’s all – no motor vehicles. wanted, of course.” to be able to interview two people who have been in the outfitting business for Jr., Vinson Tom more than a generation. in Brule, Adventures from Horseback is a second-generation outfitter who has been in business since 1979 and ventures into places such as Jasper National Park ewy Park. D Wilderness Willmore and Anchor Matthews, of Black Diamond’s D Guiding and Outfitting, first dreamed about what a life with horses could be like when he was seven or eight and he has been fortunate enough to live most of his adult life doing just that. work. If you aspire to be, in Dewy’s Mist Ridge is a great ridge walk or ride in Kananaskis Country. The Misty Range looms or ride in Kananaskis Country. ridge walk Mist Ridge is a great in the background. in the background.

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F 12 Fe a t u r e s WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 13 . Vonesch D. PHOTO: None of the foregoing should be taken be should foregoing the of None Those storm clouds are a subject were on a place where we were going to were going where we on a place were could way we was no but there go down there into that canyon because cut down they were wall of snow and was a solid were sitting We toboggan. all playin’ and her this sow grizzly there watching such a cubs…it was just kids, her two them slide down cool thing watching of snow that wasn’t that…big, solid bit until at least July. going to be leaving how many people And, you know what, And I had people from get to see that? we sat parts of the world and different was soooooooo cool.” and watched and it do not see storm to mean that outfitters that may threaten clouds on their horizon Their in nature. their ability to work place in the Land-use Framework, back reluctance country access, the province’s to grant tenure and transferability to their licences, and the qualifications of new operators are among the issues outfitters Alberta Outfitters’ such as those in the Association hope government will address soon. I am for another time though. For now, happy to stop and just appreciate why an outfitter like Dewy Matthews sees himself as blessed, as a very lucky man indeed. I will leave the last words to him: and get on get up on a good morning “To by a horse and head up a ridge and get hit thermals that change your three different temperature and then you start seeing the light hit the Rockies – what could be better?” . Vonesch D. PHOTO: Both outfitters were hard-pressed to “One time we popped up on the like an anvil or a horseshoe on an anvil like an anvil or a horseshoe on an anvil just and it’s heating up and cooling off magic.” select one experience as being the most memorable one for them and/or their guests, a Vinson’s Tom clients. For one of wholesaler from Switzerland, memorable meant not seeing anyone for fifteen days as they rode from Grande Cache to McBride, often with little or no trail, a trip that was tough on his horses and tough on people. “There Divide,” Dewy said excitedly. they and babies her and grizzly sow a was Caribou and swift fox by Thea McCaffey and Hanna Cawsey 2008. Personally, how the light at different how the light at different Personally, Sharing the mountains with his clients Even though I have been in them for 30 Even though I have been in them for 30 in them, packing years, rattling around horses and then running in them… to as keen as you take people that are young and you get when you were were their eyes to see the mountains through and the amazement….it just makes it all special to be able pretty again. It’s fresh to take somebody into these mountains and show them what we’ve got and see them just fall in love with it. It just brings it back to you why you wanted to do it so much. At the Kearl Homestead by the “Kearl Klan” 2003. At the Kearl Homestead by the “Kearl times of the day transforms mountain scenery is one of the experiences I treasure most when I am in the high But, nothing I think I have ever country. seen though can rival the portrait Dewy painted of being on a mountaintop on a cold November night: “I’ve been on top of a mountain at about 8,000 feet in in the black dark and watched November, those mountains turn...from…they go purple, and then they go rose and it’s the more than twenty-four years he has the more than twenty-four years he has spent working in nature. In conversation, his passion for the mountains is as obvious as his thick, graying moustache. For him the mountains are a tonic, an “They put you in your place, these elixir. can have the mountains,” he says. “You biggest problem in your life and if you get out in those mountains it will help They really do.” shrink that problem. is doubly rewarding for him as you can hear from the following passage: n d a a OTO: N. Douglas PHOTO: h i l i p i o : B This question draws us into the o v e of public education with individuals coming to terms with the impact of global warming and its relationship with other environmental concerns, I have developed an educational pathway that can assist people to re-connect with their desire to protect the environment. It involves engaging with questions that lead people into their own inner awareness of their connection with living beings and the biosphere. to Life Connection Our 1) What part of the natural environment – animal or plant, or part of the natural the world – do you want to protect a global warming or from most from deteriorating environment? heart of our biophilia, and highlights the specific part of the natural world that we for will defend because of our affection L e p W t a h , Life is a Miracle). i t i z e n s h i W C l a Wendell Berry Wendell r o t e c t i n g P This impulse to connect with other or re- How do we discover, n d Travel in Wilderness Areas such as the White Goat offers an “opportunity for such as the White Goat offers an “opportunity Areas in Wilderness Travel undisturbed setting.” isolation, challenge and solitude in a natural our life and relationships, nourishing our our life and relationships, nourishing our for nature understanding and affection suggests, it Wilson As and its protection. is out of this deep and abiding connection that we feel for the diverse forms of life around us that we derive our yearning to protect living beings, whether it be an animal or plant species or a feature of the boreal Alberta’s natural world, such as forest. forms of life lies at the heart of who we are as human beings, linking us to This biophilic connection a spirituality. with life enables us to recover our sense of vocation to be the guardians of life on the Earth, a calling that runs deep in the wisdom and spiritual traditions stretching like a rainbow through human history. this sense of our connection discover, and affiliation with life? In my work n v i r o n m e n t a

E , t i n g a biophilia engaged e f e n d i n g r e C By Mishka Lysack By Mishka D We know enough of our own history by now to be aware that people exploit what they have merely concluded what they have merely that people exploit to be aware know enough of our own history by now We defend what they love ( to be of value, but they

e are entering a time of e are entering a time both serious environmental peril and great opportunity

One of the more promising ways of

For Wilson, the foundation of a deep Wilson, For W in Alberta. Concerns about species in land use, global protection, water, have been warming, and pollution And yet, the numbers of growing. individuals who are actively engaged in protecting nature and wilderness continue to be small, despite the fact Albertans that polls show repeatedly that are concerned about the environment and want to protect it. How do we encourage people to expand and deepen their concerns for the environment, and translate this concern into ongoing committed action? How do we move from passive consumers and bystanders citizens to active environmental with protecting nature? encouraging environmental citizenship lies in cultivating the growth of . O. Wilson Wilson what the Harvard biologist E. O. to affiliate with calls the innate “urge other forms of life.” From our earliest age, we as human beings are powerfully attracted to life and its processes, moving “toward it like moths to a porch light.” Think of a child who is irresistibly drawn delight and to an animal, and the child’s Think joy in encountering the animal. stories and movies as of the children’s well as world stories and myths that are filled with animal characters or plants Think of our deep or natural landscapes. attraction to gardening, nature walks, All of these are hunting, and fishing. signs of our biophilia, our love of life. conservation ethic lies not in the lure of economic gain in nature, or the promise of personal health, or our enthusiasm or nostalgia for the outdoors, but in the powerful biophilic attraction and impulse to affiliate ourselves with other forms of life. Like roots of a forest, these impulses and longings grow and spread throughout

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F 14 Fe a t u r e s WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 15 grief. n grief. I shared history to our attraction to Answering these questions supports 6) What values do you and this Answering these questions as well as a as well personal also distress, we this emotional touching that we science that projects encounter of as an extinction rate may be facing of species to one-half high as one-third loss driven by global due to habitat sprawl by pollution, and urban warming, the lifetime of 2050, a date well within our children and grandchildren. Sense of Biophilic our Weaving Important Attachment into our Relationships least surprised 5) Who would be the about this part of that you feel this way they tell us What stories would nature? help us understand about you that would be surprised? What why they would not did they see you doing when you were younger that told them how important was to you? What did this tell nature them about your priorities, or what kind of person you are? us in making linkages between our biophilia and our significant relationships that have made us who and what we are. Our identity as persons is not an object or possession but it is a gift from a community of people and ecological As we identify who would be least place. surprised about our attachment to nature, we recover what such as a grandmother, calls Myerhoff Barbara anthropologist the who grounds one an “outsider-witness,” and authenticates our sense of who we are as individuals and gives a deeper reality and nature. the importance regarding person share and conserving nature? of protecting What commitments to the priority of do you and defending the environment this person have in common? When this person looks at you, how would they see nature their commitments to protecting in you and your life choices? reflected When you consider this person, in what ways could you see how you cherish as a “will” or legacy or spiritual nature this person to you? inheritance from strengthens the renewed sense of commitment that surfaces in us as we re-discover the values and commitments shaped we share with those who have that us as persons. In making these links, we also deeply sink our roots in our vocation This part of the educational journey journey educational part of the This 4) What would the impact be on the This question moves us out of takes us directly into our emotional pain emotional into our us directly takes we lose sense of grief as and abiding climate natural realm through more of the or degradation, change, environmental not only It uncovers species extinction. even self- of guilt and shame, our sense but past behaviour, loathing, about our with our anger and brings us face-to-face what is being lost in moral outrage about fear and anticipatory the present, and our future holds. grief about what the question, we In struggling with this bond we need experience the emotional in our protection if we are to persevere how As we reflect on of life on Earth. is due to human ecological destruction of responsibility for our sense activity, caring for the ecological communities of flora and fauna and the web of life around us is aroused. human community on Earth if one-third to lose this part of to one-half of us were human activity? through nature ourselves as individuals and places us in now make our We the community of life. bonds of attachment a universal concern shared by the entire human community. As we encounter the sheer breadth of our impact on the planet and the emotional distress we are beginning to experience, we find that our sense of loss is both a . Vonesch D. PHOTO: 2) Why did this part of the natural 2) Why did this part gives a Answering these questions Aurora Borealis by A.O.K. Team, 2007. A.O.K. Team, by Borealis Aurora it. As we travel into ourselves to answer to answer ourselves into As we travel it. the political bypass we this question, our or left, and recover splits of right This affection for the planet. affection sense of foundation for our becomes the justice and environmental protectiveness our species, and galvanizes for threatened on their behalf. commitment to advocate to you? How world become so important this part of have you come to cherish some with us so deeply? Share nature in which this part stories about the ways heart. your entered of the natural realm to our biophilic history through time a personal attachment, as we develop narrative that has a past, present, and future, a sequence of experiences that coalesce into a tapestry of meaning and value that unfolds through time according As our sense of history emerges, to a plot. for nature we discover that this affection has a reality that spreads through our That lives like vines of endearment. which we love so deeply and cherish as part of ourselves is deeply embedded in our history. Sense of Loss Environmental Our would it make to 3) What difference was you to know that this part of nature human lost or became extinct through activity? will it make for the 9) What difference envision It is helpful if we can personal commitment and public impact public impact and commitment personal of a community choosing through action. environmental When move in this direction? Earth as we history, on this period of we look back actions be part in what ways will our of the planet? What of the turning point us as persons will it make for difference in this way? as we take action together of our actions or picture the impact ecological of protecting the planet’s communities. It is easy to be recruited count not do actions our that thinking into makes little or no for much and that it defend if we take action to difference and protect life communities and species. Given this inertia, being empowered to engage in sustained and committed action relies on our continued cultivation of a growing awareness of how our actions contribute to the global groundswell of activity that Paul Hawken describes also We . in his book, Blessed Unrest of the best need to “do hope,” to offer who we are to the chorus of voices and action that promise a great sea-change of possibility out of our loving care for the life that and abiding affection encompasses and embraces us on all cannot win this battle to save sides. “We species and environments without forging an emotional bond between ourselves and nature as well – for we will not fight to save what we do not love.” (Stephen Gould) Town Alberta Important Note: and Warming Halls on Global Decline Environmental This educational process will be part Halls on Town Alberta of the series of global warming and environmental decline that will be held in locations If over the next year. Alberta throughout you are interested in participating in the Hall nearest you, or wish to help Town Hall, please contact Town a organize Greg Powell, at the Project Coordinator, [email protected]. Assistant Professor is an Mishka Lysack at the in the Faculty of Social Work In February 2008 University of Calgary. first teach-in the university’s he organized on global warming and climate change. . Vonesch D. PHOTO: 8) Who could you join with in order to 8) Who could you join with in order Environmental writer and public is, is not as directly related to saving the is, is not as directly related to saving the ecological community in the Canadian Arctic as is writing the Minister of the Environment and the Prime Minister (or Premier). accomplish these goals? What community action could you belong of environmental to that would amplify and multiply your efforts? Bill McKibben, describes how educator, groups act as echo chambers for our in protecting the environment. He efforts also suggests that the mere addition of actions by individuals does not create a critical mass for change, especially given the serious time limitations that we face regarding global warming and the serious deterioration of ecological communities around the globe. McKibben suggests that if individuals such as Martin Luther struggling for racial and those King Jr. equality had continued to desegregate one lunch counter at a time, merely adding up their actions over time, then Obama would not be President of the United States. Rather than addition, McKibben proposes multiplication of our actions for the environment, where the public drama of just and ethical actions of protecting nature through advocacy and education spreads virally through the public consciousness and acts as “salt” or “leaven” to preserve and can only We transform society-in-nature. accomplish this action of multiplying Our journey into our sense of Stupendous by Team Green, Alberta High School of Fine Arts, 2006. Arts, Alberta High School of Fine Green, Stupendous by Team Commitment to Action and Engaged Commitment to Citizenship Environmental to do in 7) What would you be prepared this species or part in the to protect order natural world? biophilic attachment to nature is not but simply an experience to enjoy, the starting point and foundation for committed engagement in the arena of Resigning ourselves ecological advocacy. to being passive bystanders, or ecological “free-loaders” (benefiting from the efforts of others protecting and conserving the environment, but taking little or no decisive personal action) is simply not need to become active We an option. in many forms of public education and political advocacy if we are to be true to we the intensity of the love and affection And the actions feel for the natural world. need to be relevant to the species or part of nature we wish to protect. Recycling milk cartons, as good an activity as that of protecting the environment into a network of like-minded individuals. are all familiar with the practice of We passing on physical objects to others as part of our will. But, what about seeing the intensity of our commitment to nature as a spiritual or ethical “will” that is passed on to each of us as a person? Such an image enhances our sense of the responsibility we need to cultivate if we are to be worthy of receiving such a set of values as our inheritance from our forbears.

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F 16 s s o c i a t i o n e w s A N WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 17 - Christyann Olson, Executive Director OTO: R. Henderson PHOTO: 2009 i l d e r n e s s W This year’s team challenge saw 22 teams This year’s competing for three prizes: most climbs by a team, best fundraising by a team, and the spirit award. Great spirit animated and drove all Team of the teams that took up the challenge. QuIC – Orange won the prize for most climbs by a Tower team; their members collectively climbed the 4 raised an impressive Team 83 times! EnCana Shell Canada, and very welcome $2,240. Finally, took home the spirit Platinum Sponsor, the event’s award for the fun they had and shared from climbing the stairs over and over! f o r u n R n d a b Run for Wilderness Run for th l i m OTO: D. OLSON PHOTO: A blast from the horn kick-started the day and signaled the start of the Run for Wilderness. Eighty racers dashed around our Wilderness. the start of the Run for blast from the horn kick-started the day and signaled A was Pialoux Vincent This year Tower. up 802 stairs to the top of the Calgary urban adventure race course before sprinting in 10 55 seconds. Lesley Farrar was the fastest female; she completed the course the fastest, finishing the race in 8 minutes, She right) had the distinction of being the oldest racer this year – 77 years young. minutes, 34 seconds. Nessie Hollicky (above minutes, 58 seconds. completed the course in an amazing 17 The 7 ay to focus on the good ach year we use Earth Day to focus on the good E Earth Day. annual celebration of AWA’s is Wilderness Climb and Run for our children and planet and the legacy we will leave for and the people who care about our Alberta things happening in Alberta’s years ago, this event has grown into arguably 18 Tower the base of the Calgary grandchildren. Started as a display at sponsors who make this event a success all of our members, supporters and would like to thank AWA premier Earth Day event. Alberta. Wild and ensure we continue defending C Shell Canada’s Al Dunlop Shell Canada’s : R. Henderson Photo Team Challenge Team

OTO: D. OLSON PHOTO: Will Farrington Memorial Award Award Memorial Farrington Will presented to the outstanding volunteer. volunteer, AWA a dedicated Ed Hergott, was the recipient for his tireless effort and attention to detail in monitoring and managing a safe environment for racers and climbers alike. Special awards this recognized Ellen Querengesser, Ellen, a new volunteer coordinator. year’s did an outstanding AWA, volunteer with Board member AWA job; Chris Saunders, was also and back for his 4th year, recognized for his significant contribution to the success of the event. Volunteers Volunteers volunteers One hundred and fifty-seven event a safe and made this year’s hours are enjoyable success. Countless and executing involved in planning Wilderness. for the Climb and Run of This year saw the introduction - the first annual another new award . OTO: D. Olson PHOTO: 2009 Henderson R. OTO: PHOTO: i l d e r n e s s W families. f o r

OTO: R. Henderson PHOTO: u n Wild Alberta Expo Wild R n d a b the Barbara Sherrington Memorial husband Peter), captured this year’s husband Peter), captured this year’s this year complemented as it was by receiving their award from Barbara’s receiving their award from Barbara’s l i m prize. The interactive and educational The interactive and educational prize. Award, for the best display. More than for the best display. Award, Fiddlers and Raging Grannies were on entertainers and musicians. The Prairie entertainers and musicians. the award this year. The Department of the award this year. day long. The Expo was a huge success day long. dimensions of the Suffield display were face painters and a non-stop program of C 30 organizations were in the running for 30 organizations learned from and enjoyed the display all This year AWA introduced a new award, AWA This year hand, singing to the jubilant crowd while wildlife mascots entertained children and National Defence, Suffield (right, bottom, National Defence, Suffield (right, bottom, very impressive. Children and adults alike Climb for Wilderness Wilderness Climb for and View Calgary Mountain for MLA Deputy Mayor John Mar and David Swann, climb. were on hand to open the stairs for the public Alberta Liberal Party, leader of the filled the stairwells throughout the day More than 1,200 climbers and participants Richard Guy (above left) was this year’s oldest climber; at 92 he managed to climb the Richard Guy (above left) was this year’s 90 year old wife, was the oldest woman to climb stairs seven times. Louise, Richard’s climber this year. Ulmer was our youngest Four year old Morganna Tower. the OTO: D. Olson PHOTO:

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A N 18 s s o c i a t i o n e w s A N WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 19 OTO: N. Douglas PHOTO: Families This year participate in the event each year. number of families A we took time to recognize the Knowlton-Cockett Family (left). and Rowan - have Audrey Lane Robin, The foursome - Polly, Audrey for 12 years! Wilderness participated in the Climb for Lane and Rowan have taken home awards year after year for their tremendous athletic ability and tenacity in climbing the stairs over – 525 feet above street leve1! Tower and over to the top of the Climb and Run for Thank you one and all for making this year’s a tremendous success! Wilderness They brought a special quality to the award, as they were climbing and They brought a special quality to the award, OTO: D. Olson PHOTO: 2009 Award Neale Memorial Ward suddenly Calgarian and Canadian, passed away Neale, a well known Ward Last year was a tremendous Ward and cared for him deeply saddened. and left all who knew year he engaged folks of all ages each Wilderness; and Run for character in the Climb led and untiring devotion to the natural world His friendship way. to participate in some Ward was a significant fundraiser for annual award in his name. us to initiate the first outstanding fundraising spirit recognizes Award Neale Memorial Ward the event and the Alex Bill and his sons award was presented to Bill Overend. the This year, and success. this year they brought along been climbing for three years now and and Sam (left) have family raised all their funds a cousin to join in the fun. Bill and his their mom, Patti, and they Together service associated with the climb. through the online sponsor-a-climber received the Overends In addition to the Earth Day trophy, raised an amazing $4,750. Alberta Aurum Lodge, an ecotourism a gift package that included a stay at beautiful places”. of “Ward’s Lodge in the heart of the Bighorn and one i l d e r n e s s W f o r u n R n d a b Henderson R. l i m C OTO: PHOTO: raising funds for the first time and emblazoned “Climbing for Ward” on their t-shirts. The pair had supported Ward Neale’s climbs climbs Neale’s Ward The pair had supported Ward” on their t-shirts. “Climbing for raising funds for the first time and emblazoned for themselves. Tower climbed the challenge and Ward’s up through the years and this year they took Phyllis Hart Award Award Phyllis Hart arrive at this Everyone was thrilled to see Phyllis (right) event. She is a hero, an icon, for the Climb for year’s Tower she was still climbing the At 93 years Wilderness. Meeting folks and made it to the top without a problem. Phyllis inspired all of us to better all along the way, wilderness and health and a greater appreciation of our At 94 her physician did not allow her to climb, wildlife. raising funds and attending but she participated anyway, at When Phyllis spoke the event. Phyllis is 95 this year. she recounted how much this event the awards ceremony, gratitude that meant to her and expressed her humble The Phyllis Hart in her name. established an award AWA the most climbs. Mary Luciuk and Diane McCallum (above right) is given to the senior female (over 75 years) who completes Award with 8 climbs each. were joint winners this year; the pair tied lson C. O PHOTO:

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in its - Nigel Douglas : C.Olson Photo The Alberta government’s report, Alberta government’s The hunt would also believes the AWA distinguish the sandhill crane (shown the highly endangered from here) whooping crane. It is not always easy in the field to process has made some progress, made some progress, process has if need to be addressed shortcomings focus on Alberta’s it truly will reduce and growth,” “economic development majority of a large a shift requested by LUF survey. Albertans in the 2007 Sandhill Cranes attention that AWA’s It recently came to to Alberta government may propose the season for sandhill introduce a hunting has AWA Although Alberta. cranes in when it is no objection to hunting demonstrably sustainable, we doubt this would be the case with sandhill cranes. Species Alberta Wild General Status of 2005, recognizes the sandhill crane as a species sensitive to human disturbance The report suggests that the species is (v)ulnerable to wetland loss boreal forest habitat and so, if nothing is currently being done to address this continuing wetland loss, the precautionary principle would suggest that introducing a hunt now would be inappropriate. pose an unacceptable risk to the critically endangered whooping crane. 2001 report, Alberta government’s The Alberta, Status of the whooping crane in states “accidental shooting due to misidentification and poaching are still the government’s Although of concern.” proposals for hunting sandhill cranes downplay the risk of whooping cranes being shot, the risk of even one misidentified whooping crane being awareness awareness The long-awaited Bill 36, the Alberta Bill 36, the The long-awaited broad, sweeping This law outlines the Act also does The Land Stewardship Once again, environmental In the north, the RAC for the Lower While the Land-use Framework environmental community. community. environmental Act (ALSA) quickly Land Stewardship April, second in passed first reading and was passed for the reading in May, at the beginning of third, and final, time sessions took June. Public information throughout place around the province legislation to May to explain the was firmly The emphasis there Albertans. consultation. on explanation, not pull existing powers required to legislation into line to make it comply with LUF principles. But two major concerns expressed by many are first, the tremendous amount of discretion given to the cabinet and second, the severe limitations on opportunities for public input, comment or appeal. environmental and a number of AWA groups expressed this view during a Morton, Ted May meeting with the Hon. Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. little to address the issues of interim measures and existing dispositions. Companies with development projects in the pipeline are receiving a clear message that it would be to their benefit to push ahead with their plans as quickly weaker, as possible while the older, This is planning guidelines are in place. despite the fact the LUF acknowledges that the current land management system “risks being overwhelmed by the scope and pace of activity.” representatives have been ignored - this time with respect to the membership on the South Saskatchewan Regional The Advisory Council (RAC). Alberta government invited the Environmental Network to submit three nominees to fill this role; all of the were rejected. nominees Network’s Athabasca region has been making slow progress - it was still awaiting its terms of reference at the time this update was written. Nevertheless, public and information sessions have been scheduled throughout the region. , is and at immediate - Nigel Douglas as at immediate Alberta Woodland Alberta Woodland stood at just five . Some biologists now t e s a d p U Even if this individual survived the woodland caribou continue Alberta’s eighteen identified Alberta’s Of Alberta’s woodland caribou: one herd caribou: one woodland Alberta’s to go down, seventeen endangered woodland caribou Alberta’s April, more blow in population took one of one of the with the likely extirpation eighteen remaining caribou province’s caribou herd, The North Banff herds. identified in the 2005 Caribou Recovery Plan risk of extirpation, avalanche killed April individuals. But an fate of The four of those five animals. is unknown; Parks the other individual Canada has continued to search for its tracks but without success. avalanche, maintaining a viable breeding The herd is population is impossible. in isolated from the nearest adjacent herd Jasper National Park, and it would likely by require a major translocation effort Parks Canada to create any chances of long-term persistence. to follow the classic pattern of a species being driven to extirpation or local extinction. Populations become fragmented into smaller and more isolated herds that become increasingly vulnerable to events such as the animals. avalanche that killed the Banff caribou herds, just three were listed as stable in 2005. Six were in decline

. Three (including the Three (including six were unknown. were listed as herd) Banff unlikely to survive for long because of persisting industrial encroachment into continues to disagree AWA their habitat. with this point of view; we stress that all herds are eminently caribou Alberta’s find would just if government recoverable the modicum of political will needed to protect their habitat from these industrial incursions. risk of extirpation the Little Smoky herd, another that argue herd at immediate risk of extirpation Framework Alberta Land-use The While Land-use Framework legislation is moving forward, another Regional Advisory Council has been announced with minimal representation from the

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W W 20 Wi l d e r n e s s Wa t c h WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 21 - Nigel Douglas AWA hopes that the South AWA an is likely to play While wind energy CB ER Following an external enquiry, At the same time, lawyers for rassland Natural Natural Grassland Alberta’s of percent less and as native prairie remains Region of the Grassland Natural than one percent the Consequently, Region is protected. grassland remaining native value of the is very land in this region on Crown significant. planning process Saskatchewan regional (LUF) will of the Land-use Framework help resolve eventually discuss and as this. So, it is land-use conflicts such policy decisions important that no major process has run are made before this the The LUF emphasizes its course. the human importance of minimizing “Land is a footprint on the landscape: resource and so limited, non-renewable should not be wasted. Land-use decisions should strive to reduce the human landscape.” Alberta’s footprint on future, energy Alberta’s important role in it is crucial that the province learns the lessons from the past. Like any activity, wind development should be allowed only where the costs – environmental and social – do not outweigh the To lose some of our economic benefits. few remaining public grasslands and the numerous endangered species they support would be too high a price to pay. Sullivan hearing Petro-Canada Resource Conservation The Energy Board (ERCB) hearing process into application to drill 11 Petro-Canada’s sour gas wells in Kananaskis Country continues to limp forward at a painfully the hearing itself Although slow pace. ended on January 30, it was temporarily postponed after it was revealed that Petro-Canada and ERCB employees had entered into a personal, non-business relationship. determined that the hearing had not been compromised, but this did not satisfy the The many opponents of the development. decision to continue with the hearing was appealed by lawyers for the Big Loop Group and on May 7 lawyers for Royal D Ranches submitted A Adderson and a motion to have the entire hearing suspended until the appeal had been heard. the Stoney Nakoda Nations filed a Notice of Question of Constitutional

- Carolyn Campbell - Carolyn A multi-sector Coordinating A sources Although alternative energy a discussion period the group voted to put the following management priorities at the top of the list: develop a tool box of policies for headwaters management; integrate watershed issues into the regional planning Land-use Framework’s process; and develop a headwaters The management planning process. specific management tools assigned the highest priority were valuation of ecosystem goods and services, education and monitoring. Committee was formed to develop ways to move these the most effective The Committee will priorities forward. take into account current initiatives, Planning and Watershed including Advisory Council actions and upcoming Land-use Framework regional planning The in the South Saskatchewan region. meeting will be organizing Committee’s held sometime in June. and Public Lands Power Wind has recently Alberta government The come under increasing pressure to facilitate installation of wind energy facilities on public lands in southern believes this would be an AWA Alberta. inappropriate use of public lands, lands managed by the government on behalf of Albertans. all such as wind power are preferable to using non-renewable resources such as oil and coal, it is vital that renewables are not developed at the expense of important landscape features. Only 43 - Nigel Douglas . Vonesch D. PHOTO: AWA believes that initiating a believes that initiating AWA van Berger, MLA from Livingstone- MLA Evan Berger, Mountain Meadows by Melissa Sacco, Alannah Whitaker of Blessed Damien Mountain Meadows by Melissa Sacco, School 2003. shot is quite simply too high for such an shot is quite simply too high for such an endangered species. Only 344 individuals entire are believed to make up the world’s whooping crane population. provincial sandhill crane hunt would be inappropriate at the current time. May Workshop Charts Course for Charts Course for Workshop May Headwaters Management On May 1, fifty decision makers and advisors gathered in Cochrane to discuss issues and priorities around managing headwaters – the heights of Alberta’s land in the mountains and foothills from which most of our drinking water originates. Participants represented a diversity of sectors and interests found in the headwaters regions of the Oldman, Bow and Red Deer River watersheds. Association played a Wilderness Alberta this workshop, leading role in organizing part of the legacy of actions arising from the successful Headwaters science in November organized AWA workshop 2008. Macleod, presented an update of the Land-use Framework planning process. This included an overview of the now Act. Stewardship Alberta Land passed Five panelists, representing rural and ranching urban municipalities, forestry, and provincial parks, discussed positive Alberta aspects as well as gaps in how currently manages its headwaters. Breakout groups discussed management issues and identified several top priorities After group. to carry forward to the larger - Christyann Olson errero’s The fundamental premise of Herrero’s those ends Herrero gathered To ocky Mountain Mountain SRD , Rocky Manager Area of the the findings to present House of Bighorn discuss protection report and factors favour Many critical Wildland. known of the area greater protection including Wildland, as the Bighorn non-motorized security, watershed perhaps most of recreation value, and particularly critical all, wildlife habitat, is optimistic AWA grizzly bear habitat. designations that the current FLUZ that legislated can be upgraded and of the area protection and designation grizzly bear habitat that includes critical will launch AWA will be achieved. with a series of the final report in June the province presentations throughout Then of the report. to share the findings we will enlist help from others to let the government know they support effective We Wildland. protection of the Bighorn also will help those concerned with the impact of recreation activities on natural areas to learn about our methodology and results. works in bear country. of book is that improving our knowledge bear behaviour and ecology may reduce the odds of unwanted encounters with grizzly and black bears. On the one hand, he seeks to reduce our fears of bears; on the other hand, he wants to insure that the fears we have are grounded firmly in reality. and analyzed 414 detailed records of human/bear encounters starting in 1872 National Park Yellowstone (the year was created) and ending in 1980. Just over two-thirds of those encounters were with grizzlies, the species he devotes most of his attention to in the first half of the book. His first five chapters examine, sometimes in stark detail, the circumstances related to incidents resulting in injuries or death. He discusses sudden encounters with grizzlies, provoked attacks (such as by photographers), and how risks of injuries increase significantly if grizzlies lose their wariness of people and associate people and campgrounds with food. Is Resource While , covers five years Sustainable wilderness gem offers gem offers wilderness 2 The final report on AWA’s Bighorn AWA’s The final report on Development, and Bruce Cartwright, the Access Management Plan Working? Working? Access Management Plan the in the Use Monitoring Recreational Bighorn Backcountry unbounded opportunities for peaceful, opportunities for unbounded believes AWA recreation self-propelled fragility of the landscape that the very the levels of is what should determine place there. activity allowed to take was monitoring project Wildland The report, 2009. completed in March monitoring in of recreational access 2003 and 2008. It the Bighorn between motorized use details increased illegal of trails and makes a strong case for the removal of motorized trails from the The report also Prime Protection Zone. discusses the findings of a user survey of that strongly favours greater protection Ted the Hon. has met with AWA the area. of Minister Morton, years.” A slightly revised second edition A years.” arrived in bookstores in 2003. In either edition Herrero, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science at the University timeless advice and offers of Calgary, analysis to anyone who hikes, camps, or of timeless, rugged mountains and and mountains rugged of timeless, is sometimes waters, it pristine remote, its frailty. hard to appreciate km this 4,000 - Nigel Douglas o r n e r C s ’ d e r . The first edition of this classic The first . a e R Such tragic encounters – what causes t seems unlikely that the Sullivan It seems unlikely This year’s Victoria Day long weekend Victoria This year’s was a memorable one for people who outdoors. For many their Alberta’s enjoy most vivid memories of the weekend may greeted that snow and cold bitter the of be the unofficial start of the camping season. more than two-dozen campers Sadly, east of Swan Hills likely always will remember the long weekend for a much more exceptional event – the mauling of a teenage boy by a black bear. them, what may be done to avoid them, and what may be done to minimize the risks of injury and death to people and bears – are the centrepiece of Stephen Their Causes and Attacks: Bear Herrero’s Avoidance study of bear behaviour and ecology was published in 1985; five years later it was recognized as “the most important scientific work on bears in (the) past 25 Reviewed by Ian Urquhart Bear Attacks: Bear Stephen Herrero, (Toronto: Avoidance, Their Causes and McClelland and Stewart, 2003).

Bighorn Wildland Wildland Bighorn more than Wildland, The Bighorn Alberta, sums up the anywhere else in wild Alberta’s contradictory nature of hauntingly beautiful landscape A spaces. eneral of General Attorney with the Law CB ER question whether They Canada. decide needed to has the jurisdiction of consultation, on the “adequacy with and compensation” accommodation the First Nations. to a resolution application will come legal The numerous any time soon. their time to run avenues will all take ERCB their courses. Even when a final a lengthy appeal decision is reached, wildlife In the meantime, the is likely. in southern and the ranching operations and life on the Kananaskis Country reserve have been given a Valley Eden But, whether this temporary reprieve. remains to be is just a stay of execution seen.

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(D) 40 feet (D) 55 yards (D) 100 yards (D) 100 yards (D) 200,000 Whether playing dead is an Whether playing dead (C) 33 feet (C) 150 yards (C) 50 yards (C) 50 yards (B) Hedysarum (Hedysarum spp.) (C) 100,000 incidents that did not result in injuries) or in injuries) not result that did incidents most popular second away (the running If none of 39 times). action – mentioned abort its leads the bear to these actions the ultimate attack Herrero recommends dead. resistance – playing act of passive behind lock your hands Lie face down, you neck, and leave your neck to protect protect your body. your pack on to help to an attack depends appropriate response nature of the attack. fundamentally on the a encounter, If, instead of a sudden camp in the evening grizzly enters your you should assume and rips a tent open yell, flee, and/ this is a predatory attack: To play dead, in Herrero’s or fight back. (Answers follow Margaret Main’s book review, page 25) book review, Main’s (Answers follow Margaret (B) 24 feet (B) 333 yards (B) 25 yards (B) 25 yards (B) 50,000 True or False? True (A) 10,000 True or False? True (A) 500 yards (A) Bear (B) Dog (C) Snake (D) Bee? (A) 15 feet (A) 10 yards (A) 10 yards in resealable plastic bags, (A) Clean up the campsite, store the food/garbage and set up camp where you do not see food, (B) Keep going and find a place to camp garbage, or bear sign. of False? True (A) Horsetail (Equisetum spp.) canadensis) (Shepherdia (C) Buffaloberry Berries are an important food source bears rely on to fatten up before moving Berries are an important food source bears rely on to fatten up before moving estimated that grizzlies Yukon into their winter dens. Grizzly research from the during in the fall. How many eat a tremendous amount of buffaloberries did this research indicate grizzlies could eat daily? buffaloberries black bear’s. length and toe characteristics. The claws of a grizzly are longer than those length and toe characteristics. toes are more separated and arc more than a of a black bear and a grizzly’s What is the highest a grizzly bear is known to have climbed up a tree What is the highest a grizzly bear is known errero recommends should be maintained What is the minimum distance Herrero recommends should be maintained your tent should you set up your When camping, how far downwind from a backcountry campsite where you find What should you do if you come across mature plants because of their high cellulose content. Bears prefer to eat large, Which of the following plants are important grizzly bear foods? during an attack? between a photographer and a grizzly bear? cooking area? leftover food, garbage, and bear sign? is preferred course of action His preferred course of udden encounters with black bears almost never lead to injury. udden encounters with black bears almost 1. S 2. 3. 4. for storing food be? ow far downwind of camp should trees 5. H 6. 7. 8. 9. The tracks of grizzly and black bears may be differentiated according to claw 10. The tracks of grizzly and black bears may be differentiated

Quiz on Bear Behaviour and Ecology: Behaviour Quiz on Bear to be killed in an attack by a: Are you more likely 11. iven the unpredictability of the unpredictability Given you do? a failsafe cannot identify Herrero bears, a charging If he faced option to follow. the bear would not run from grizzly he stand his it. He would either or shout at the slowly back away from ground or eye while never making talking to it bear, contact. of highlights, I suspect, the importance understanding gained the knowledge and Had he relied from his field experiences. reported they did solely on what people sudden encounters during non-injurious either he would have recommended (the action reported shouting at the bear – in 179 grizzly the most – 42 times offers many many offers Bear Attacks Bear Let’s say, even after taking these and say, Let’s Collectively, these chapters offer chapters offer these Collectively, most important piece of Herrero’s When it comes to traveling in the helpful suggestions about what you can do to minimize the chance of a sudden If you are in encounter with a grizzly. open country scan ahead for any signs of bears (this includes looking for birds that may be scavenging a carcass); if you see a bear from a distance and it is unaware of you move quietly but quickly downwind of the bear using whatever cover is available to you; be aware of which way the wind is blowing; since some protection climbing a tree offers from grizzlies be aware of what trees may be available to climb; when camping be vigilant when it comes to storing your food and garbage. other precautions, you have a sudden What should encounter with a grizzly. Attacks that do not fit obviously within not fit obviously that do Attacks next discussed are three categories these aggressive chapter examines and the sixth that did not result acts by grizzlies discussing black bear After in injury. 8 Herrero in Chapters 7 and encounters book with the first half of the concludes what we can do to a chapter discussing bears. avoid encounters with to what the an invaluable guide camper should do responsible hiker or details of the While the in bear country. may be gruesome documented attacks realist when Herrero is the consummate risks of bear it comes to putting the The risks of encounters into perspective. visitors to national encounters are small; parks are much more likely to be injured in accidental falls or motor vehicle accidents than by a grizzly encounter. And, if we follow the advice of this self- those described “scientific handicapper,” risks should be even smaller. advice to avoid bear encounters is simple – use your brain. Plan your trip: know the species of bears that live where you intend to visit; learn about where bears times of are likely to be at different what foods they are likely to the year, seek and how to interpret the signs they leave (several chapters in the last half of this essential ecological the book offer information); ask wardens or park officials if there have been any garbage problems where you plan to be; think about what you will do if you or someone in your party is injured. backcountry is Bear Attacks Bear Reading a copy of Louv quotes a growing body of Serious consequences follow from the venture into the backcountry. sound advice for novice and expert alike. If you want to put the risks of entering bear country into perspective and learn about how you can minimize those risks further take the time to consult this classic before your next trip outdoors. regarded psychiatrists, sociologists, educators and environmentalists and a it list of further reading. Importantly, practical activities anyone can also offers exposure and use to increase children’s involvement in the natural world. evidence positively linking spontaneous physical exercise and experiences in nature to higher levels of mental acuity These activities and better concentration. also help to combat childhood obesity Attention and may be useful therapies for Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder in (A.D.H.D) – issues of growing concern the last few decades. fact that, in a security-conscious society, our children are no longer free to roam essential spirit of children The outside. is impoverished when they are not given the opportunity to ponder the wonders of weedy hedgerows, skies, or even empty, situation saps their abilities This city lots. to make independent decisions and build healthy relationships with their peers. . Vonesch D. PHOTO: stopped aggressive Alaskan brown bears stopped aggressive in 92 percent of 50 incidents recorded remarkable A between 1985 and 2006. 98 percent of people carrying sprays were not injured in close encounters with brown, black, and polar bears; none of the injured required hospitalization. Bear spray clearly is an important personal safety option for anyone planning to offered in national and local parks. in offered The current expanded edition includes references to the studies of highly Bison Panel by the Troglodytes 2005. Troglodytes Bison Panel by the

States, Last Child o r n e r Edition, C nd s ’ you may not want to run you may errero co-authored a study a co-authored Herrero d e r a e Journal of Wildlife Management Journal of Wildlife First published in 2005 f you already have the first edition have the first edition If you already Last year, year, Last R

confirming the effectiveness of pepper confirming the effectiveness spray as a bear deterrent. Pepper spray parts of Canada, Australia, and several parts of Canada, countries in Europe. People are becoming committed activists to getting nature They youth. back in the lives of today’s have succeeded in raising awareness of this issue and influencing changes to the educational systems and programs kick-started a growing in the Woods movement among concerned adults, parents and educators which has now United the of much through spread ichard Louv’s The major premise of Richard Louv’s book is that the generation of children growing up today is the first to be and protected to such an extent organized that they are deprived of the opportunity to develop an essential relationship with the natural world. Reviewed by Margaret Main Reviewed by Margaret (Algonquin Books, 2008). Last Child in the Woods: Woods: Last Child in the Richard Louv, Saving Our Children from Nature- 2 Deficit Disorder, words, “would be akin to offering offering be akin to “would words, bear.” to the yourself Attacks of Bear out and buy the second edition since, as the second edition out and buy bear he does not analyze Herrero notes, since that have taken place encounters the fundamental the early 1980s since and ecology has nature of bear behaviour generation. But, not changed in the past a crucial offers for me, the second edition on the value of addition – a discussion Herrero and bear spray as a deterrent. studied Andrew Higgins systematically 1984 and sixty-six incidents between spray was used to try 1994 where pepper or curious bears. In to deter aggressive cases where pepper fifteen of the sixteen spray was used against an aggressive grizzly bear the spray appeared to work; the bear stopped the potentially dangerous behaviour it was displaying just before being sprayed. in the

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, . Bear Attacks Bear recommend this book to all parents and recommend this book to all parents and The evidence to educators at all levels. from current independent research is overwhelming. Unless modern society makes a concerted move to reverse the trend towards shutting our children away from the natural environment we will limit severely their ability to develop to their full potential; we will handicap their abilities to contribute creatively to our ailing society. . Vonesch D. PHOTO: Some may find the book weighed bears generally browse on plants during their early growth stages. All. 8. 9. (D) 200,000 claws are longer but its toes are closer together and arc less. grizzly’s A 10. Neither. data. His records up until 1980 revealed only This is true according to Herrero’s 1. with a female black bear with cubs led to four occasions when sudden encounters black between female highlights an important behavioural difference This injuries. bears and female grizzly bears. 2. (C) 33 feet. research. Most 3. (B) 333 yards. Fifty-five yards is a crucial distance in Herrero’s a sudden encounters resulting in injury took place when a person was unaware of grizzly bear until it was less than 55 yards away – a distance Herrero presumes to be already too close. 4. (D) 100 yards 5. (D) 100 yards first campsite shows all the defining features of one that may be The 6. (B) Such a bear is more likely to frequented by a habituated, food-conditioned grizzly. initiate a predatory attack. herbivores, found in many digestive organ 7. False. Bears lack a caecum, the large that contains the bacteria needed to break down and digest cellulose. Consequently A black bear’s claws are shorter and its toes are more separated and arc more. black bear’s A bear is the least likely of all four. A bee. A 11. Answers to Quiz on Bear Ecology/Behaviour Answers to Quiz on Bear taken from All answers, except to question 11, Bison by the Wales family 2004. Bison by the Wales areas. This change seems to reduce the areas. stress and anger levels in children; it also improves motor coordination and the ability to concentrate. of references down by an over-abundance to and quotations from so many learned sources; but, they are important because to the validity of the support they offer position. Richard Louv writes of Louv’s in an accessible style and I would Our children’s world has been taken world has Our children’s for Many factors are responsible The book also notes that not only The growing ‘No Child Left Furthermore, first hand experiences in the experiences hand first Furthermore, for physical necessary world are natural health. and emotional and a computers over by television, devices. of electronic growing assortment can virtual realities available While the a huge range of wonderfully represent places, the viewers experience of distant Our passively. only experience them approach to focus on a technological to a loss of direct every facet of life leads and an atrophy of experience of the world aspects the senses. In order to develop all children need to use of their intelligence, interact individually all five senses and them. with the world around the changes estranging children from nature. Modern suburban development and the disappearance of natural spaces, a lack of time in busy families, and the well meaning desire of parents to protect their children, from both real, and in many cases overblown, dangers There is a cost all share responsibility. to these changes. Growing up in an indoor sedentary environment is a ticket to mental and physical health problems later in life. Nature has been confined to national parks and free unstructured outdoor recreation has been replaced sports. Our children have by organized been “containerized” from baby seats to have taken away the We automobiles. free movement to explore needed to help build their cognitive abilities and resist stress and depression. from a lack of exposure to children suffer the natural world; everyone can benefit from outdoor experiences. Many of us are already aware of the restorative value of a natural environment. New studies They show that support this awareness. in productivity there is even a difference among workers with a view of trees and shrubs outside their windows, as opposed to those in window-less work areas. People who spend time in the natural less environment are also less angry, violent. movement is raising awareness, Inside’ particularly among educators of young children. It has been noted that in schools where children play in fenced black-top areas, they become bored and fights arise. more and more schools are Consequently, converting their play spaces to natural It included Although fire was always the Although fire was Gordon enjoyed the ranger life But even great jobs have their Gordon spent two years in the Elbow Fishing and hunting licenses were chocolate bar and go out to the barn to chocolate bar and go Then, ate the oats. eat it while his horse saddle for the return it was back into the About trip back to the Ranger station. at -30 Gordon those fifty mile roundtrips today, much different now laughs: “It’s heated 4 wheel drive my neighbour has a truck.” Gordon’s priority for a forest ranger, description of the job shows that it that. more than much involved being fire warden, game warden, forest being fire warden, game warden, forest cattle wrangler, officer, forest ranger, weatherman, and person responsible for dealing with aggressive predators in the area. because he loves horses and working outdoors. He says the best thing was that he pretty much got to be his own boss, a timeless idea that no doubt appeals to many of us today. What Gordon did not like drawbacks. about his ranger days was the “officer” in many times he had to testify Too part. court and those occasions were, by far, the least favourite part of his life as a in the Ghost and Elbow also Work ranger. included responsibilities for cattle. Here the job included counting the cattle in and out of the forest reserve, making sure they were salted, and moving them on a regular basis so they would not overgraze an area. and then was moved to Kananaskis. The lakes were what drew people to Kananaskis and Gordon encountered many more tourists there; although many of the tourists were interesting people from all over the world he certainly missed working with the ranchers. sold from the Ranger station and the weather report needed to be sent Ida did wife everyday at noon. Gordon’s most of the office work as Gordon took care of the many other duties including packing supplies into one of the two fire day rd The next spring Gordon hired on as Dealing with magnificent predators Dealing with magnificent predators such as this 200 pound cougar was and difficult duty of a dangerous was forced rangers. Gordon forest to kill this cougar because of its appetite for his yearling horses. to watch for fire and to ensure that the telephone line was in service from the top of the mountain down to the tree line. The job of lookout man was a lonely existence; his only friend that summer was a mountain goat. Alberta Forest Service. a ranger in the The qualifications for this position were to have a saddle horse and a packhorse of your own. Gordon was stationed in the Ghost River area for 10 years and during this time he married his wife Ida. Valley Water They lived in a cabin near in the summers and at the Ranger station in the winters. Daily diaries and monthly reports were due no later than the 3 of the month and had to be mailed from the nearest post office - located 25 miles Gordon recalls those away in Morley. cold and bitter -30 winter trips to the post office with the wagon road blown shut with snow and a feed of oats tied to his saddle, “No use packing lunch,” he grins, “it would be frozen.” Once he posted his reports he would treat himself to a i l d W t h e

o f l l a e c This is the third of a new Wild Lands Advocate series featuring interviews with Albertans who had the opportunity of living and opportunity of living who had the Albertans interviews with series featuring Advocate Lands of a new Wild third This is the and loved who have known will interview those Writers wilderness. largely when it was still backcountry Alberta’s working in their colourful lives. and stories from bringing you singular perspectives Alberta for many decades, wild Gordon worked for a number of While working on the Bar C Ranch in R Gordon Mathews: A Life Well-Spent in Well-Spent Life A Gordon Mathews: Country God’s By Norma Ruecker od’s country” God’s “I thought this must be says 98 year old Gordon Mathews while first wilderness reminiscing about his Gordon experience. It was 1938 when decided to escape the “dirty thirties” hunter and A in central Saskatchewan. Alaska trapper all his life, he thought would be the place for him, so he started only $2 in With to bum his way west. his pocket, and in need of work, Gordon from a was happy to accept an offer outfitter to help move horses from Banff This a lease north of the Panther River. Alberta first taste of the was Gordon’s Alaska wilderness. He never moved on to and spent the next 37 years as an outfitter, a wrangler and forest ranger in the wilds Alberta. of and years as an outfitter in the Banff There he then the Lake Louise areas. guided fishermen in summer and hunters in the fall. He also did the horse work, While including training and shoeing. shoeing a horse brought in from the wild, the frightened horse became aggressive, reared, and struck Gordon with his incident left Gordon with a The hooves. broken back and in a body cast for three put an end to his hard days That months. best memories ordon’s G as an outfitter. were of packing “real” fisherman from Lake Louise into the Baker Lakes. He did not miss “babysitting” tourists or guiding in late fall when grazing was poor and he would lie awake at night wondering where his horses would be in the morning. the Ghost River area, Gordon was offered a job as a “lookout man” by the forest It was obvious to the ranger that ranger. Gordon still needed some time to heal, so Gordon spent the next six months in the lookout atop Blackrock Mountain. There were two tasks for a lookout man:

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D 26 e pa r t m e n t s D WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 27 ordon the growing human ordon the growing human G To what should our In light of this view, document the numbers and kinds of kinds of and the numbers document out of hauling were that hunters animals Gordon In the old days, the wilderness. damage hunters did more believes meat and populations than sportsmen to animal that this but acknowledges trophy hunters the case today. may not be single threat population is the greatest e understands that to the wilderness. H jobs in the city people with steady recreate on the deserve to be able to that more weekend but is concerned that in wilderness and more people do there areas. In the old days he feels with a class of people, was a different visited the set of attitudes, who different more wilderness. He believes they had respect and that people used to come to the wilderness because they truly loved he says, “people just come it. “Now,” because they can.” He worries we have become a spoiled and entitled society that believes it has a right to everything. For him, the results of this are troubling and incomprehensible. Fortunately for Gordon, he has not returned to Kananaskis to witness the increased and animal lakes, fished out development, populations that seem to be in irreversible declines. answer is that governments do? Gordon’s the province should be looking after and protecting wilderness areas as a service to its citizens. “When they are gone,” “there is no looking back.” he offers, The single most important reason for protecting wilderness should simply be that the same beauty its unspoiled beauty, first led Gordon to believe he had found mountains Alberta’s Country in God’s and foothills. e speaks about his days in the Ghost He speaks about his days The creation of a tag system to head to head with their antlers locked locked their antlers to head with head day the about the reminisces ordon and G meadow taken in the “best” picture was the He gently hangs in Kananaskis. on the wall and remorsefully picture back there is a golf course says, “I understand there now.” area between the where he worked the Red rivers on Big Red and the Little of that type of horseback; now much and helicopters. ATVs work is done with What hurts Gordon the most is reading road vehicle the off in local papers about area. Waiparous the damage inflicted on that some He finds it hard to believe would do that and Albertans of today’s on weekends to that police are required keep these abusers of the landscape out. Discussing such travesty brings tears to his eyes. control hunting is something that Gordon is proud of. “There is not a single person Alberta who has to hunt for his in supper; therefore, no wildlife population should be pushed to extinction.” Gordon explained to me how much damage could be done to the population of a local elk herd over a five-year period if just seven cow elk were removed from that area at one time. For Gordon, we would not have tag system and the more plentiful today’s wildlife populations it has contributed to if he and other forest rangers did not . Vonesch D. PHOTO: ominion Forestry, Forestry, Dominion n the 1960s “progress” began to “progress” began In the 1960s Gordon and Ida remained at the Meadow by Jacqueline Treloar 2004. Meadow by Jacqueline Treloar e adds with a chuckle, “they got “they with a chuckle, He adds towers. of one.” the price for two rangers of his wilderness. through the door barge received Ranger station The Kananaskis provided with his Gordon was power and Service truck.Getting a truck first Forest able to drive it was was one thing, being something else. He could only drive it when the weather was down to the station were not maintained good since the roads at at that time. He typically left the truck neighbour, nearest his horse to travel back and he relied on his he Essentially, and forth to the truck. to the post office at used it just for the run trip to Calgary Seebe or for the monthly was good, Gordon as, even when weather preferred to do most of his ranger work on horseback. In those days forest rangers lived and worked “24/7” at the station; they only were allowed one day per month to go to town for supplies and to deliver reports to the Calgary office. Kananaskis Ranger Station for 15 years until Gordon retired in 1975 with more than 25 years of service. In the thirty- nine years since retiring he has never been back to Kananaskis; he does not want to see how his wilderness has changed. People tell him, he says, that the roads are paved. Gordon showed me a photograph taken by Ida. It is a wonderful image of two bull elk standing begin Lethbridge Klaus Jericho Can we? there, even when it’s say it’s We while addressing Earlier this year, Focusing on this vision, I provided Alberta, we Here, in southwestern During the same Chamber luncheon informed and willing to act in the long and willing to act in informed on our good of all life term common blessed with land. If, and when, we are follow and Albertans such leaders, will Can we accept change accept limitations? collective required for the long-term good? about preserving controversial What’s landscape integrity? Dear Editor, laud its integrity as we line up We gone. market its beauty as we We to deface it. And even watch its daily degradation. as it approaches ruin—ravaged, rutted and scarred—we sing its praises and incongruously refer to it as “wilderness.” a the value of landscape integrity during Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce luncheon, I reported that maintaining when accomplished landscape integrity, on a foundation of stunning, drop-dead- generates society’s scenery, gorgeous greatest economic reward. examples to illustrate how one county— America— in North the richest per-capita has united its business community in a way that defines success through its ability to retain aesthetic and ecological There, even the transportation integrity. and real estate sectors recognize the importance of insuring viable populations of all native species, preserving natural scenic vistas, and insuring the safe, unimpeded movement of wildlife. lack a similar – singular – winning vision. Instead, we try to be all things to even endeavour to believe We all people. that a land ethic founded without real rules and regulations can give everyone what they want while maintaining land and resource values. I reported that it would require more than 200 million dollars just to restoring abused landscapes within the greater Crowsnest Pass (including the Thank you for the informative for the informative Thank you In December 1867 my relative key economic institutions Today, Albertans, have no But, fellow often Alberta, our government In Dear Editor, Lands Wild the and needed words in Again Advocate of December 2008. to Albertans that we need you remind us into action on translate words of policy Can” or “No We the ground. Is it “Yes Cannot”? We wife and four Herman left his pregnant any children in Germany to find work, America. His journey across work, in Atlantic was hellish. His two letters the America about that trip and his arrival in describe a voyage where his survival was his primary concern. I do not know if his beloved family ever followed him or whether he was able to repay the debts he incurred in Germany and regain his honour. in our society are in very deep trouble. Now no amount of dollars, euros, or pounds seems too much for troubled or collapsed banks and companies to ask And, in spending billions to bail them for. out our society shows who it favours by conveniently relegating the health of our and soil to minor roles. water air, are creating the Land-use We fear! Will Framework for the entire province. we understand the complicated concepts involved and that good land management we agree to Will requires restrictions? limit some of our accustomed pleasures for our collective long-term good? Most Albertans do not come from my ancestor basic survival. For world of Herman’s many of us life has been pretty easy and filled with opportunities, not threats. Some of us are able to travel for pleasure, to all points of the globe. and luxuriously, toys and enjoy our technological We change the global climate as we use many of them. likes to “resolve” issues through countless stakeholder meetings which are considered failures if consensus is not does consensus reached. Unfortunately, not mean that corrective actions, when they are uncomfortable for companies and the provincial government, will need leaders who are We be taken. d i t o r E Lac La Biche Tom Maccagno, Tom t h e t o e t t e r s Beaver Lake (33.1 sq. km), Pigeon Lake (96.7) Maligne Lake Lakes (11.6), Waterton (19.71), Sylvan Lake (42.8), Lac Ste. Anne (54.5) and Bow Lake (3.21). L Put differently, the surface area of Put differently, The Provincial Government must also How can a problem be solved unless Also, the amount of surface The March 2009 issue of “National It is high time that the Stelmach t is highly unlikely that the ever unlikely that the ever It is highly these toxic lakes Perhaps the size of - - Alberta’s tailings lakes equals Beaver and Alberta’s Pigeon Lakes combined; they are as large as the last five lakes put together. come clean on the full extent and leakage Athabasca from the toxic lakes into the River and groundwater supplies. we stop denying how serious it is? date the To reclamation is a bad joke. government has apparently only certified 0.2 % of the land scarred by open pit mining as reclaimed. Meanwhile Pembina reports that this mining has consumed 47,832 hectares of the boreal forest. It appears doubtful that our boreal wetlands will ever be reclaimed. Geographic” exposed to the world the woefully inadequate, selective, and incomplete information provided by the Stelmach Government and the petroleum industry. Transparency Government comes clean! and accountability indeed. ditor, Dear Editor, posed by the toxic increasing problem ponds” will be waters in the “tailing resolved until promptly and satisfactorily size of these toxic Albertans realize the According to the Pembina water bodies. occupy 130 sq. Institute they presently they are This is hardly a “pond;” km. really tailings lakes. if we compare them can be better grasped of some better- with the surface areas Alberta lakes: known

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D 28 e pa r t m e n t s D WLA June 2009 • Vol. 17,No. 3 29 David McIntyre Crowsnest Pass Crowsnest Our current rules are decades behind behind are decades rules Our current we have established our credit, To If you have a favourite backcountry today’s needs. We cannot simply wring simply wring cannot We needs. today’s Instead, and live in the past. our hands before it prepare for the future we need to us. consumes our ethic to protect a catch-and-release time to embark on heritage fisheries. It’s landscape ethic that a catch-and-release of protection delivers this same brand headwaters of a and carries it into the cherished land. Cranberry-Orange Bread 2 cups sifted flour 2 tbsp melted butter ½ tsp salt ½ cup orange juice 1½ tsp baking powder 2 tbsp hot water ½ tsp baking soda ½ cup chopped nuts 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup coarsely cut cranberries 1 egg (please beat it slightly) 1 tbsp grated orange rind First, indulge! Overload the recipe with nuts, cranberries, and orange rind. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift dry ingredients together; add egg, melted Mix only orange juice, and water. butter, until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in nuts, cranberries, and orange rind. Pour into a greased 9”x 5” inch loaf pan. Let stand 20 minutes, then bake for 50 When minutes, or until bread tests done. The bread cool, wrap in waxed paper. improves in flavour and slices more easily if allowed to stand for 24 hours before cutting. Makes 1 loaf. recipe or food you would like to share members please send it to us. AWA with (all t disturbed me to read articles that me to read articles It disturbed Land-use Framework. One group’s group’s One Framework. Land-use to integrity landscape to bring effort iver also of the Castle R the headwaters received coverage. alarming these proposals as identified controversial What’s or controversial. integrity? about preserving landscape province actually Is it alarming that the land-abuse tide intends to reverse the Framework? by introducing a Land-use to simply Is society more comfortable landscape watch and witness further destruction? Potato Pancakes (serves 2) 1 cup potato flakes ¼ cup couscous ¾ cup flour ½ teaspoon chili powder ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon salt Grated cheese (optional) Mix dry ingredients in ziplock bag at home. In camp, add water gradually and knead bag until you have the desired Fry in hot oil or butter and consistency. serve with salsa, sour cream, ketchup these can be carried in small plastic pots, rather than entire bottles!) OTO: J. Douglas PHOTO: e s p e c i R c k c o u n t r y a B The first, by Jen Douglas, helps to The Cranberry-Orange Bread recipe hope that society, instead of instead society, I hope that media the past few weeks, Within Cooking in the White Goat Wilderness Area Area Cooking in the White Goat Wilderness o, if the theme of this issue has led you So, if the theme of this issue has led you to dig out the backpack and waterproof your boots here are two recipes you might want to incorporate into your adventures. summer’s Nigel is up to his AWA’s make sure responsibilities like introducing people our in Wilderness White Goat to the summer hikes program – be sure to ask him to make it! ;-) is taken from the Simply Simpatico cookbook published by the Junior League WLA Albuquerque. It made the current of canoe trip in Lakeland in 2008 editor’s even that much more delicious.

headwaters of the Castle, Crowsnest and Crowsnest the Castle, of headwaters rivers). Oldman abuse and accepting entrenching in loss as of millions of dollars hundreds will than collateral damage, nothing more ethic that embrace a land rise to actively integrity and, with it, preserves landscape the It’s viability. cutting edge economic to save our multi- only way we are going way the only It’s billion-dollar landscape. – and maximize – off we are going to live of natural capital. the wealth of our gift Alberta’s on reports have focused OTO: J. Douglas PHOTO: . Vonesch D. PHOTO: Fire by 3 Crazy Painters (Eric Fire Jayda Karsten, Zainar Baer, Rehmanti) Northern flicker Saturday September 26 Hike Creek Zephyr Paul Sutherland With draining into This beautiful valley, something the Highwood River offers beyond dancing creeks, peaceful woodlands and stunning mountain views. Pictographs, some over 300 years old, can still be seen today.

aturday July 11, 2009 11, Saturday July Hike Tinda Ha Ya Davies William With in (“mountain prairie” Tinda Ha Ya of the last the Stoney language) is one grass and unspoiled areas of natural Alberta — a true montane shrubland in Ha is considered a Ya The environment. route and very important elk migration range, and, as a bighorn sheep wintering to wolves. result, is very important Saturday July 18, 2009 Hike Jura Creek Heinz Unger With the Jura Creek, just east of Canmore, is in This hike beautiful South Ghost Region. picks it way up the creek and into the popular site for geologists, the A canyon. region is famous for its fossils. August 1, 2009 Saturday Hike Sage Creek Lorne Fitch With Alberta Sage Creek area of south-eastern has an impressive scale and feel of big, As we climb in and out of wide prairie. some of the creeks and coulees the sense of flat, featureless grassland will be dispelled. August 5, 2009 Wednesday Plateau Mountain Hike Pharis Vivian With The broad wind-swept summit supports a remarkable variety of plants and geological gems, with stunning vistas across the mountains and foothills.

OTO: C. Olson PHOTO: v e n t s Hikes E For more information about all For more information Marbled godwit

$20 – AWA members AWA $20 – $25 – non-members Saturday June 13, 2009 Whaleback Hike Bob Blaxley With Thursday June 25, 2009 Hills Hike Porcupine Pharis Vivian With 8, 2009 July Wednesday Dry Island Buffalo Jump Hike Barratt and Rob Tjarda With namesake – Climb to the top of the park’s the “dry island,” rising 200 metres above of an look out to the cliff-top the water, jump, and keep an eye out ancient buffalo Albertosaurus. for the bones of the Day es Summer Hik AWA way to program is a great hikes AWA’s wilderness explore the lesser-known Alberta, discover our province’s gems of AWA’s learn about diverse wildlife, and magnificent work to protect these landscapes. the 2009 hikes our summer hikes see website: brochure or visit our www.AlbertaWilderness.ca. is required Pre-registration all trips for Online: www.AlbertaWilderness.ca Phone: (403) 283-2025 1-866-313-0713 Toll-free:

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http://shop.albertawilderness.ca i l d e r n e s s W a Friday June 19, 2009 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Adults - $15:00; Family - $35:00; Children/ Seniors - $10:00 1-866-313-0713 Toll-free AWA President Heinz AWA e r t v e n t s b E l Friday June 19, 2009 of Edmonton) Gardens (30 minutes SW Devonian Botanical MMER SOLSTICE STROLL AT THE DEVONIAN GARDENS THE DEVONIAN AT STROLL SUMMER SOLSTICE Date: Gardens For directions to the Devonian Botanic 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and evening stroll through these beautiful Join us for a summer Along the way you will learn about the diverse botanic gardens. surrounding the Solstice and celebrate significance and mystery Spaces. Wild Alberta’s pavilion, we will have prizes and As you stroll into the even Owl expert Ray Cromie, who might entertainment including This is a wonderful event for the whole have an owl with him! the evening with us. family; bring a picnic to enjoy and spend Time: Cost: Tickets: Register on-line at is located in Parkland The scenic Devonian Botanic Garden 60, within 5 kms north of Devon on Highway County, 30 minutes of downtown Edmonton. visit www.devonian.ualberta.ca/maps.html A Unger presented the award. Daniel and Rachel Eisenberg Daniel and Rachel Eisenberg Wild AWA received the 2009 at the Calgary Award Alberta Studying Science Fair. Youth lake activity and how lakeside pH development affected they won of the lake water, the award amongst the The 1,090 entries in the fair. won a gold medal Eisenbergs at the fair and we encourage them to continue their interest in wildlife and studying the interdependence between wild and human lands, biodiversity, health.

Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:

Alberta Wilderness Association Box 6398, Station D Calgary, Alberta T2P 2E1 [email protected]

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