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24 episodes with kananaskis
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23 episodes with kananaskis
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On today's show: why the province plans to pay for RSV injections for high-risk infants; the countdown is on for the G7 Leader Summit in Kananaskis. We hear about the security precautions being taken, and what's at stake for Canada; we celebrate WHL champions, the Medicine Hat Tigers, who are now heading to the Memorial Cup.
Hour 3 of the Big Show with George Rusic & Matt Rose is on demand! To kick off hour the guys are joined by Brent Krahn. Krahn and the guys breakdown a pair of season clinching games for the Oilers and the Maple Leafs. Krahn speaks on the goaltending from Pickard and Stolarz, his frustration with the LA Kings and how each team will matchup with their second round opponents.(19:22) Later on, because the Kentucky Derby is this weekend, the guys play a game called "horse or hoax." The guys are then joined by Bob Paley from Kananaskis golf course for the Speargrass golf show! Bob tells us about the work being done at the course ahead of them hosting the G7 summit. To wrap up the show, the guys listen to this week's edition of the Big Show blooper reel. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Senator Peter Boehm was Canadian sherpa for a record six G7 summits. He joins Jeremy, Louise and (the other) Peter to talk about an early challenge that will face whoever wins Canada's April 28 election - hosting the G7 in Kananaskis in June. One member (guess who?) has launched a trade war against the other six. Should he even be part of the club?
For this episode of the Global Exchange podcast, Colin Robertson talks with Hon. Lloyd Axworthy and Hon. Allan Rock and Michael Manulak about how Canada should frame next year's G7 in Kananaskis, Alberta. // Participants' bios - Lloyd Axworthy is a former president of the University of Winnipeg and Director and CEO of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to secure the Land Mines Treaty, part of the Human Security agenda that he shepherded as Minister of Foreign Affairs. - Allan Rock is President Emeritus of the University of Ottawa, and a former Professor in its Faculty of Law. He previously served as a member of Parliament holding various cabinet positions including Justice and Attorney General, Health and Industry. Allan also served as our Ambassador to the UN. - CGAI Fellow Michael Manulak is assistant professor at NPSIA. He previously served in government, negotiating proliferation issues at DND. // Host bio: Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, www.cgai.ca/colin_robertson // // Read & Watch: - "Autocracy, Inc.", by Anne Applebaum: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725302/autocracy-inc-by-anne-applebaum/ - "An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s", by Doris Kearns Goodwin: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/An-Unfinished-Love-Story/Doris-Kearns-Goodwin/9781982108663 - "My Life in Politics", by Lloyd Axworthy: https://www.amazon.ca/Lloyd-Axworthy-My-Life-Politics/dp/1998365077 - "The Better Part of Valour: Essays on Canadian Diplomacy", by John W. Holmes: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1w6tg1n // Recording Date: October 7, 2024.
In this episode, Jeremiah with Bigfoot Society welcomes Nav, a seasoned wildlife conservationist from India, whose globe-spanning career has brought him face-to-face with extraordinary phenomena. Amidst his conservation efforts, Nav recounts spine-chilling encounters with unknown creatures, including a potential Orang Pendek sighting in Sumatra and a thrilling face-off with a mysterious being in the dense forests of Kananaskis in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. Delve into Nav's gripping stories, his belief in undiscovered humanoid apes, and the compelling evidence supporting their existence. His accounts challenge conventional evolutionary theories and call for a unified, open-minded approach to uncover these cryptids before they vanish.Share your Bigfoot encounter with me here: bigfootsociety@gmail.comWant to call in and leave a voicemail of your encounters for the podcast - Check this out here - https://www.speakpipe.com/bigfootsociety(Use multiple voice mails if needed!)
You've heard us talk about this before and on this episode we go even deeper into how important it is to take radical responsibility for your life. Why it can be so beneficial for your evolution Improve your relationships Empower your confidence Strenthen your resilience We hope this conversation lands in your world at a time you need it the most. Sometimes all it takes is a small perspective shift to unlock another layer of self awareness and learning! Join us in Kananaskis for the She Is Liberated Retreat HERE We are so grateful for our amazing Audio Engineer for the podcast Terry Robertson!! SCREENSHOT & TAG US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Liberated Instagram Liberated Facebook PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW FOR US!!
I've always kind of taken charge and tried to get everybody involved. I think it was an opportunity to be the first face that someone sees when they showed up in those early days and, reminding them that, you're welcome here. You don't have to be super fast. You don't have to be an accomplished runner. It's a privilege to give someone that opportunity and welcome them into a space because you'll see all the time people show up for the first time. And a year from then, they're starting their own running groups. They're hosting community events. It's utilizing the massive space to allow anyone to be a part of that community.Seger Brown loves bringing the community together and celebrating the outdoors. This is why he is a run leader with YYC Run Crew and he loves the outdoors so much that he also advocates for protecting our wild spaces through POW Canada. Seger is an outdoor lover through and through. The way he speaks about what it means to him to be in the outdoors and sharing that with others makes it clear that it's a big part of his life. They are labours of love for Seger and something he looks forward to, just as much as he looks forward to a day in the mountains. The mountains and wild areas of Alberta are special to Seger which is also why he wants to protect them.“If there's one thing that Albertans love, it's our beautiful national parks. Those amazing mountain parks like Kananaskis, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, all the way down to the beautiful farmlands and trails of the south like Crowsnest Pass where all these amazing races are held. We just want to protect those spaces so that our kids and our grandkids can continue to do these awesome mountain activities.”Seger was a great guest who was thoughtful and inspiring. I'm grateful he had the time to chat and I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did!Read more about POW CanadaLearn about YYC Run CrewI'm excited to see some folks from the YYC Run Crew at the Trail Running Film Festival screening on Wednesday, June 5 at Globe Cinema! Doors are at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm. We have Evan Birch and his crew from the Speed Project as our live guests, and we will screen his new documentary “Running Forward” as part of the evening too! Our amazing sponsors also have some race entries up for grabs as we're incredibly grateful for the support of 5 Peaks, Stoked Scramble, Stoked Ultra, and the Black Spur Ultra. There will also be Näak for the first 24 people through the doors and a chance to win a Näak prize pack! It's gonna be a blast get your tickets…Alberta Trail Running Film Festival tickets availableTuesday, June 4, 2024, Edmonton (Garneau Theatre) $25Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Calgary (Globe Cinema) $25Thursday, June 6, 2024, Canmore (Partnering with artsPlace) $25 (members receive a discount)Friday, June 7, 2024, Crowsnest Pass (Blairmore) (Frank Slide Interpretive Centre partnering with Sinister Sports) $25#Naaksquad - Try it and get 15% offI enjoy the Naak products, even if the sauces took a few tries to grow on me. They get the job done and they don't give me any issues, and isn't that the point? So I applied to be part of the squad to get a discount on the products I plan on using a bunch. Reach out to me if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer! They give me a referral code, so I'm including that today.If you're gonna check it out, click through this link (CTR15 for 15% off), I appreciate it.Listen where you listenSpotify: Click HereGoogle Podcasts: Click HereApple Podcasts: Click HereMusic by Paolo Argentino from PixabayWe're on the journey to 2,000 subscribers, help us get there!If you enjoy this podcast, I would really appreciate it if you could like, share, subscribe, or comment! I'm trying to make this the best trail running podcast it can be and I certainly appreciate your time. Thank you all and happy trails :) Get full access to Community Trail Running at communitytrailrunning.substack.com/subscribe
The Nature Photo Guys welcome to the show, Canadian Geographic's 2023 Photographer of the Year, Brandon Broderick, who shares his thoughts about his win and his pursuit of Canadian wildlife.Check out the links below mentioned in this video.• BRANDON BRODERICK WEBSITE | https://www.brandonbroderick.com/• BRANDON BRODERICK INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/brandonbroderick• BRANDON BRODERICK FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/brandonbroderickphotography• BRANDON BRODERICK TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@brandon.broderickDon't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and hit the bell to see more content from 'The Nature Photo Guys!'Thanks for watching!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Disclosure:*Some of the links are partner links, meaning if you make a purchase through them, ‘The Nature Photo Guys' may earn a small commission. There is no extra cost to you; in fact, in some cases, you may even receive a discount. Your support through these links help ‘The Nature Photo Guys' to continue creating valuable content. Thank you!*f-stop | Elevate Your Photography with Premium Modular Bags and Backpacks!*Ambassadors | https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*MotionHeat | Face the winter head on with Heated Wear Essentials!*Ambassadors | https://www.motionheat.ca/?ref=TNPGP15Save 15% off by using coupon code TNPGP15 at checkout*Kase Filters Canada | Unleash the Brilliance of True Colours!*Pro Partners | http://www.kasefilterscanada.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*The Nature Photo Guys*Email: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcast*Joe Desjardins*Email: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.ca*Chris Gibbs*Email: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.caWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ @FootprintsInNature Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.ca---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------© 2024 The Nature Photo Guys | Thank you for watching!Please Like, Share & Subscribe to see new content!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Booth brings over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, starting at Fairmont in Jasper. His journey has seen him delve into various departments, from golf and food & beverage to security. Eventually, he found his calling in sales and events, where he could connect with people on a personal level. Now as the sales manager of Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, a luxurious Marriott autograph collection hotel, Matt's expertise in enhancing guest experiences and personalized service shines through. He exudes a passion for leveraging his love for connecting with people into a successful career in the hospitality industry. Matt's insights into the Pomeroy Kananaskis luxury hospitality experience promise an engaging and informative conversation for travel enthusiasts seeking exceptional nature-infused luxury experiences.In this episode, you will be able to:Discover the immersive wellness benefits of the Nordic Spa at Pomeroy Kananaskis.Experience the luxury of personalized guest services at Pomeroy lodges.Explore the value of local sourcing at Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge.Uncover the community engagement initiatives at Pomeroy properties.Get Connected With Matt:https://lodgeatkananaskis.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-booth-ca/Visit www.calpeteclub.com for information on our next networking and membership opportunities.https://calpeteclub.com/https://twitter.com/calpeteclubhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/calgary-petroleum-club-3a5868117/https://www.facebook.com/calpeteclubhttps://www.youtube.com/user/calpeteclub
Historically, what is the ecological significance of Kananaskis? What development concerns have arisen in the past, and what can people do to ensure this space is managed appropriately?Michael explores these questions with Executive Director of CPAWS Southern Alberta Katie Morrison. They cover the ecological recognition of Kananaskis in the 1940s, the establishment of the Kananaskis country concept in the 1970s, CPAWS involvement in challenging development projects in the 1990s, and more.CPAWS Southern Alberta Website
What was prehistoric life like in Alberta 2.6 million years ago? What is the geologic significance of the provincial parks, and how can geology help us deepen our connection to the parks?Michael explores these questions with history and earth science educator, and author Cory Gross. They cover the unique geology of Castle Wildland Provincial Park, Kananaskis, Sheep River Provincial Park, Cypress Hills Provincial Park and more.Sandstone Prehistoric Safari's Website
After numerous responses from part 1 of our Cold Weather Tips episode, Joe & Chris, The Nature Photo Guys, decided to make a part 2 and review some great cold weather tips received from viewer feedback. Afterwards, they also provide a bonus tip about how they stay warm on those extreme cold days by using heated gear.*MotionHeat | Face the winter head on with Heated Wear Essentials!*Ambassadors | https://www.motionheat.ca/?ref=TNPGP15Save 15% off by using coupon code TNPGP15 at checkoutDon't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and hit the bell to see more content from 'The Nature Photo Guys!'Thanks for watching!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Disclosure:*Some of the links are partner links, meaning if you make a purchase through them, ‘The Nature Photo Guys' may earn a small commission. There is no extra cost to you; in fact, in some cases, you may even receive a discount. Your support through these links help ‘The Nature Photo Guys' to continue creating valuable content. Thank you!*f-stop | Elevate Your Photography with Premium Modular Bags and Backpacks!*Ambassadors | https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*MotionHeat | Face the winter head on with Heated Wear Essentials!*Ambassadors | https://www.motionheat.ca/?ref=TNPGP15Save 15% off by using coupon code TNPGP15 at checkout*Kase Filters Canada | Unleash the Brilliance of True Colours!*Pro Partners | http://www.kasefilterscanada.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*The Nature Photo Guys*Email: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcast*Joe Desjardins*Email: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.ca*Chris Gibbs*Email: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.caWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ @FootprintsInNature Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.ca---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------© 2024 The Nature Photo Guys | Thank you for watching!Please Like, Share & Subscribe to see new content!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe & Chris, The Nature Photo Guys, dive deep into essential Cold Weather Tips for all you nature photographers out there. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting on your photography journey, protecting your gear in cold and snowy conditions is crucial. Visit YouTube.com/TheNaturePhotoGuys to see our latest videos, and don't forget to like, share and subscribe!*****************************************************The Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*****************************************************The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.caWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ @FootprintsInNature Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.ca
Join Joe and Chris, The Nature Photo Guys, as they venture on to a local frozen lake for some ice fishing fun with a couple of friends. They also chat about what to expect in 2024.
The Nature Photo Guys welcome to the show, a long-time conservationist, and a founding member of the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective, Josh DeLeenheer.Check out the links below mentioned in this video.• JOSH DELEENHEER WEBSITE | https://www.joshdeleenheer.com/• JOSH DELEENHEER FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/josh.deleenheer.photography• JOSH DELEENHEER INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/conserv.nation/• CANADIAN CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHERS COLLECTIVE | https://www.theccpc.ca/*****************************************************The Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*****************************************************The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.caWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ @FootprintsInNature Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.ca
For a "quiet" week in Alberta Politics, there's no shortage of ground to cover in this weeks roundup! This week saw the Kananaskis being clear cut while a company apparently violated protected lands, the War Room/Canadian Energy Center throwing taxpayers dollars across the border, the last day of the Shandro hearings and a whole lot more, and that's not even our main subject! Because we also unpack the whole debacle with the School Board Trustee who compared kids waving pride flags to kids waving Nazi flags and the response across the province before our regular open mic where we get into the housing crisis and the nature of independent media and journalism! Plus we now have merch that's available at www.abpoli.ca! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/thebreakdownab. If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads!
I just returned from two amazing weeks of camping, most of it out in Kananaskis in the Rocky Mountains here in Canada. I love Kananaskis: the beauty, the lack of tourists, the hiking and wildlife. Mostly I committed to not doing work while away. But on two days when smoke from the BC wildfires and rainy weather kept us inside our trailer, I did do a bit of work. I like being productive but also it helps to stave off that overwhelm of coming home to a giant pile of work that demands so much of you it's like your vacation never happened. While I was thinking about work on those days I realized I've never done an episode on what my coaching focus is, especially now that I've pivoted away from weight loss. And once I realized that I knew it was something I wanted to share. The common thread weaving through all my coaching programs is Intuitive Eating.I have three coaching programs on the go right now: Nourishment Lounge, Thrive Beyond Size, and Binge Free Breakthrough Program. They all focus on different aspects of health at every size but they are all rooted in Intuitive Eating. Intuitive Eating is essentially honoring your internal hunger and fullness cues instead of counting points or calories or using whatever other system is available. There are a lot of misconceptions about eating intuitively and I address those while also explaining how Intuitive Eating has positively affected my own life and health struggle. In the book Intuitive Eating, ten principles of the concept are outlined and I'm going to share those ten principles briefly in this episode to really help clarify exactly what it's about. I truly hope you gain some insight into a powerful way to approach food and eating and if you want to talk more about it or any of my coaching programs, please reach out to me. I'm always happy to answer your questions.Resources mentioned in this episode:“Intuitive Eating, 4th Edition: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach” by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD, and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA—Learn more about Dr. Michelle Tubman and Wayza Health:Website: www.wayzahealth.comFollow me on Facebook and Instagram
We really get into it on this one. If you want to know where we've been the past 2 months, this is the episode for you! Starting off with a content warning that we discuss pregnancy loss on this podcast. If you don't have the capacity to listen, and want to skip to golf talk, skip to the 25 minute mark. Blakely and Sonja found out they were pregnant 1 week apart, and then found out they were both having miscarriages a week apart as well. They talk about their individual experiences and how they got through it together. Blakely talks about her experience playing in the Magrath Ladies Scramble, and both the girls talk about playing at Kananaskis with their families. They also talk about their inaugural Classy Classic and their disappointing final week of Ladies league at their course. The girls switch up their golf talk by going away from simply "reading the news", and instead tell their favourite stories from the news. Sonja basically just uses this time to talk about Viktor. Blakely wraps it up by mentioning our Club Twirls NFL Fantasy League that we will be doing, so if you are interested in joining, be sure to check out our Instagram page! Be sure to follow us on Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/clubtwirlswiththegirlsHosts: Sonja and Blakely Muse:Adam Scott
Don't miss out on the best of the best in the Canadian Rockies. In this mini episode, you will get all the details you need for the best spots to see the larch trees changing into beautiful autumn colors in Banff National Park and Kananaskis. Don't worry about missing out on the best experiences. We have you covered.
In this short special video episode, we take you on a journey across Alberta to visit the streets, buildings, and trails where season one of The Last of Us was filmed. This video is also available on YouTube right here: https://youtu.be/1bIaIFxB7ts All locations in order: - Joel and Sarah's Neighbourhood & Home - High River, AB - Lone Star Watch and Jewelry & Streets of Austin - Fort MacLeod, AB - Massachusetts State House - Alberta Legislature Building, Edmonton, AB - The Cumberland Farms - Priddis General Store, Priddis, AB - Lincoln, MA - High River, AB - Bridge Near Kansas City - Indian Battle Park, Lethbridge, AB - Barricade Near Kansas City - Calgary Airport Tunnel, Calgary, AB - Bloater Invasion Neighbourhood - Calgary, AB - Sam and Henry's Burial Site - Ranchland Inn/HWY 2, Nanton, AB - Bridge of Death - Canmore Engine Bridge, Canmore, AB - University of Eastern Colorado - Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, AB - Joel and Ellie's Hideout - Okotoks, AB - Silver Lake, CO - Waterton Lakes National Park, AB - Todd's Steakhouse - Lakeside Chophouse, Waterton, AB - Nabo the Masai Giraffe - Wilder Institute & Calgary Zoo, Calgary, AB - Jackson Lookout - Barrier Lake Lookout, Kananaskis, AB --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mgspodcast/message
In this mini episode you will hear our list of the top 6 Rocky Mountain towns to visit in 2023. Check out the related blog posted for this on www.mountaintownramblers.com
Spring bears, Canon R6 MKII and ISO performance. Chris and Joe discuss their spring bear trip, the new Canon R6 MKII's ISO performance and catch up on what's been going on since their last episode. *****************************************************The Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*****************************************************The Nature Photo GuysWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@thenaturephotoguysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caJoe DesjardinsWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joedesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caChris GibbsWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@footprintsinnatureEmail: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.ca
The Nature Photo Guys, Joe, and Chris, discuss bear safety and offer up some advice to keep you safe while exploring and photographing nature. They also offer up some cool bear facts and resources for you to explore more, in-depth, facts about the fascinating world of bears.(NOTE: we are not experts in the field of bear and cougar biology, nor do we claim all these facts to be accurate. We found these resources online. These are recommendations only and we encourage you to explore these resources and more.}Resources:Alberta Canada - Bears and outdoor recreationOutdoor recreation bear safety tips for anglers, campers, hikers, and mountain bikershttps://www.alberta.ca/bears-and-outdoor-recreation.aspxThe BearSmart guide to playing safely in bear and cougar countryInformation on bear safety, including how to identify grizzly and black bears, how to prevent trouble with bears, how to respond to a bear encounter, and information on bear deterrents (bear spray and noisemakers). Also includes a section on cougars and cougar safety.This is a downloadable pdf. https://open.alberta.ca/publications/9781460142691Get Bear SmartLearn about living with bears; creating bear smart communities; recreation in bear country; bear safety at work; and managing bears (for wildlife officials)https://www.bearsmart.com/managing-communities/education/materials-strategies/*****************************************************The Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*****************************************************The Nature Photo GuysWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@thenaturephotoguysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caJoe DesjardinsWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joedesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caChris GibbsWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@footprintsinnatureEmail: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.ca
The Nature Photo Guys welcome to the show, Mark Payton, a wildlife photographer who has been full-time RV living since 2021. Check out the podcast to hear his story on his meteoric rise on social media, he may just drop a few hints to help you!WHO IS MARK PAYTON?Mark Payton is a Wildlife, Portrait, Product, & Wedding Photographer, and has been a part-time professional photographer since 2012. He also has been full-time RV Living since 2021 with his wife & best friend of 35 years. Mark is a product ambassador for FotoPro, GoSky Optics, Cotton Carrier, GuraGear, UnlimitedVille, & Nicks Handmade Boots. Mark also works full-time with the Montana Air National Guard, and has combined service of over 20 years in the US Army & US Air Force as an Airframe Mechanic, Fuels Distro, F-15, F-16, & C-130 Mechanic.MARK PAYTON LINKS• LINKTREE | https://linktr.ee/mark.payton.photography• PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE | https://www.markpaytonphotography.com• WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY | https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-photographers/mark-payton-photography• INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/mark.payton.photography/• TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@mark.payton.photography• FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/markpaytonphoto• FLICKR | https://www.flickr.com/photos/markpayton/• PINTEREST | https://www.pinterest.ca/MarkPaytonPhoto/• YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwzf9mxPxjbjv-Fv99f3M8A*****************************************************The Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*****************************************************The Nature Photo GuysWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caJoe DesjardinsWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joedesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caChris GibbsWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@footprintsinnatureEmail: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.ca3JBZBWNGNFBJ6YL4
Looking for a home away from home with hotel features, where nature and family are priority? So was Sky McLean, so she created it!! Basecamp Resorts will have you itching for adventure! Sky McLean is the founder and CEO of Basecamp Resorts, properties that are renowned for offering guests epic mountain views, with modern amenities and top notch service. The company prides itself on providing a home away from home for guests. There are currently 10 properties under the Basecamp Resorts brand. Sky grew the brand from 1 to 10 properties in just 5 years. Sky is based in Canmore, Alberta – she is a huge outdoor enthusiast, and is an avid downhill skier, nordic skier, snowmobiler and mountain biker and has two young kids. Basecamp Resorts: Inspired by AirBnB or VRBO, but with more regulations, so people could know what they were going to get Stack townhomes with different amounts of rooms Home away from home, but with hotel-like features, such as hot tubs, and more Nature is priority there – easy access. Locations prime for this!! Trails, skiing, biking, and more Perfect spot for all types of vacations!! Priority is the experience. Locations of currently open Basecamp Resorts properties include: 5 properties in Canmore, AB – Basecamp Resorts Canmore, Basecamp Suites Canmore, Basecamp Lodge Canmore, Northwinds by Basecamp, Lamphouse by Basecamp 1 property in Banff, AB – Basecamp Suites Banff 1 property in Lake Louise, AB – Baker Creek by Basecamp 1 property in Golden, BC – Basecamp Lodge Golden 1 property Revelstoke, BC – Basecamp Resorts Revelstoke 1 premium campground in Kananaskis, AB - Sundance by Basecamp It's not about pushing kids. It's about exposing them to it and allowing them to call the shots! Share your passions with your kids, and bring snacks! Follow: Website: www.basecampresorts.com Instagram: @skymclean @basecampresorts Facebook: @basecamp.properties Thank you to Morrison Outdoors for sponsoring today's podcast! Find more at: www.morrisonoutdoors.com Use code FREECANADA within Canada from March 1-March 31, 2023 for free shipping on orders over $50! Today's Host: @adriannaadventures & @laurenrodycheberle from @kidswhoexplore Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music
The Nature Photo Guys welcome to the show, a full-time educator and landscape photographer, and a fellow Kase Filters Canada Pro Partner, Brett Michaud. Check out the links below mentioned in this video.• BRETT MICHAUD PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE | http://www.brettmichaudphotography.ca/• BRETT MICHAUD INSTAGRAM | http://www.instagram.com/brett_michaud_photography• OMNILARGESS | TED KARLSALR | http://www.omnilargess.com/• OMNILARGESS PHOTO TOURS | http://www.omnilargess.com/photo-tours• KASE FILTERS CANADA | http://www.kasefilterscanada.com/• LIGHTCHASERS NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONFERENCE | https://www.lightchasersconference.com/*****************************************************The Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*****************************************************The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.caWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@UC71cRKwmpMTy9BfTu9vHylQ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.ca
In this episode we do 2 amazing hikes, the Green Monster and Grotto Canyon in Kananaskis, absolute must do hikes. We also visit 2 fantastic restaurants, Tavern 1883 and Chez Francois in Canmore. We also hit a trivia night at Tavern 1883, spoiler..... we didn't win.
The Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris, welcome Monika Deviat, where they talk about rock concerts, astrophotography, and everything in between. Check out the links below mentioned in this video.• MONIKA DEVIAT PHOTOGRAPHY | https://monikadeviatphotography.com/• MONIKA DEVIAT WORKSHOPS | https://monikadeviatphotography.com/workshops/• ARADIA FITNESS CALGARY | http://calgary.aradiafitness.com• LIGHTCHASERS NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONFERENCE | https://lightchasersconference.com/• GWAR: VULVATRON INTERVIEW | https://www.metal-rules.com/2014/11/18/gwar-interview-with-vulvatron/• ESCAPE TO NATURE WATERTON PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP | https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/escape-to-nature-waterton-photography-workshop-tickets-390669913227• SHOOT TILL YOU DROP: WATERTON | https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/shoot-till-you-drop-waterton-photography-workshop-2023-tickets-449457408207• THE CAMERA STORE WITH MONIKA DEVIAT: HOW TO SET UP YOUR STAR ADVENTURER STAR TRACKER | https://youtu.be/fj7gM-g0oU4• THE CAMERA STORE: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer | https://thecamerastore.com/products/sky-watcher-star-adventurer-2i-photo-package*****************************************************The Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459e*****************************************************The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: chris.gibbs@footprintsinnature.caWebsite: http://www.footprintsinnature.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/footprintsinnature.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/footprintsinnature.caKLPEH6MLDV4TMFL5
In this episode we visit Kananaskis, Alberta. We hike the Troll Falls Trail, help with the annual eagle count, and visit the world famous Nordic Spa. There is a lot in this episode, and we highly recommend this for a romantic getaway itinerary.
This episode is Part 2 of our chat with retired Major-General Charles "Duff" Sullivan, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In this episode we pick-up by discussing the General's role as the Director of Operations for the Canadian North American Air Defense Command Region during 9/11, and the planning that went into the 2002 G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.The General provides us with detailed information about NORAD security for the Summit, and a briefing that he shared with the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada about the command authority to respond to incursions of the Summit's exclusion zone, and how engagement of an airborne threat would be handled. We learn that the concept of operations that the RCAF developed was briefed to the U.S. Military, who adopted a variation of it for their own security requirements post 9/11.We also discuss the General's first foray into Afghanistan; and his subsequent deployment to the country as NATO's Air Component Commander for all air assets in theatre for NATO's 42-nation coalition.While in Afghanistan the General served as the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, where he and his colleagues stood up a Dynamic Targeting Operations Center in theatre.With those experiences in mind, the General shared his insight into what he feels are essential enablers for modern warfare in the context of counter insurgency operations.We conclude our discussion with thoughts about NATO's departure from Afghanistan, and his personal reflections on the Afghan people and their future.Throughout our 2-part discussion, the General speaks with genuine candor.As we did in Part 1, we wish to reflect on Remembrance Day and Veterans Day, and we acknowledge all those who have served in uniform, and particularly those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.We will not forget.We thank Major-General (Ret) Sullivan for his service, and for sharing his time and experiences with us. We hope that you find our discussion informative and insightful.Go Bold!
Joe & Chris, "The Nature Photo Guys", discuss some top tips to keep you SANE in the field.The Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459eThe Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: http://www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/chrisgibbsphotography
Top Tips: R5 Locked Up! Tips To Help You OutThe Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459eThe Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: http://www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/chrisgibbsphotography
On today's show: UCP leadership candidate Danielle Smith on why she thinks Alberta needs even more distance from Ottawa; why four convicted multiple-murderers in Alberta will be eligible for parole sooner than previously planned; which hiking trails in Kananaskis country are open this summer, and which aren't; and Calgary's own King of Rock joins us.
This week on MC Fireside Chats, we'll be discussing what's on the minds of campground owners with our recurring guests who will appear once a month with us to cover this topic: Ryan Crots, from Sun Outdoors Mike Harrison, from CRR Lifestyle Duncan Winship, from Papoose Pond Joe Duemig, from App My Community Plus, we'll be joined by Marcia Neese, the owner of Riverwalk RV Park, a campground recognized as the “Best Place to Camp in NC” by Campendium, and Stacia Samuel, Co-Owner of Sundance Lodges in Kananaskis, Alberta. MC Fireside Chats is a weekly show focused on the latest news, trends, and commentary from the Outdoor Hospitality Industry with hosts Brian Searl, and Cara Csizmadia. Watch live on Facebook, and YouTube, or listen later as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Audible, and more.
f-stop Pathfinder Ambassadors, Joe Desjardins & Chris Gibbs, "The Nature Photo Guys", provide their first impression on the new f-stop TILOPA 50L DuraDiamond™ Travel and Adventure Camera BackpackThe Nature Photo Guys f-stop affiliate link:https://shop.fstopgear.com/?rfsn=5647323.2f459eThe Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: http://www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/chrisgibbsphotographyVZJW9DIVIO0EZVKH
On this March 24th edition of The Drive Podcast: Lisa Young, political scientist at the University of Calgary, joins Ted to talk about how the change in the UCP leadership vote could impact them going forward. Afterwards Christina Clark-Kazak of the University of Ottawa talks about how the war in Ukraine highlight's the importance of the children's rights in conflict zones. Finally, Sarah Elmeligi, an independent biologist and conservationist in Kananaskis discusses where the money in K-Country is going. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris talk tech for photography, discuss the new MacBook Pro M1 MAX, and storage backup optionsThe Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: http://www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/chrisgibbsphotography
This week we visit with Adam Arnal from Kananaskis AB. Adam is Jr Pro Staff with Chinook Wind Outfitters, he spends a lot of time chasing trout in the Canadian Rockies, works with Alberta Parks, ties some killer fly patterns, climbs and spends his time doing trail maintenance in the park. Thanks Adam for sharing your fly fishing journey with us!
In this episode of the Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris answer nature photography questions received from listeners and viewers.The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: @joedesjardins.caInstagram: @joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: @chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: @chrisgibbsphotography
A big bag for a little guy - Joe goes over his favourite camera bag! To check out the f-stop Ajna 40L, visit www.fstopgear.comThe Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: @joedesjardins.caInstagram: @joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: @chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: @chrisgibbsphotography
These two hosers discuss how to stay warm taking photos in the Great White North!The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: @joedesjardins.caInstagram: @joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: @chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: @chrisgibbsphotography
I had the esteemed pleasure of reconnecting with Sandy who was an old work friend from the 1st round Kananaskis days. Sandy shared her stories of divorce, death, poverty, while we both shared our experiences with suicide and how it all led to her to her life now as a successful entrepreneur and a soon to be published author. There's also a few other tidbits in there but I'll let you find out for yourself. Enjoy the podcast!
The Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris have a chat about nature photography, drink some coffee, and ponder life.Fstoppers video referenced in episode: https://youtu.be/UCaZt5ndRW0The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: @joedesjardins.caInstagram: @joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: @chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: @chrisgibbsphotography
The Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris, capture sunrise at Vermilion Lakes in Banff National Park, followed by a hike in Kananaskis.The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: http://www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/chrisgibbsphotography
The Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris, discuss different file storage options and suggest important backup solutions that they use in the field and at home as nature photographersThe Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: http://www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/chrisgibbsphotography
The Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris, wrap up 2020 with a review of the past year and discuss what's to come in 2021The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: http://www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: http://www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/joedesjardins.caInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: http://www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/chrisgibbsphotography••••••• Chris' Gear Used In the Field for the Making of This Video •••••••(FYI...As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at zero cost to you)Fujifilm XT-3: https://amzn.to/30KYR65Fujifilm XT-4: https://amzn.to/3gLthL8Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R Lens: https://amzn.to/3fM8wxBFujifilm Zoom Lens XF18-55mm: https://amzn.to/3oVtezXFringer EF-FX Pro II Adapter: https://amzn.to/39wFSklCanon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens: https://amzn.to/2Dug8b1Tascam DR-10L: https://amzn.to/2VBQk29SmallRig Cage for Fujifilm X-T3 Camera: https://amzn.to/3oZgOqVSmallRig Cage for Fujifilm X-T4 Camera: https://amzn.to/34aPZYP
In this episode of The Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris talk about the tripod heads they use for nature and wildlife photography.The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: @joedesjardins.caInstagram: @joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: @chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: @chrisgibbsphotography
In this episode of The Nature Photo Guys, Joe and Chris track a moose in the Canadian Rockies.The Nature Photo GuysEmail: info@thenaturephotoguys.caWebsite: www.TheNaturePhotoGuys.caFacebook: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastInstagram: @thenaturephotoguyspodcastJoe DesjardinsEmail: joe@joedesjardins.caWebsite: www.JoeDesjardins.caFacebook: @joedesjardins.caInstagram: @joedesjardins.caChris GibbsEmail: info@chrisgibbsphotography.comWebsite: www.ChrisGibbsPhotography.comFacebook: @chrisgibbsphotographyInstagram: @chrisgibbsphotography
#PERMASTOKED, Episode 19: Jacob Kelly Quinlan – To Where the River Surf Flows…Now Available Free for Streaming and Download on the Alexa App, iTunes / Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/permastoked/id1518415157, Deezer, Pandora, Podbean, Google Podcasts at https://podcasts.google.com/search/permastoked, Stitcher, Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/6qsR6lN7M7edO798HSBxpj, iHeart Radio, TuneIn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also Watch the Show on our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChueUd4VG0WYXN3ky532vzg?. Be sure to Listen, Rate, Review and Share! In this episode, Derik Hyatt interviews Vice President of the Alberta River Surfing Association and Co-Founder of Surf Anywhere, Jacob Kelly Quinlan. Tune in to hear them discuss the history of river surfing in Alberta, the Kananaskis River Wave, what it takes and how to build a river wave in your community, discovering river waves around the world, and much more! Jacob Kelly Quinlan learned to surf in Australia. However, upon his return home to Alberta, substitutes such as snowboarding, longboarding and SUP didn’t seem to scratch the itch; until he was introduced to river surfing on Calgary’s Tenth Street Wave! River surfing soon took over his life, and for over a decade, he has traveled around the world growing the sport, competing, promoting safety, building new waves and fostering community around river waves. He has introduced hundreds of people to river surfing by providing lessons and many more through his efforts as the Vice President of the Alberta River Surfing Association. He played an integral role in fundraising for and building the world’s first government approved, community-built river wave in the Kananaskis. In 2018, Jacob and friends began filming their expeditions. Unsurfed Afghanistan is now released to the festival circuit and due for international release in 2021. You can connect with Jacob Kelly Quinlan on Instagram at @jacob.kelly.surfs and on his YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out www.albertariversurfing.com, www.surfanywhere.ca, www.unsurfed.com and The Wave We Choose. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Pickering native and kiteboarding legend Jason 'Ghostrider' Maloney who passed away November 15, 2020 in an accident kiteboarding 'doing what he loved to do' at Cherry Beach in Toronto. Condolences go out to his family, friends and the kiteboarding community. May you rest in peace Jason 'Ghostrider' Maloney. This episode was recorded on November 18, 2020. It is family friendly with only minimal and minor swearing, but no F-Bombs! To reach Derik Hyatt for comments, questions, collaboration, sponsorship, business enquiries or bookings, including SUP and yoga, please email info@freshwatersurfgoods.com. Permastoked is brought to you by Freshwater Surf Goods. Your surf brand devoted to spreading the stoke across the unsalted seas and cultivating pride amongst the surf community. We do this by providing products and apparel that celebrate the awesomeness of both Great Lakes and Canadian surf culture. Look for our products in a surf shop near you, such as SurfSup Eco Shop in Kincardine and Goderich where you can also find Derik Hyatt teaching surf, SUP and yoga. For more information, visit www.freshwatersurfgoods.com and be sure to sign up for our newsletter. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @freshwatersurfgoods. To stay up-to-date on all things surf and SUP from across Canada, be sure to join our Facebook Group, the All Canadian Surf & SUP Club. Mahalo for listening and stay stoked! LINKS Web: www.freshwatersurfgoods.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/freshwatersurfgoods Instagram: www.instagram.com/freshwatersurfgoods YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UChueUd4VG0WYXN3ky532vzg? Twitter: www.twitter.com/fwsurfgoods Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/freshwatersurfgoods LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/freshwater-surf-goods All Canadian Surf & SUP Club Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/306681953832086 SurfSup Eco Shop: www.surfsupecoshop.com A SPECIAL MAHALO TO We acknowledge that this podcast is recorded on the unceded, ancestral and occupied traditional territory of the Anishinabek Nation: the People of the Three Fires known as Ojibwe, Odawa and Pottawatomie Nations and further give thanks to the Chippewas of Saugeen and the Chippewas of Nawash, now known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, as the traditional keepers of this land. As we live, work, surf and play, we say Mahalo to the Métis, Inuit and Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island and from around the world, who have stewarded these lands and sacred surf spots for thousands of years. Mark Malibu & The Wasagas for providing our intro music “Hey Chiwawa” off their 2009 album Crash Monster Beach, our outro music “End of Summer” and “Twelve Year Itch” off their 2017 album Return of the Wasagas. For more information, visit www.wasagas.com and listen to them on Spotify or iTunes.
The Canadian Rockies are one of the gems of the world. Covered in beautiful mountains, alpine lakes, glaciers, and forests this region of the world attracts most of the outdoor community. Having covered The Dolomites beforehand, Marta from In A Faraway Land joins us to talk through some must-do adventures in the Canadian Rockies. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other platforms; just search “Between The Mountains” or Ask Alexa! (“Alexa, play Between The Mountains Travel Podcast!”). You Can Check-Out Any Time You Like, But You Can Never Leave Marta lived in the Canadian Rockies for 15 months on a working holiday visa. With the plan to drive the whole country East to West, Marta found herself instead spending the entire 15 months in the Canadian Rockies and British Columbia. There is so much to see and do, it's hard not to be willingly trapped there! Read on and listen to the podcast to hear the places you should go to in addition to Banff and Jasper National Parks. An Epic Roadtrip Marta kicks off the podcast and must-do adventures for the Canadian Rockies with an epic roadtrip. You can tailor it to meet you requirements, but if you check out the link you can see for yourself just how incredible it is. Or, check out her other roadtrip itinerary if you're coming in from the West. Marta's experience and knowledge shines straight away. Talking through the roadtrip, she details the fantastic locations and lakes to stop off at for some well-earned breaks along the way. Listen out for how to see the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies too! Don't Waste Your Time In Calgary Okay, before you jump on us, hear us out. This has nothing to do with Calgary, and everything to do with the Canadian Rockies. There is so much to do and beauty to see that Marta encourages you to get out of this beautiful and scenic city, and reach the mountains yourself. Kananaskis is the first place she recommends to reach, and oh-man is it full of adventure and beauty! Listen on to find out more or click here! https://www.instagram.com/p/BWlO6dwD3Dv/ The Views To Effort Ratio Going in to the first recommended day hike, Marta discusses Smutwood Peak (2693m/8835ft) and how fantastic it is. You can click on her article or use many apps to get there; it's going to be hard to find it on traditional maps. Dodging the grizzly bears and steep drops, Marta says that seeing sunrise from this spot was one of her favourite moments in the Canadian Rockies! Ha Ling Peak is up next. Standing at 2407m/7897ft, this is a great peak for newer walkers who want stunning scenery and views. Closed for two seasons to be made safer, it is now a well established route. But, leave early! The trail has naturally become popular following the improvements. Pocaterra Ridge and Tent Ridge are some of her favourites, too. It was here that Marta claimed that anything to do with ridges tends to have the best views-to-effort ratio. A fantastic way to put it, especially for all of you photographers out there. A funny thing to consider but a brilliant tool for holidays or more enjoyable days out. One interesting thing, amongst many, is that Marta went in June. Being new, she describes the action as stubborn - willing the summer to be there. She could not have been more wrong. It appears summer only comes for one month in the Canadian Rockies, and June is not then. If you are going at a similar time, bring gaiters, ice axe, crampons. Pocaterra is beautiful for the high altitude, views of remote areas and hiking between three peaks. But, that being said, the Canadian Rockies do require effort! Multi-Day Hikes Following this, we talk about backpacking and multi-day hikes in the Canadian Rockies. Detailing some of her favourites, Marta goes in to great depth, detailing the ins-and-outs. For more information, listen on and check out her own travel writing on it here. In A Faraway Land Marta runs the incredibly successful travel blog In A Faraway Land. Specifically, her Canadian Rockies section is full of roadtrips, hikes, backpacking, and photography guides. It doesn't stop there though. Marta covers a wide range of locations, all of which you are sure to love, with more being added along the way! Check out her website here, or her Instagram here. ------------------- If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend! If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality! You can also get some free mugs or t-shirts! To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here. https://betweenthemountains.org/2020/10/20/5-must-do-adventures-in-the-canadian-rockies/
Grizzly Peak, a short, sweet and steep hike/scramble in Kananaskis is worth the views! In this episode Jackie Allen joins Kate in the brief overview of what the 7km and 900m route is all about!
In this episode Travel agent Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions explains some of the details behind Air Canada Vacations new COVID 19 Coverage and Assistance Plan. It's designed to cover emergency medical and quarantine costs related to COVID-19 while travelling. Then we'll head to Tofino BC and learn about the newly opened Hotel Zed Tofino. Plus we'll catch up with Phoenix Phillips, founder of License to Ride as he shares his experience riding through the Highwood Pass in Kananaskis this summer. Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/
In this episode Travel agent Ken Stewart from Crowfoot Travel Solutions explains some of the details behind Air Canada Vacations new COVID 19 Coverage and Assistance Plan. It's designed to cover emergency medical and quarantine costs related to COVID-19 while travelling. Then we'll head to Tofino BC and learn about the newly opened Hotel Zed Tofino. Plus we'll catch up with Phoenix Phillips, founder of License to Ride as he shares his experience riding through the Highwood Pass in Kananaskis this summer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Opal Ridge South Peak is a 7.5km 1012m easy scramble in Kananaskis. This short podcast provides a brief overview and thoughts on this stunning hike.
If you'd like to listen to this episode, visit the show notes at www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep088
Lando and Lexi (https://mechoradio.com/landoandlexi) The People of Home (https://mechoradio.com/thepeopleofhome) Puzzles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puzzle) CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/) Government of Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html) Kananaskis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kananaskis_Country) Frozen II (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_II) Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) Gwinnip Dragon-Slayer (https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/KeoganBearhunter/characters/21927965)
If you'd like to check out the show notes for this episode, visit www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep083
Dreaming about a trip to the Canadian Rockies? Listen in as Tamara shares the highlights from her mother-daughter trip to Kananaskis, Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. Plus Kim chimes in on what she did in Banff before boarding the Rocky Mountaineer train earlier this year. ON THE PODCAST 01:53 - Talking about Tamara’s Mother Daughter Trip 05:45 - Kananaskis 09:52 - Via Ferrata in Banff 12:50 - Driving the Icefields Parkway 13:43 - Peak Nic with Jasper Food Tours 15:45 - Horseback riding in Banff 17:00 - Post Inn in Lake Louise 23:20 - Two Jack Lake in Banff 27:30 - Exploring the Athabasca Glacier TIPS FOR VISITING THE CANADIAN ROCKIES Banff is very crowded in the summer so you may want to stay in nearby Canmore. If you want to get away from crowds, you can also visit the other nearly Provincial Parks or National Parks like Yoho or Waterton. Kananaskis is about an hour away from Banff, and not nearly as crowded. There are amazing views, great hikes and lakes, and plenty of wildlife. Bears are all over in the Canadian Rockies and bear spray is highly recommended. In Kananaskis you see warnings about bear encounters everywhere. The Via Ferrata at Mt Norquay in Banff is a thrilling adventure for adults and teens. Via Ferrata is an assisted climbing experience that uses climbing ladders and cross suspension bridges to help you climb a mountain without having to actually mountain climb. You do need to be in good shape as it is a workout and it isn't good if you are scared of heights. Jasper Food Tours offers a unique backcountry cooking lesson and picnic called "Peak Nic." You hike up to the peak of a mountain, carrying everything you need, then you learn how to make your food and enjoy a spectacular mountain view while you relax and eat what you have cooked. Two Jake Lake, which is just outside of Banff, is a great spot for scenic photos and a walk along the lake (look for the famous red chairs!) You should never walk on glaciers without a guide. You also want to always follow all signs that are posted. These signs will tell you where to stay away from and what not to do. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Kananaskis Mountain Lodge Chester Lake Trail Jasper Food Tours Post Inn Jasper House Bungalows FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!
A quick hike to a Lookout in the Sheep River area of Kananaskis, Alberta Canada.
Join Leah and Ryan as they discuss what a BEAST Brooks has been proving himself to be, wishing their buddy Gary Woodland a very happy birthday, discuss their May Long mountain golf trips and Ryan's "new and improved" Mountain Course Power Rankings. Leah chats with Wes Heffernan about his qualifying stages for both the US and Canadian Opens in Chip Shots, and discusses some rules and etiquette to follow with the flagstick. She also throws a little knowledge on how to properly repair a ball mark. Have a listen!
Its all about that whitewater! In this episode Kate meets with Kelsey Baldwin, one of the volunteer organizers of Kanfest, the Kananaskis Whitewater festival. Kanfest, which will be held this year at Canoe Meadows August 10 - 12 2018 is a weekend to celebrate whitewater kayaking. It also just so happens to be the 25th anniversary of the festival! Kanfest is a festival for all people, of all kayaking abilities, and above all, is just plain fun! For More Information: http://www.calgarykayakclub.com/CKC/index.php/kanfest/events Email:kanfestab@gmail.com twitter: @kanfest instagram: kanfest To contact Kelsey Baldwin directly: gypsyscaravanh@gmail.com @gypsyscaravanh
Kananaskis Mountain Lodge Autograph Collection Hotels is a world-class resort in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Located 1 hour west of Calgary, the resort treats guests to a comfortable retreat, amidst rugged terrain & breathtaking views. Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/
Kananaskis Mountain Lodge Autograph Collection Hotels is a world-class resort in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Located 1 hour west of Calgary, the resort treats guests to a comfortable retreat, amidst rugged terrain & breathtaking views. Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/
Allan Fogwill, head of the Canadian Energy Research Institute, speaks about this week's petrochemicals industry conference in Kananaskis.
This episode highlights the 13km moderate hiking trail up to the Barrier Lake Fire Lookout in Kananaskis. This family friendly hike has approximately 600m of elevation gain, and is relatively close to Calgary, only minutes off of highway 1 on highway 40. https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/bow-valley/prairie-view/
Orchids tricking Bumblebees Wandering trails around the Bow River valley, it seems like every day there are new and exciting changes taking place. The leaves have begun to emerge and the early season blooms are adding a splash of colour to the meadows and forest leaf litter. Today I saw my first Calypso orchids of the season. These tiny, delicate orchids are one of the first forest flowers to emerge in the spring. The forest floor is still a tangle of pine needles with nary a hint of colour, other than the few green leaves and similarly coloured buffaloberry blooms, willow bushes, and bilberry. Calypso, or Fairy Slipper orchids as they are also known, are one of the most beautiful of the mountain orchids. More intricately coloured than the showier Yellow Ladyslipper Orchid, it takes a keen eye to see the amazing detail in the bloom. Each plant produces a single basal leaf close to the ground. In the spring, not long after the snows have melted, a single stem will emerge to produce a single, tiny flower. They rarely reach higher than 20 cm above the ground and the flowers are only around 3 cm across. In some regions, it's nicknamed "Hider-of-the-north" because it's so easy to miss. While there are 4 species globally, there are only two found in the mountain west, Calypso bulbosa var. americana and Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis. On the eastern side of the great divide, you'll only see the americana variety while British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana and Alaska have both. All of the flowers are similar in appearance. The first thing you'll notice on close examination is the typical ladyslipper appearance. Usually, 3 sepals and 3 identical petals rise vertically and to the side of the flower. The actual slipper has a pinkish cover and the pouch is intricately coloured with dark purple streaks. It sports a yellow beard which holds pollen, and a lower lip. In the eastern slopes, the americana variety has a white to pinkish lip while the western occidentalis variety has a lip covered with darker purple spots. Perhaps one of the most remarkable features of the Calypso orchid is that it doesn't provide nectar to the bumblebee queens that seek it out looking for a sugary reward. Instead, they get large amounts of pollen deposited on their body with no actual nectar for their effort. This is not very common in nature. As you can imagine, providing a sugary treat is a huge motivator for bumblebees to come visit. Instead, the Calypso provides bright colouration that says, come over and say hi, and then provides little in return to the bumblebee. Food deception, as this behaviour is known, has seen more intense study during the past few decades. Biologists have come up with a number of theories as to why it occurs. Food-deceptive orchids usually see fewer visits by bees for obvious reasons, but it can also help to ensure cross-pollination by making bees less likely to visit the same plant twice. Two competing theories try to explain how food-deceptive orchids are able to attract pollinators even though they don't offer nectar. The first focuses on the fact that they are often one of only a few bright flowers at this time of year, and this may increase their chances of being visited, despite the lack of nectar. Alternatively, they may still benefit from other nectar-producing flowers nearby. Their blooming period overlaps with a few other pollen producers like willows and some bilberry plants. A 2015 study published in Scientific World Journal found Calypso pollen on 7% of bumblebee queens captured on willow plants, and 18.2% of those visited more than one flower. Since flowering willows make an area attractive to bumblebee queens, the Calypso likely benefits from their proximity. On a smaller scale, the lack of a diversity of other flowering plants helps the Calypso to attract queens that may have been attracted to the area for willow or bilberry nectar. Why not just provide nectar like other flowering plants? Quite simply, it's expensive. Calypso orchids save resources by not producing nectar. A single visit by a queen can take a lot of pollen and so they don't need too many repeat visits. They still need to attract the queen though. Their bright yellow pollen beard and purple streaked pouch provide a visual attraction. They also have a strong smell similar to the smell of vanilla. Essentially, while the flower doesn't offer a reward, it still takes advantage of bright colours and a strong scent to attract a hungry bumblebee queen. In the end, these tricky flowers are able to attract enough queens to ensure reliable pollination. That brings up another question: why just bumblebees queens. The simple answer is that the queens are the only bumblebees around when the Calypso blooms. As summer begins to draw to a close, a bumblebee colony begins to prepare for the following year by producing a final brood of larvae that will contain several queens along with some males. It's those queens that will find a safe place to hibernate for the winter, usually around 20 cm below the surface. They produce glycol in their blood to keep them from freezing to death. Other than these few queens, the rest of the colony dies at the end of every season. After a 6-month sleep, these groggy queens emerge to look for the very earliest spring flowers. In this area, Calypso are one of these wildflowers, along with willow, buffaloberry, and bilberry that greet their arrival. It's this grogginess and the naivete of these newly emerged queens that is likely why the Calypso is able to fool them into pollinating them. As she gathers strength and experience, she'll get to recognize Calypso and avoid them in the future. The next year, it'll be another naïve new queen and the process begins anew. Her next order of business is to find a den. They're fond of mouse, ground squirrel, or weasel burrows. They'll even take advantage of an empty nest box as well. Once she finds a den, she begins the real job of preparing for a new brood of worker bees. Unlike honeybees that can have thousands of individuals, a bumblebee colony will only have a few hundred. She starts by building a wax honeypot that she fills with nectar. This will offer her a food supply when the weather doesn't cooperate. They don't make hexagonal honeycomb-like honey bees, but instead, she makes waxy cups. Into these, she'll lay 5-15 eggs. These will pupate in about 20 days and emerge as adults after 4-5 weeks. From this point on her foraging days are over. These solely female workers will take over those duties and she'll spend the rest of her life in the den laying and tending to eggs. At the end of summer, the colony begins to produce additional queens along with some males. They leave the nest and look for suitable mates. Once mated, the queens will try to feed on as much pollen as possible in order to store up reserves for the winter. She'll then look for a den to hibernate, waking up just in time for a new crop of Calypso to bloom. Let's Talk Parks Canada Way back in episode 26, I dedicated the entire episode to slamming some of the decisions that Parks Canada had made in the previous years that were putting the important ecological integrity of parks at risk. At that time, Parks Canada released the results of an intergovernmental panel that had listened to stakeholders looking into Canadians views on Parks Canada's management of the nation's parks. Simultaneously, they were trying to force feed an $86.4 million dollar bike path from Jasper to the Columbia Icefields - while trails with decades of history were falling into disrepair. To their chagrin, a master of the Freedom of Information Act, Ken Rubin, managed to get all of the original internal documents from Parks Canada's own scientists that reflected the same concerns that many of us had - along with some that I hadn't even considered. To the agencies credit, they didn't deflect the results of the report. They owned. It. Also in their defence, some of the decisions were a reflection of a decade of the Harper government's anti-science, anti-conservation policies. It was a decade of open the floodgates, spend money where it will return the most short-term returns and let the ecology be damned. The Liberals have taken the time to listen to a decade of frustration on how Parks Canada has lost its way. I first came to the Canadian Rockies in 1980 along with my best friend, to hike the 176 km South Boundary Trail running from Nigel Creek in Banff all the way to Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park. Today, routes like the north and south boundary trails are no longer viable backpacking routes. An April 16, 2018 document released by Parks Canada titled Backcountry Fact Sheet for Operators describes the routes as such: "Users of the North and South Boundary trails should consider these more like wilderness routes and expect trees down, with a variety of un-bridged stream and river crossings. Campgrounds are primitive with little if any infrastructure apart from designated areas for cooking, camping and open pits for human waste." When I visited in the 80's, Parks Canada was expanding the facilities at these backcountry sites by providing good toilets, trees for hanging food, and well-designated campsites. It was still a wilderness trail, simply due to the fact that it traversed long distances with little proximity to highways. At the same time, these were also the days of backcountry wardens and we regularly encountered them in the backcountry. In 2018, once you leave the highway, fuggedabout seeing any representative of the Parks Canada Agency. The days of backcountry patrols are long gone. Even the warden cabins are falling into disrepair. Now while the South and North Boundary Trails have always been considered wilderness trails, other trails like the Tonquin Valley Trail in Jasper National Park are not. Back in Episode 10, I talked about growing complaints about Jasper's most popular backcountry trails becoming virtually impassable due to decades of neglect. Jasper's Fitzhugh Newspaper profiled the neglect. It quoted one particular example: "When B.C. resident Philip McDouall set out with three friends to hike the Tonquin Valley Sept. 16, he expected to encounter challenging conditions typical of a backcountry trail. What he didn’t expect to find was appalling trail conditions, dilapidated infrastructure and facilities overflowing with excrement". Of all the trails in Jasper, the Tonquin is one of the most iconic. The article continued: "On top of the appalling trail conditions, he also said many of the campsites are in a state of disrepair with dilapidated cooking areas, broken bear poles and outhouses that were nearly overflowing. At the Clithroe Campsite, in particular, he said the outhouse was so full there was evidence people had been defecating in other areas of the site. 'It was horrible,' said McDouall, 'The way the one chap described it, when you lifted the lid up and sat down you were literally sitting on the last person’s turd'." Why do I dredge up these old stories again? Because this past week the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna published the government's response to the 2017 "Let's Talk Parks Canada" nationwide consultation. The early results of the consultation, which I talk about in Episode 26 was just the first response from the government on the many challenges facing our parks and protected areas, as well as cultural, and aboriginal sites. McKenna, in the government's official response to the consultations published just last week, has reaffirmed Parks Canada's commitment to making the protection of ecological integrity job one. The government has taken a beating over the past few years over the increased development within the parks and the endless focus on bringing more and more cars through the park gates. Most of this was the legacy of the Harper years, but the Liberals are trying to chart a new course. While the words are comforting, we'll need to see whether the words result in action. (I'll add a link to the report in the show notes for this episode). The report puts forward three priorities for Parks Canada going forward: To protect and Restore our national parks and historic sites through focussed investments, working with Indigenous peoples, working with provinces and territories, and ensuring ecological integrity is the first priority in decision making. Enable people to further discover and connect with our parks and heritage through innovative ideas that help share these special places with Canadians. Sustain for generations to come the incredible value—both ecological and economic—that our parks and historic sites provide for communities. The value they bring to fighting climate change, protecting species at risk, and shaping our Canadian identity and jobs and economic opportunity for local communities. These are all things that we have been fighting for for the past decade in the mountain west. During the engagement process, the number one concern voiced was simply that the parks were not being protected and that ecological integrity was NOT the first priority. Respondents also voiced concerns over the reduced role of science and scientific funding in the decision-making process. Parks Canada has historically produced some of the most compelling wildlife research in the country and many of the respondents, myself included, reflected this disillusionment. Along with reductions in scientific funding, rigor, and the freedom to publish, respondents lamented the lack of maintenance of existing facilities. I've covered this in the preamble to this story but the challenge remains. Decades of decline leave long lists for renewal. In defence of Parks Canada though, many good things have begun to happen on this front. There have been huge investments in trailhead facilities in Jasper, along with dramatic investments into the Mount Edith Cavell day-use area. While the focus currently seems to be on repairing long-neglected front-country facilities, it's also important that funds are equally invested in even more decrepit backcountry campsites, trails, bridges, and signage. The more backcountry facilities deteriorate, the more damage the use of backcountry trails generate. If trails are experiencing deep rutting or flooding, hikers will bypass these areas leading to widening or braiding of trails. If outhouses are not maintained than hikers will bypass them and backcountry sanitation is also compromised. Parks has also realized that decisions have not been made transparently in the past. Decisions allowing the Glacier Skywalk, and tentatively an $86.4 million dollar bike trail from Jasper to the Columbia Icefields are only two examples. Other decisions allowing expansions to the Lake Louise Ski areas should also be coming into question. The Icefields bike trail should be immediately cancelled and reviews into the Lake Louise Ski Hill Expansion properly assessed. Participants in the study displayed a lack of trust in the transparency of decisions along with the ability of Parks Canada to really put ecological integrity on the top of their priorities. When stated goals simply don't match management decisions, trust gets eroded. Minister McKenna also vowed to focus on both ecological integrity AND to "restore funding to research, ecological monitoring, and public reporting." The past decade has not been easy on Parks Canada and the nation's parks and reserves desperately need stable funding to ensure important research is ongoing. The 30-year study of wildlife movement corridors and highway crossing structures is a great example. The global value of this study is largely based on its long years of study. Good science takes time, and this study shows dramatic changes in wildlife adaptation to crossing structures over time. Without stable funding, science like this would be lost. We need the federal government to be a leader in research, ecosystem and facility restoration, and environmental assessments. These pillars can help to reduce some of the damage caused by a decade of neglect. Traffic management in busy parks was also a key point in the feedback received by Parks Canada. Over the past decade or so, with deteriorating backcountry conditions and increased frontcountry development, some 95% of the traffic visits the same 2% of the park - the paved corridors. As an example, traffic on Banff Townsite roads increased 17% between 2014 and 2017, increasing from 22,600 to 27,500 per day during July and August. This weekend's Victoria Day holiday could see a repeat of last year. On the Sunday of the long weekend, Banff saw 31,600 cars moving in and out of the townsite. The roads are only designed to accommodate 24,000 cars per day. The cars backed up at both entrances to town with delays in some cases stretching as much as 30 minutes. This doesn't even take into account the increased transit service in the mountain parks. Local Roam Transit saw an increase of 25 percent during July and August. While the final numbers are not in, it's expected that some 700,000 riders will have taken advantage of the service. In addition to this, vast numbers used shuttles from Calgary to Banff, Banff to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and from the Lake Louise overflow campground to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Last summer, ATS Traffic performed magic in terms of keeping vehicles moving, reducing traffic jams, and keeping people from parking for kilometres along busy roadways. While this is laudable, we need to ask ourselves an important question: how many visitors are simply too many? If our focus is on bringing more and more and more people to the shore of Lake Louise, we may reduce traffic snafus, but we are also negatively impacting the visitor experience. Ten years of the Harper government trying to push as many cars as possible through the gates to cash in on the rush didn't factor in the importance of the experience. Tourism is fickle. The experience is critical. Last summer, I was on a multi-day trip and was finishing my day at a hotel in the Village of Lake Louise. My most beautiful lady, Jules was coming to meet me to stay the night and have a nice dinner at the Station Restaurant. She drove from Canmore to the Lake Louise exit. To meet me, she needed to take a left turn off of the exit, but the ATS Traffic staff forced all cars to turn right towards the ski hill. She complied, even though it was the wrong direction. When she had an opportunity, she did a u-turn to head back towards the village. When she got to the village, no vehicles were allowed up the road towards the Chateau. Instead, they were all required to turn right to go towards the Station. She was becoming increasingly frustrated and was on the verge of heading home when she was finally allowed the right of way. Essentially, they were stacking cars off of the highway. The roads don't have the capacity to accommodate so many vehicles trying to go up the hill to the Chateau, so the ATS staff were simply stacking the cars along any road that was available. This prevented cars from backing up into the busy traffic lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway. It was one of the most painful tourism experiences I've witnessed, but safety was the primary concern. When we walked to the restaurant, we chatted with drivers stuck in the various stacking lanes and they expressed major frustration. Many had travelled long distances to see Lake Louise but instead were stuck in Toronto-style traffic. Even if they eventually made it to the lake, along with the thousands of other visitors in their convoy, the experience was not a positive one. As a destination, we can't afford large groups of visitors flocking to sites like Trip Advisor and saying: "don't go to Banff…they've ruined it!". We need to look at hard limits to the number of people that can visit sites like Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. As much as we need to appreciate the revenue that each additional car brings, we also need to think of the future. If tourists of today slam the experience, then how many visitors will come tomorrow? This doesn’t even consider the impacts to wildlife and ecological integrity that comes about as a result of high-intensity, volume tourism. Since park fees stay in the park they're collected, it forces the park to rely on those dollars for their operating costs. When parks depend on gate fees, it's hard to imagine they can focus on improving visitor experiences and ecological integrity when doing so requires them to give up large amounts of important operating income. The funding of the park should NOT require the park to compromise its mandate in order to have the cash to keep the lights on. One of the final topics covered by Minister McKenna has to deal with expanding opportunities for new people to experience Canada's Parks. She repeatedly mentions "new Canadians" as a group that, as the future of Canada, need expanded opportunities to explore and learn from our natural landscapes. I totally agree that new Canadians can play a huge role in the future of our parks but we need to facilitate the experiences in a way that will help them understand the ecology, sensitivity, and uniqueness of the parks. When literature is only available in two arbitrary languages, we're not facilitating the experiences of visitors whose first language is not English or French. Canada has huge numbers of tourists arriving from countries like Germany, Japan, India, Taiwan, Korea, and increasingly, China. Many of these visitors don't come from places with intact wilderness or truly WILD life. We read about wildlife habituation and other park management challenges, and often the names in the articles reflect the potential for language barriers. We need to make sure that the literature we provide to visitors is in a language they can understand. If we want visitors to the National Parks to respect and appreciate nature, we have to help them understand just how delicate wilderness really is. That is best done without artificial barriers. All literature should be available at least in English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi, and Arabic. I would also argue that Parks Canada should reach out to diverse communities through outreach as a way to help bring the messages of conservation to these same communities in their native language. Let's make sure our visitors have all the tools they need to have the best, and safest, visit possible. The landscape will thank us for it. And with that, it's time to wrap this episode up. Don't forget that Ward Cameron Enterprises is your source for step-on, hiking, and photography guides in the Canadian Rockies. You can find us online at www.WardCameron.com or visit our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/WardCameronEnterprises. If you'd like to reach out to me on Twitter, you can hit me up @wardcameron. Don't forget to visit the show notes at www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep060 for links to additional information as well as an easy subscribe button so you'll never miss an episode…and with that, the sun's out and it's time to go hiking. I'll talk to you next week.
Local Photographers If you're a regular listener, you'll already know that I am both a photographer and author. It was through both of these rolls that I'm feeling very sad today to hear of the passing of Doug Leighton. Doug was a visionary photographer who introduced countless numbers of people to the magic of the Canadian west. His coffee table books and calendars were widely collected. I remember a particular favourite was a large format 11 x 14-inch calendar which thousands of people bought simply so they could frame the images. We were both published by Altitude Publishing in Canmore and I had a great appreciation for the work that Doug produced for them. It was an especially appropriate relationship for Doug. Altitude publishing was created by another pioneer photographer from Banff by the name of Byron Harmon. For the larger part of a century, Altitude Publishing represented the very best of mountain imagery, and Doug wore that mantle well. Doug left the Bow Valley in 2005 and moved to the Blaeberry Valley near the mountain community of Golden, B.C. where he passed with his family on March 28, 2018. Doug was born in Banff in 1953 and the mountains were his inspiration for all of his life. Rest well, Doug. You helped us all see the Rockies just a little bit clearer. Another local photographer, John E. Marriott has recently been honoured by the League of Landscape Photographers for his long practice of ethical wildlife photography. League magazine is a collective of photographers for whom ethical image capture is their first priority. As they state on their website: "Rather than a top-down, formal structure, the League of Landscape Photographers is a grassroots group comprised of photographers with similar values. It transcends borders both physical and digital. If your art has something personal to say about the world, if you photograph with care and respect for other people and the environment around you, if you post these values (or your own ethical values) to the world – then you are the League. " John was awarded The Best of the League for 2018. The advent of digital cameras has seen tens of thousands of so-called wildlife photographers explode onto the scene. Those of us that photograph WILD life understand that the well-being of the animal or bird is what matters - not the photograph. John has been an advocate for wildlife for decades. He not only refuses to photograph captive or baited animals, he is a powerful opponent of such practices. Here in the Rockies, every year we see more and more people crowding animals, baiting and enticing them, offering food, and even illegally using wildlife tracking equipment to locate research subjects. Way back in episode 6, I shared a story of Banff Park Wardens finding evidence of photographers using antennas designed to help researchers keep track of animals fitted with radio collars just so they could photograph them. I've been a wildlife photographer for many years and I've seen many indefensible actions by unethical photographers, but this is a new level of low. You can listen to the story at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep006. Social media is full of photographs of distressed animals, baited owls, and all means of creating situations dangerous for the photographer, but all too often, more dangerous for the animal. Photographers like John call out this practice. He has made a career of raising the bar and educating photographers on how to capture ethical images. No photograph is worth the life of a grizzly bear, or wolf, or owl. As the League puts it: "Not only does John practice ethical wildlife photography, but he is also an activist for wildlife causes. His YouTube video series, Exposed with John E. Marriott, highlights wildlife conservation concerns with ideas for concrete results. John is not a complainer but one who points out the facts with solid background research and then puts his knowledge into positive action. John also takes his wildlife ethics and philosophy for conservation on tour with him when he teaches other photographers. Anyone who has been on a John Marriott tour will come away not only with great pictures but also with a bigger appreciation of the issues and the ethics around wildlife and nature photography." Congratulations John. Keep on helping us all to be better photographers. If you'd like to see more of John's work, check him out at https://wildernessprints.com/. You can purchase his amazing images, wildlife photography books, or join him on one of his incredible workshops. Aldo Leopold Aldo Leopold was one of the fathers of conservation in the U.S. and was a forester, educator, writer, and lover of the outdoors. According to the Aldo Leopold Foundation, he was a true believer in the development of a "land ethic" based on an ethical, caring relationship between people and nature. In 1933, he published the very first textbook about wildlife management. Throughout his life, he focused on understanding ecology and the relationships that made up complex ecosystems. While I'm working on this podcast week in and out, I spend countless hours reading long scientific journal articles. More often than not, I have three windows open on my computer: Two windows of the same article. One I use to highlight the important aspects of the study and another one so I can search for the definitions of acronyms without losing my place in the main article. Then I have another Google search window open to help me translate the arcane jingo that allows scientists to be precise but serves to exclude vast numbers of readers from understanding the value of the research. Aldo Leopold understood natural systems, but more importantly, he understood how to share that knowledge. When you read his words, you instantly are transported to a new world full of wonders and magic. I often joke that my job is to take the important science being done by ologists, whether they are palaeontologists, biologists, geologists; the list goes on - and make it cool. Aldo understood the clash between science and ecology. In his most important work: A Sand County Almanac, ironically published more than a year after he passed away, offers an insight that has remained with me for the past 30 years: "There are men charged with the duty of examining the construction of the plants, animals, and soils which are the instruments of the great orchestra. These men are called professors. Each selects one instrument and spends his life taking it apart and describing its strings and sounding boards. This process of dismemberment is called research. The place for dismemberment is called a university. A professor may pluck the strings of his own instrument, but never that of another, and if he listens for music he must never admit it to his fellows or to his students. For all are restrained by an ironbound taboo which decrees that the construction of instruments is the domain of science, while the detection of harmony is the domain of poets." That last line struck me like a hammer when I first read it decades ago. The study of ecology was slowly starting to become more mainstream. I've never forgotten the concept that the detection of harmony is the domain of poets. Ecology is all about understanding all of the instruments. Every strand in the ecological web, just like in an orchestra, is critical to the functioning of that system. Leopold helped millions of people to suddenly see that the orchestra was more than just a collection of instruments - it was the harmony that they create when combined in just the right way. Whirling Disease If you're a regular listener to this podcast, you'll already know that whirling disease has been spreading across the river systems of Alberta over the past year or so. I first spoke about it in episode 7 when it was first discovered in Canada in Banff's Johnson Lake. It is a parasite that affects most trout species and can result in massive losses. For additional background information, check out episodes 008, 020, and 029 In the past year, the parasite has been discovered across Alberta's most iconic river systems including the Bow, Oldman, Red Deer, and most recently, the North Saskatchewan River systems. Johnson Lake, where the discovery first took place, is particularly important. At first look, it's a tiny mountain lake with intensive human use. On a large scale, it doesn't seem like one lake among many watersheds would matter, but Johnson Lake is unique. The Bow River watershed is a blue-ribbon trout stream. It is also home to critical populations of endangered west slope cutthroat trout. Cutthroat trout have been decimated over the past few decades as introduced species like brook, brown, and rainbow trout have become the dominant fish in the mountain west. Native trout like the bull, or dolly varden, and west slope cutthroat trout can be outcompeted by these more aggressive invaders. Johnson Lake forms a transition zone between the wider Bow Valley river system and the upper portions of the watershed where the most important populations of cutthroat trout are found. The original plan for Johnson Lake involved a winter draining of the lake to kill all the trout contained within it as well as to kill the alternate host of the parasite, bottom-dwelling tubifex worms. At this point, 2,700 kg of fish has been removed from the lake along with 15,000 other fish from adjacent creeks. At the same time, they were able to reduce the water level in adjacent creeks which feed into Johnson Lake and capture additional fish there. Recently, as Park officials continued their work on the lake, it became apparent that there were a lot of streams feeding the local wetland which in turn fed into Johnson Lake. To remove the fish from the lake, it's critical to make sure that new migrants aren't just replacing those recently removed. Draining the lake was seen as premature as they focused on reducing reinfection. Instead, they left nets in the lake to catch as many remaining fish as possible. They've also installed a barrier to prevent fish from re-entering the lake from tributaries. For now, the focus has moved to the wetlands feeding the lake. If need be, once this work has been done, they can drain the rest of the lake if need be. It's now apparent that this will be an ongoing project as opposed to a short-term assault. The goal is to prevent the parasite from moving further upstream into already vulnerable populations of cutthroat trout. Whirling disease can be responsible for vast losses within populations and when you have an already stressed one, it can be terminal. If you visit Johnson Lake this year, please pay close attention to the warning signs. Whirling disease is not only easily transported on the soles of boots or boat paddles, it can remain viable for years. This means that you can wade into the lake today, put your waders in the garage for years, and then still infect a new body of water once you dust them off and wear them into a new water source. Let's help keep our most sensitive trout healthy. Kananaskis Grizzly Updates First up…it's bear season in the Rockies again. While deep snows may have led a few of our bears to have a bit of a lay-in this year, Bear 122 was confirmed to be up and at-em by at least March 22 this year. He's merely the bellwether of all the other bears so if you're out on the trails, be sure to carry your bear spray from now on. Grizzly bears have had a lot of challenges in the past few years, but today I'm bringing some good news. In a recent DNA study in Kananaskis Country, it seems things are currently OK for grizzly populations. The most recent study looked at a vast 10,000 square km area stretching from the Trans-Canada Highway all the way to the Crowsnest Pass in southern Alberta. DNA testing has revolutionized wildlife research. Because bears are predictable and are drawn to rub trees where bear after bear take the time to stop, rub and in many cases, leave a hairy howdy do. Researchers can visit these trees and collect these furry follicles, test the DNA and get a good idea of individual bears that were using a particular territory. One of the best illustrations of this was a time-lapse video published by Kananaskis Country that showed a great example of how many individual bears visit rub trees. Not only is it an awesome example of science in actions, it's just fun - and very Jungle Bookey. I'll leave a link in the show notes at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep059 Bears are driven by their noses and scent posts are visited by one and all as they travel through an area. In some cases, researchers added a bit of extra cologne in the form of bear lure to help attract newcomers to the trees. Motion activated cameras helped to make sure that every dance was captured but more importantly, the DNA in the form of hair samples. According to the study, they found 16 grizzlies per thousand square kilometres within the northern part of the region that includes Kananaskis Country. The southern region is still doing well with 12 bears/1,000km2. So how many bears are calling the Kananaskis home? According to this study, there are approximately 96 individuals with 52 females and 43 males in the northern section and 22 females and 22 males in the south. Yup! They can get this specific in terms of numbers. DNA doesn't lie. Hair samples will continue to be an important way to track bear populations in the future. These results will vary with the local conditions for the bears though. Grizzlies populations reflect the ecology of the landscape they call home. If food conditions vary due to drought or other conditions, the bears will follow the food. Essentially, over time, results may vary but continued research will help to determine trends in bear movement. As important as rub trees are, and as much of a traffic hub they form, they're not a place that the bears hang out. It's more of a pass by, spend a few minutes saying I've been here, and then moving on to leave the tree vacant for the next visitor. The longest that researchers witnessed bears hanging around the rub trees was 9 minutes. Many bears just spent a few seconds to a few minutes…a quick rub to say they were here and then on their way. This latest study was good news for Kananaskis Country. While grizzlies are a threatened species in Alberta, Kananaskis Country as a whole seems to be at its carrying capacity for bears. Along with this good news was the discovery that slightly more than half of the bears were females. When this happens Kananaskis Country ecologist John Paczkowski said, they encounter more cases of cubs being killed by other bears. It's nature's way of regulating their population. Even as far back as 2009, I witnessed the first documented case of a female grizzly killing the cub of another female. Both of these females are favourite bears in Kananaskis. Bear 94 attacked and fatally injured the cub of Bear 104. It has always been a puzzle as to why the attack occurred. Perhaps this might lend a clue. Banff's population has also remained steady at 13 bears per 1,000 km2. Grizzlies remain a threatened species, but this is very good news. Bears are one of the truest symbols of the mountain wilderness. They are one of our most iconic animals. With more and more and more people visiting the parks, we need to keep on trying to educate visitors on the importance of enjoying wildlife safely. The tourist season is getting ready to kick off once again. Let's all do our part to keep the bears and the people that want to view them, safe. David Suzuki Honored by the University of Alberta One of Canada's most beloved naturalists, Dr David Suzuki is set to receive an honorary doctorate of science for his years of environmental work. He has been a steady voice for decades on the importance of ecology and been a constant warrior for nature. This is a story that has opened up a floodgate of introspection among interpreters, guides, naturalists, and scientists. Many of us have been really conflicted about our own personal feelings about this most reverent of Canadian figures. Dr Suzuki spoke out at times when it wasn't cool. He never pulled a punch when conservation was on the line. He helped a generation of Canadians to recognize that nature has value. He made us focus on the natural landscape and the importance of keeping it both healthy and intact. His television program The Nature of Things is seen in more than 40 countries and has focused the world's attention on the challenges facing our oceans and fisheries, climate change, and clean energy. He is a member of the Order of Canada, our nation's highest civilian honour, and placed 5th on a list of the greatest Canadians to ever live. This impending honour has made many of us come to grips with our conflicting opinions of Dr Suzuki. I first heard him speak some 20 years ago in Canmore. I booked the tickets months in advance and couldn't wait for the chance to meet a man that had had a significant impact on my career as a naturalist. His presentation left me absolutely flat. It wasn't a presentation as much as it was a rant. It was doom and gloom and government inaction with little prescription for positive actions. It didn't make me want to go out and act at all. It seemed that all the actions had already been done. The planet was finished and all that was left was for the multi-nationals to carve up the profits. I began to realize that we all suffer fatigue when we try to protect something that's, not just important, but critical to our sense of being. I understood his frustration as ecological understanding seemed to be ignored from the larger political discourse. I decided to forget the event and remember David as I had imagined him before the presentation. Few people have done so much for the environment, even if just in terms of awareness, as Dr David Suzuki. Recently, an article in the Calgary Herald by University of Alberta environmental economist Andrew Leach caught my eye, in part because it was shared by another person for whom I have great respect, former Banff National Park Superintendent Kevin Van Tighem. In the article, Leach outlines why he would never share a stage with Dr Suzuki. Now before I move forward, Andrew Leach is no ordinary economist. He's the architect of Alberta's climate change plan. I know. For some of you, I've just lost all credibility…Alberta and climate change policy…what folly is this? For many people in British Columbia at the moment, as wars of words fill the airwaves, Alberta is nothing but an oil-hungry, tar sands purveyor of doom trying to force an unwanted pipeline down the throats of more environmentally friendly B.C. Forget the fact that our neighbour's number one export is coal, the current war of words is not moving either province forward. I'm not here to defend either one, but rather to try to understand a part of my challenges with Dr Suzuki. In this modern world, everything has a value, whether we want it to or not. Natural ecosystems and their processes contribute to the natural world. Intact ecosystems help to protect watersheds by storing water in terms of glaciers, lakes, and aquifers. Intact ecosystems help to provide connection to the creatures that call it home, allowing them to move between seasonal habitats free from disturbance. Today, intact ecosystems also help to offer protection in times of changing climates. It also allows ecosystems to change more slowly than already stressed environments where increases in temperature can become the final stressor that causes ecosystem collapse. Keeping ecosystems intact requires political will. More and more, economists are one of the most important tools helping politicians sell the importance of conservation to a province or a nation that may not see the financial return on investing in ecosystem protection. Dr Suzuki has, has for years, referred to economics as a form of brain damage. To him, all economists do is find the most efficient way to clear-cut a mountain or farm salmon, nature be damned. He has gone so far as to call it a "pretend science". Today, some of the greatest climate warriors are economists. National governments understand numbers, and a well-versed ecological economist that can quantify the risks behind environmental choices can be worth their weight in gold. Natural ecosystems help to regulate climates and provide resources that were, and are, critical to our modern lives. Critical to these discussions today are the economists! If we agree that nature has value, then just what are those values? Economists that specialize in natural systems help organizations and government to see beyond the quarterly balance sheet and hopefully, make better policy decisions. Very dear to our heart in the central Rockies has been British Columbia's choice to end the trophy hunt for grizzly bears. This decision wasn't just a spur of the moment decision. It was a culmination of huge public outcry, along with economics. Every study of the value of live bears as compared to trophy bears has overwhelmingly supported the ban on hunts. Economics showed that the viewing of live bears is worth orders of magnitude more than the value of the commercial hunt. It is the work of economists that help to quantify those numbers. As a nation, we've made grand promises as part of the Paris Accords to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. This is no small task. If we can agree that climates are warming and that Canada, and all of its component parts, need to work together to accomplish any goal towards this reduction than we can also agree that it's a monumental challenge. These goals can only be accomplished as a nation. Alberta has been working very hard to reduce its emissions and has started a phase-out of coal-burning power plants. Its carbon levy is also a powerful tool to help push the province towards a gradual phase-out of carbon-based fuel sources. Economists help to show the value of these changes on ecosystems. Bickering between provinces is not going to get the job done. Let's get it together Canada.
Interested in adventure racing? This episode is all about the KAN Adventure Race being held this September in Kananaskis, Alberta. Kate meets with Bridget Mahaffey from the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre to discuss the ins and outs of this paddle, bike and trail running race. Instagram: kanadventurerace Race registration: https://www.ucalgary.ca/ActiveLiving/registration/Program/kanrace Interested in volunteering? Contact: bmahaffe@ucalgary.ca
Time to take down your bird feeders Now that spring is, well, technically upon us. It's time to take down your bird feeders. Communities like Banff and Jasper, located within the national parks, already ban bird feeders. While Canmore is outside of the mountain parks, it has a bylaw that forbids bird feeders between April 1st and October 31st. While maintaining bird feeders can provide hours of amusement in the winter months when chickadees and nuthatches gather for sunflower seeds, there is no need to have bird feeders during the summer months. While I don't have stats for Canadian bird feeders, some 40% of Americans regularly put out food for their feathered friends. It's important to distinguish back-yard feeders from visiting wild places to feed ducks and geese. Even in Canmore, it's important never to feed bread to ducks. In one study in Massachusetts, in a one month period, some 38,500 people fed ducks the equivalent of 7,800 loaves of bread. This didn't take into account the soda crackers, cheezies, popcorn, pretzels, cookies, peanuts, and other calorie-rich but nutrient poor foods. Feeding ducks encourages large flocks to congregate in areas that may not be able to naturally support such high numbers. It can cause increased stress, and provide a vector for disease to enter a population. Any time there are unsustainable numbers of any species, nature will find a way to take advantage of that, whether through the introduction of insects, parasites, or disease. That doesn't mean that all feeding has to be bad. This past week, I've begun to wake up to the song of our resident robin outside our window. We have the loudest, most persistent robin in Canmore…every time I have the opportunity to sleep in that danged…oh wait, that's another story. Proper feeding of birds during the winter months can provide some great entertainment Choosing the right seed mixture can do two things. It can help to improve your chances of attracting local birds and reduce the cleanup in the spring. Many cheap bird seeds include fillers that are not popular with some birds. Take the time to find out the best seed mixtures in your area so that the seeds you put out pack the best combination of calories and nutrition for the birds that may rely on them. Whatever strategy you choose, if you feed them, you need to clean up after them. Now is the time, at least if the snow ever melts, to clean up the remnants of your winter feeding. The ground beneath your feeder may be littered with empty sunflower hulls, faeces, and a great deal of seed kicked out of the feeder. Many years ago, I had a feeder on a second story balcony. I had a vast number of finches that invaded my feeders. What kind of finches? It was a very long time ago, but I think they were grey-crowned rosy finches. They simply took all the seeds from the feeder and kicked them to the ground where they preferred to feed. Time and again they emptied the feeder of sunflower seeds. When spring arrived, so many seeds had been ejected that the entire eavestrough around the balcony was clogged and rainwater couldn't flow through. That was the first time I realized that feeding in the winter means cleaning up in the spring. Living in a landscape with bears offers an additional reason to make sure that any feeders you fill in the winter are emptied in the spring and the area around it well cleaned. Even in areas where attracting unwanted wildlife isn't an issue, there are plentiful reasons to take spring cleaning seriously. Seed on the ground can rot, begin to smell, cause damage to grass and garden plants, allow mildew to grow, and even spread disease. Like feeding ducks, bird feeders allow birds to congregate at a single location which can help in the spread of disease. Birds can also suffer when bird seed mildews and rots. Always make sure your feeder is clean and dry. If you notice any adverse behaviour of birds, or signs of ill-health in your yard, dump, disinfect, and clean your feeder. It may not have anything to do with your feeder, but it only takes a few minutes to ensure that any seeds you offer are free of disease or toxins like salmonella. It's also helpful to remove your feeder if you notice any kind of outbreak of disease so that the birds disperse and reduce the level of contact found at most feeders. As the ground dries, check out the area beneath your feeder. There may be significant collections of seeds and seed husks, along with faeces. This is where a good, old-fashioned shop vac can be helpful. Take a rake to the ground and then suck the detritus up. If you can place your winter feeders above hard surfaces like sidewalks or wooden decks, you also have a much easier cleanup in the spring. Be especially cautious of having feeders above flower beds where rotting seeds can have negative impacts on the garden. If you plan your winter feeding around the spring cleanup, you can really reduce both the work and the risk that your feeding will negatively impact the birds your helping. The bears are up and exploring. Bird feeders need to be taken down so that inadvertent seed acts as an attractant. Bears in the Rockies don't have a lot of early season food choices. After meat, the next most nutritious food category for bears are seeds and nuts. A bird feeder full of sunflower seeds is an irresistible attraction. If you don't believe this, then check out the images on this page. Bears are very persistent when there is an easily available, high calorie food available. As communities, it's our job to keep the wild in wildlife and to keep our yards clear of attractants that may bring unwanted visitors. Next up…that ain't no lynx! Bobcats moving north It's no secret that climates are warming, winters are shorter, and snowpacks are thinner….bahahaha just kidding. This year has been epic for snow, cold, and persistence. In terms of climate change though, this winter is just simply a single data point on an ascending line on a graph of long-term average temperatures. Like most of us, other than the hardcore skiers and boarders with their cherry red spring skiing complexions, I'm absolutely tickled to see spring. By the way, if you're Canadian, and the chances are good based on my demographic, you may have seen the final Rick Mercer Report tonight. For 15-years Mercer has been poking fun at politics while bringing Canadians closer together. Over the years he had many highlights. As the story commented: "The self-proclaimed political junkie said some of the highlights from the show have been bungee jumping with his childhood hero Rick Hansen, interviewing every living prime minister, flying with the Snowbirds and dangling off the CN Tower." On the show, he recapped a session that poked fun at Environment Canada's weather forecasting that seems particularly apropos this year. Have you noticed that on every 7-day forecast there was a glimmer of hope on day-7? He joked that on every 7-day forecast, day 7 would show nicer weather. Of course, 7-day forecasts are mostly bogus, but he poked fun at the forecasters always giving us a glimmer of hope when the nights were cold and the cars were frosty. We'll miss you Rick. Oops. Sorry, back to bobcats moving north. Way back in Episode 16, I talked about a wide variety of species moving north with warming climes. You can check out that episode at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep016. I love cats and dogs. When I started my career as a naturalist way back in 1982, I hoped to encounter cougars and lynx in my explorations. I've been lucky to view lynx on numerous occasions, and followed their tracks on even more occasions. Cougars continue to evade me. I've seen tails disappearing into the trees, found fresh tracks, and even stumbled upon a kill site, but I've yet to be able to definitively say that I've seen a wild cougar. Bobcats? Back in the 80's, they were a thing of myth. I was trained with the understanding that lynx and bobcats were the only two animals that respected the 49th parallel. Lynx are truly Canadian. They evolved in our deep snowpacks and long winters. As snowshoe hares evolved bigger and bigger feet to allow them to escape predation, the lynx simply followed suit. Their feet also grew significantly bigger over time. Biologists call this coevolution. As one species adapts, so must its predators. Along with the massive feet, the lynx has distinctive tufts of hair on its ears. If you see a cat with sasquatch-like feet and ear tufts in snow country, you've found yourself a lynx. Bobcats on the other hand are much more diminutive. They lack the ear tufts of lynx and, because they evolved in shallower snowpacks and warmer winters, they lack the snowshoe-like feet of the lynx as well. Their bodies are also heavier. Small feet and heavy bodies makes for a sinky cat in deep snows, like the conditions historically found in the mountain west. So then what the heck are they doing in Canada? Apparently following the sun! While this winter is an anomaly, on a long-term trend, winters are getting steadily warmer. The snows arrive later and the spring arrives sooner…so what's a cat to do? Bobcats headed the same direction so many other animals have - north! A tracking study of the eastern Bow Valley conducted in 2010 found plenty of evidence that bobcats had followed the warming trends and moved right in. Over the past decade or so, reports of bobcats in southern Alberta and British Columbia began to pop up more and more regularly. Signs of bobcat were still rare, but they first began to show up in tracking studies in 2004. If this is news to you, it was to me as well. I had no idea that bobcats had made the move this far north as early as 2004. Like all the wild cats, they spent most of their time in the valley bottoms, preferring to stick to the more sun-exposed south side of the valley. Without the snowy adaptations of the lynx, bobcats took advantage of the landscape and the warmth of the sun to help guide them in their explorations. In a series of track studies conducted between 2004 and 2009 in the eastern Bow Valley, bobcat tracks were discovered 15 times, as compared to 81 times for cougar, and 153 for lynx. The eastern Bow Valley at that time was rarely used by wolves due to the fragmented habitat. In fact, there was no evidence of wolves in the eastern part of the valley between 2004 and 2009. Move a little further west, towards the north side of Canmore, and signs of wolves became more prevalent. For carnivores moving through the Valley of the Bow, the area from Heart Creek to Mount McGillivray is a critical pinch point for wildlife movement. The valley narrows, and high cliffs limit the movement options for animals through this area. Add to the mix the busy Trans-Canada Highway, Bow River, Canadian Pacific Railway, and industrial development on the north side of the valley, and the pinch is especially tight. One curious result in this study was that, in the most fragmented habitat around the town of Exshaw and the hamlet of Lac des Arcs. This narrow corridor, despite its cement plant, railway, and river forming barriers, the bobcat was the only wild feline to take advantage of the landscape. This may have shown that the bobcats are much more adaptable than lynx and cougar to urban environments. Like coyotes, these medium sized felines are showing a great ability to live in close quarters with people. Curiously, the first direct evidence in the Kananaskis Valley was in a photo captured by a wildlife camera in 2009. All it showed was a slightly blurry foot. As biologists studied the spot pattern, the apparent gait, and the size of the foot, they concluded that it had to be a bobcat. A recent article on the CTV news site, reports that Calgary is receiving hundreds of calls to its 311 city services hotline reporting bobcats wandering around urban and rural neighbourhoods alike. This article states that Calgary has: "two big areas where bobcats thrive; one in the southwest near Deer Run, the Weaselhead and Fish Creek Park and another in the northwest community of Varsity." Bobcats get along quite well in urban environments. Cities like Calgary are alive with red and gray squirrels, white-tailed jackrabbits, and other small mammals and birds. Bobcats are, in many ways, a large house cat. They are incredibly flexible in the prey they select, but they are bigger and so instead of mice and small songbirds, they can tackle jackrabbits and some of the very large urban gray squirrels. Although called gray squirrels, the urban squirrels of western Canada are almost as big as a house cat and usually jet black in colour. Warming climates are letting more and more plants, animals, birds, parasites, insects, and even diseases, to move north. There are many advantages to a cold climate, and we are losing some of those natural barriers to movement that helped to create the ecology that we have taken for granted for so long. In a study published in May of 2017 in the journal Phys.org, bobcat populations in the U.S. have begun to explode, becoming visible around some of the largest cities in the country, including Las Angeles. More and more, they are gaining coyote like boldness in communities. They have also benefitted from protections that have been afforded predators in the last few decades when biologists began to realize the importance of top level carnivores in keeping rodents, deer, and other potential pest animals in check. They found that the numbers of bobcats had tripled since the 1980s. As the study states: "The bobcat's success also reflects its ability to eat almost anything and thrive almost anywhere, from cornfields to swamps to suburban parks. With cottontail rabbits declining in New Hampshire, they shifted to preying on plentiful wild turkeys and squirrels." In British Columbia, biologists are seeing similar trends. T.J. Gooliaff, a Masters student at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, has been tracking the northern expansion of bobcats in B.C. He asked people to submit photos of lynx and bobcat across the province. He looked at more than 3,000 photos. They now have evidence of bobcats as far north as Prince George, much farther north than they have been found in Alberta. It's even slightly farther north than Edmonton, Alberta. Bobcats are here to stay. They are adaptable and in some areas, have been seen to simply wander from bird feeder to bird feeder looking for easy meals. Our communities are evolving, and coyotes are not the only carnivore roaming the trails at night. They are adaptable and can get just about anywhere. Unlike coyotes, a fence is little barrier to a bobcat. In the first story of this episode, I talk about cleaning up your bird feeders at this time of year. Bobcats might give us a reason to be vigilant even in the middle of winter. Also like coyotes, unattended pets are vulnerable and leaving pet food or other attractants can help to bring carnivores into your neighbourhood. Have you ever seen a bobcat in the Rockies? If so, I'd love to hear your story. Leave a comment in the show notes at www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep058. Next up…return of the bruins The Bears are Back Well, after a long, hard, cold winter, I'm welcoming every sign of spring that I can. Since the weather has proven to be unreliable as an indicator of spring this year, why not use some of the more reliable signals that the season is here if not the weather. Just last week, robins began singing outside my home in Canmore. Canada geese are beginning to return to the north, much to the chagrin of many urban parks and golf courses, and while Balzac Billy might predict the length of winter, in the Bow Valley, we rely on our own indicator - the Boss! Bear 122, better known as the Boss, was first seen on March 24 of this year. Last year, he was spotted on March 5, but who wouldn't sleep in a bit given this winter's persistence? Just in case you've been living under a rock, Bear 122 is the top bruin in the Bow Valley. He's usually the first to be seen in the spring and the last to enter his den in the fall. He has a fearsome reputation but he's a bear that is a master of living in and around people. In all of his many encounters with hikers, he's not acted aggressively. Last summer I was guiding a group of hikers at Stanley Glacier. We stopped just before the first creek crossing to do a bear safety talk. As my colleague, Dave Honeyman of Canadian Rockies Alpine was going through the importance of bear safety, the Boss suddenly showed up on the other side of the creek. Since Dave was facing the group, he didn't see the Boss until one of the clients mentioned it. At this point, I just arrived to the location and, sure enough, Bear 122 was about 20 feet away following the creek. Safety being the priority, we got the guests to put away their cameras and head back towards the trailhead. The Boss, well he just meandered up the trail following the footsteps of countless groups that had headed out ahead of us. Our group, we decided to explore one of the many other fabulous trails in the Kootenay valley. Some bears can thrive close to people by combining a disinterest in them with an understanding of how to avoid the danger spots. Bear 122 essentially owns the CPR mainline and that's usually where he's first sighted in the spring. Most commonly, I've encountered him between Castle Junction and Lake Louise. When he first emerges from the den he's very lethargic. There is not much food available at this time of year and his main goal is to conserve energy and take advantage of any easy foods that might be available. Train tracks are often a good place to find food. There may be train or winter killed elk, deer, moose, or sheep that he can munch on, along with grain spills that might not have been cleaned up. Usually, the emergence of 122 marks the start of bear season. His disappearance in the fall marks its end. Every day, more and more bears are going to be lazily emerging from their dens to begin another summer of feeding, fattening, raising cubs, and mating. The boys usually emerge well ahead of females with cubs. Generally, we start to see the mom and kids out in early May. By that time, although the cubs look tiny, they are around 5 months old and keen to explore their world. On years like this one, when the landscape is still covered in a blanket of white, the bears will be looking for easy food sources. Again, it's a reason to clean up not just feeders, but any potential attractants in your yards. At this time of year, they become fairly visible along roadways as the heavy snows force them into the valleys where the roads dominate the landscape. While they are more visible at this time of year, they're also in a vulnerable condition. They've lost an incredible amount of weight over the winter and any added stresses can cause added challenges to them. If you're lucky enough to see one, please stay in your car. Enjoy the sighting from a good distance and try not to force the bear to move on. Every phone comes with an amazing camera these days and you can zoom in to incredible detail even from a distance. Our wildlife is our legacy. Please help us to ease the bears into their new summer season. Soon thoughts will turn to romance as females that do not have cubs emerge and the start of the mating season begins. Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal, and love. Birds are singing to attract mates, bears are going to be looking to hook up, and many of the creatures of the mountains, from insects to amphibians to birds will soon brighten up our landscape for yet another summer season. And with that, it's time to wrap this episode up. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so that you never miss another great story. Don't forget that Ward Cameron Enterprises is your source for step-on, hiking, photography, and snowshoe guides. We specialize in the mountain west and our guides are experts on the natural and human history of the Rockies. If you'd like to reach out personally, you can hit me up on Twitter @wardcameron. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/WardCameronEnterprises…and with that said, the sun's out and it's time to go hike-a-shoeing…or is that show-a-hiking…whatever, I'll talk to you next week.
About a month ago Janet and I discovered this great new place that opened up in Kananaskis in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta called Nordic spa. So we did a little bit of research and we decided that although it’s newly opened and has a little bit more development to be done that we wanted to be one of the first people to check out this new experience. This past weekend we packed our bags and we headed out to the Rocky Mountains for just a brief weekend getaway. There we experienced a full day at the Nordic spa and got to connect with the vice President of spa development Jennifer Buckler. This is a woman that is filled with so much knowledge and vision when it comes to the spa experience. She shared with us the vision, the mission, and the intention behind the Nordic spa and how it’s really centred around the idea of the ancient practice of hydrotherapy cycling. Listen on for more information about the benefits and the research behind hydrotherapy cycling. Then Jennifer also shared with us the idea of the spa as a place to disconnect to reconnect and the idyllic location of the spa, outside surrounded by gorgeous trees and mountains and nature yet you can also rest and retire inside the facilities where there is an amazing lounging area and bistro as well. There are great plans as they develop the second phase. We also talked briefly about our stay at the newly renovated Kananaskis Lodge which is literally a 30 second walk to the spa, it is truly a great destination. Find our more about the Kananaskis Nordic Spa here: http://knordicspa.com/ Book your stay at the Kananaskis Lodge here: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yyckk-kananaskis-mountain-lodge-autograph-collection/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2 Visit us at http://pamellaheikel.com/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamellaHeikel/
Welcome to episode 57 of the Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast, I'm your host, Ward Cameron and I'm recording this on April 1, 2018. This week I look at three amazing fossils that are teaching palaeontologists about the evolution of some of the world's oldest creatures. I also look at the return of red fox to the Rocky Mountains. It's an action-packed episode so with that said, let's get to it. Some wisdom from John Muir I wanted to start today with a fabulous quote by John Muir. As a hiking guide and naturalist, I see too many people striding through the wilderness, eager to reach a destination, or bag a peak, yet they miss the beauty that's all around them. For me, the best way to enjoy nature is to simply bathe in it. Spend time in the wilderness and let the energy and the ambience wash over you. If you really want to experience the mountain west, then stop, sit down and listen. Wander slowly along trails while filling all of your senses with endless stimulation. Feel the bark of a tree; listen for the sounds that make up the unique chorus of each location; get down on your knees and look at the tiniest things you can find; and become a part of something far bigger than you. John Muir was one of the greatest naturalists, nature writers, and activists that the U.S. has ever produced, along with the likes of Edward Abbey, Rachel Carson, Ralph Waldo Emmerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Aldo Leopold. He explored the American west during the mid to latter parts of the 19th century and was instrumental in helping to protect landscapes like Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Muir first arrived in California in 1868 and soon after made a pilgrimage into the Yosemite Valley. Muir wrote that: "He was overwhelmed by the landscape, scrambling down steep cliff faces to get a closer look at the waterfalls, whooping and howling at the vistas, jumping tirelessly from flower to flower". He was one of the first people to recognize the action of glaciers on the landscape and helped debunk the existing beliefs that the vistas were the result of earthquakes as opposed to glaciers. Muir was instrumental in the creation of Yosemite National Park, first as a state park in 1890, and then as a national park in 1906. In 1892, he helped found the Sierra Club and served as its first president. By the time he died in 1914, he had published some 300 articles and 12 books. John Muir spent his entire life exploring, bathing in, documenting, and fighting to protect natural, intact ecosystems. The John Muir Trail is one of the U.S.'s most beloved trails, yet had you asked what he thought of hiking, this was his response: "I don't like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not hike! Do you know the origin of that word 'saunter?' It's a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, 'A la sainte terre,' 'To the Holy Land.' And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike' through them." - John Muir I couldn't agree more. Next up more Burgess wonders New Burgess Shale Discoveries The various exposures of the Burgess Shales in Yoho and Kootenay National Parks continue to provide new and exciting discoveries. It seems that each year introduces us to species never before described, or spectacular new fossils of old friends that allow palaeontologists to reclassify them based on new evidence revealed. One such fossil is the newly described Habelia optata. This fossil is not new to palaeontology. In fact, Charles Walcott, the original discoverer of the Burgess Shales, described the first specimen in 1912, only three years after he first stumbled on this bonanza of ancient life. A recent study published in BMC Evolutionary Biology has shed some amazing new light on this unique creature according to lead scientist Cédric Aria. In a recent CBC article, he stated: "It's like a centipede or perhaps an insect that would have not one pair of mandibles, but five." One of the challenges with fossils of the Burgess Shales is that they are found between two layers of shale. This leaves a flattened, reflective film in the rock layers. Think of them as a two-dimensional black and white photograph of an ancient creature. This means that each fossil may represent an image of a different angle or aspect of the animal and thus reveal details not visible in earlier samples. It's this constant evolution of understanding that helps fossils to eventually be classified in a much more exacting way. At a minimum, palaeontologists need to see fossils samples that show the side, top, and front views in order to begin to get a better idea of the structure. As new fossils reveal new details, scientists get a deeper understanding of how the animal fits within classic scientific categories. Charles Walcott knew that Habelia was an arthropod, but he didn't have enough information to pin down where it fit within this huge group of animals. Arthropods are one of So, what would you be willing to endure to make it home for Christmas In these modern times? These days trips home usually involve expensive plane fares or long drives on winter roads made safer by winter tires, interior heaters, and modern clothing. What if you were faced with a 112 km snowshoe trek on an unbroken trail in a blizzard - you know, just like your parents told you what it was like to walk to school in the days of yore! Well, Tom Wilson was more than just a mountain man. He was the personal assistant of "Hells Bells Rogers" during his railroad surveys through the Rockies and later started the first guiding operation in the mountains. In December of 1904, Tom was determined to be home for Christmas dinner with his family. His route began at Kootenay Plains where he had his horse ranch. Today it's located along the David Thompson Highway east of the Saskatchewan River Crossing in Alberta. His route would have followed the Siffleur River Valley up and over Pipestone Pass. He then followed the Pipestone River towards its confluence with the Bow River, and then followed the Bow into Banff. He wasn't the first to follow that route. In August of 1859, James Hector of the Palliser Expedition had passed this way. He wrote in his journal: "After camping to the south of the pass, “…opposite to a waterfall which forms the source of Pipe Stone Creek, and where the stream leaps and rushes down a gutter-like channel, from a height of 450 feet,” they set out to, “ascend to the height of land by a steep rocky path that led at some places close by snow that was still lying from last winter. After five miles we got above the woods, and passed over a fine sloping prairie, with big bald mountains on either side. Plants with esculent roots were very abundant here, and many parts of the sward looked as if it had been ploughed, where the bears had been rooting them up like pigs….Two miles further we passed over a bleak bare “divide,” where there was no vegetation, and elevated about 2000 feet above last night’s encampment.” Others had also passed that way. They included Normal Collie, Hugh Stutfield, and Herman Wooley in 1898 as they headed north on an expedition that saw them discovering the Columbia Icefields. Just a few months after Hector had passed through, the Earl of Southesk, James Carnegie, also traversed the pass. These men were all seasoned travellers, but none of them attempted the route in winter. Tom, like all of his contemporaries, would have been kitted out in heavy woolen clothing with leather boots and snowshoes. Here is how Tom described his experience in a letter to pioneer surveyor and founder of the Alpine Club, A. O. Wheeler: "There is not much to tell of my trip over the Pipestone Pass. It was simply the case of a man starting on a seventy-mile snowshoe trip across the mountains to eat his Christmas dinner with his wife and family, and getting there and eating dinner, the pleasure being well worth the trip. I rode to within eight miles of the summit and started early the next morning on snowshoes to cross the pass (8,300 feet). It was snowing a little and very cold when I started and when I got opposite the Clearwater Gap, a blizzard came up. I could not see more than six or eight feet ahead in that grey snow light that makes everything look level. I was on the trail alongside a mountainside, and was afraid of falling down into one of those steep side collars (which you remember on that side), and of breaking my snowshoes, so I turned and went down the mountain to the creek bottom. The snow was seven or eight feet deep and I fell through a snow bridge, getting both feet wet. It was below zero and a long way up to timber whichever way I turned, but I'd never liked hitting the back trail. It was eight o'clock at night before I crossed the summit of the pass and reached the first timber. I got a fire started, but it was drifting and snowing so hard that the snow covered my socks and moccasins as fast as I could wring (sic) them dry, and, owing to the fierce wind, the flames leap in every direction , making it impossible to get near the fire, so at half past nine I gave it up, put on my wet foot gear and snowshoes and started down the valley. I could not see and felt my way with a stick. By daylight I had made three and a half miles; not much, but it kept the circulation going. In the heavy timber I made a fire and dried out. My feet were beginning to pain as they had been thawed out twice already. I made three miles more that day and finished the last of my grub. The big snowshoes sank fifteen inches in the soft new snow and were a big drag on my frozen toes. I saw it meant three or four more days tramping without grub to make Laggan. I made it in three, but the last day I could only make about fifty yards without resting, and my tracks did not leave a very straight line. The chief trouble I had was to keep from going to sleep; it would have been so much easier to quit than to go on. " Wheeler tried to bring some clarity to Tom's adventure. He wrote: "Think for a moment what it really meant; that every time he put on his snowshoes, his toes got frozen owing to the tight shoe straps; that every time he took them off, his feet had to be thawed out; that every step had to raise a load of ten to fifteen pound of soft snow; that wood had to be collected and cut to keep alive during the night; that the fierce pain would drive away sleep; that he had no food, and always before him those interminable, slow, dragging miles of snowy wilderness. It must have required iron determination to make it to the end of the never-ending track, to eat his Christmas dinner with his wife and family. " Like any winter backcountry traveller that has suffered from frostbite, Tom made his way to see Dr. Brett, Banff's resident physician. He is rumoured to have stated: "I hope I won't have to loose (sic) them Doc. I've hade (sic) 'em a long time and I'm sort of used to 'em." Tom was very lucky. He did lose several toes on each foot but he liked to joke that since the doc had removed the same number on each foot, he was still well balanced. I want to thank Roger Patillo for sharing this story in his book The Canadian Rockies Pioneers, Legends and True Tales. Click the title of the book if you'd like to purchase a copy. Tom was one of many early and modern mountain wanderers to lose toes to frostbite. Even today, it is a real danger for people out on snowshoes, as well as backcountry and cross-country skis. Always plan for changes in weather and remember, unlike Tom, you can always turn back if conditions change for the worse. Are wolves returning to the Bow Valley? The Bow River valley has not been a good home for wolves. Over the years, pack after pack has become established only to gradually get whittled away by vehicle and train impacts, and more recently, human food conditioning. The summer of 2016 was particularly bad for the Bow Valley wolf pack. The summer began on a very high note its 5 adults being joined by 6 new pups making for a total of 11 wolves in the pack. Unfortunately, this situation changed for the worse with four of the pups killed in two separate incidents with trains. The alpha female and another young female were both shot by Park Wardens after becoming accustomed to handouts from campers in the Two Jack Lake Campground. By the end of the season, none of the pups had survived. In a separate incident, one of the remaining wolves was shot by a hunter in B.C. By 2017, there were only two wolves remaining and they dispersed. As of Sept 2017, the alpha male had joined a pack in the southern part of Banff known as the Spray Pack. The surviving female had joined another male and possibly moved out of the area. Paul Paquette is a well-respected biologist who headed the largest wolf study ever undertaken in the Bow Valley. In recent years he was quoted as stating the following about the challenges for wolves in the Bow River valley: “It’s a wildlife ghetto. People need to understand, the Bow Valley has two townsites that are growing, two highways, a corridor for high transmission power lines, dams, golf courses, ski hills … They’ve got all that in the valley, so you can imagine the responses for the wolves and wildlife – it’s a ghetto for them and they’re trying to survive in there.” We are in a constant battle with developers and the town to try to make sure that we can keep wildlife like wolves and grizzly bears on the landscape. Recently, there seems to be a reason for cautious optimism. The Bow Valley is great habitat for wolves when you consider the high numbers of potential prey animals available to them. In a recent interview on CBC, Jesse Whittington, a wildlife ecologist with Parks Canada stated: "We're curious about what's going to happen," said Whittington. "Either the old male and the pack from the Spray could move back into the Bow Valley, or one of the neighbouring packs might slide in." In October of 2017, three wolves were spotted west of Banff near Castle Mountain. These were previously unknown wolves that may be looking for a new place to call home. As Jesse Whittington stated in an interview with the Rocky Mountain Outlook: "If you have a male and female who hook-up and have pups, all of a sudden you could have a pack of seven wolves, and if those pups survive and have pups again, you get a pretty large pack" The Bow Valley has not been kind to its wolves, but we still need them. They play a key role in keeping elk and deer populations in check. It's too easy to look at Banff today and point out the world-class wildlife crossings along the highway and assume that wolves will have an easy time coexisting with people. This couldn't be further from the truth. The section of highway that is fenced is primarily through Banff and a little to the east and west. Wolves cover vast ranges and the crossing structures only protect them in a small part of their range. The train tracks and Bow Valley Parkway also remain unfenced. Just this past November, two wolves were killed on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Canmore. It was trains that killed 4 of the pack's cubs in 2016. Parks Canada and Canadian Pacific Railway have been conducting ongoing research around the idea of fencing and other wildlife warning systems in areas of highest danger. We also have rampant development in areas like Canmore which can hamper movement through the valley to the east and south into Kananaskis and beyond. And finally, we have the challenge of people on the landscape. More than 90% of the use of our designated wildlife corridors in and around Canmore was by people. If the corridors are viewed as just another recreational trail, then eventually, the wildlife will simply avoid the corridor altogether. In the past, we've been lucky enough to have several wolf packs adjacent to the Bow Valley, for instance in the Cascade and Spray Valleys, but the Bow Valley Pack has come and gone repeatedly due to the many hazards that face them when they arrive in the valley. Let's keep our fingers crossed that these wolves do stick around. We need to do our part to make sure they have the best possible opportunity to survive and thrive. Here are a few things that we can do to help keep our wolves safe: Slow down on highways like the Trans-Canada, Bow Valley Parkway, Highway 40, and Spray Lakes Road Never ever feed wildlife or stand idly by while other people offer food. Keep your distance. Moving ever closer for that selfie puts your life, and the life of the animal, at risk. Obey trail closures. They are there for a reason. If we all make a point of doing what we can to keep wildlife safe and help to educate visitors who may not be aware of the consequences of their actions, then we may be able to help keep wolves on the landscape. Next up 10 New Years Resolutions for the Mountain Parks New Years Resolutions for the Mountain Parks The mountains are more than just a place to hike, bike and explore. They are home to 53 species of mammals, 260 species of birds, 996 species of vascular plants, 407 lichens, 243 mosses, and 53 liverworts (source: http://canadianparks.com/alberta/banffnp/page3.html). There are also almost 90 species of fungi in the mountain parks (source: http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pubwarehouse/pdfs/11896.pdf). Everything we do in the mountains has an impact and here are some resolutions that will help you to better appreciate this beautiful place. Explore less busy sites. More than 95% of visitation to the mountain parks visits the same 2 or 3% of the park, essentially the paved corridors. Many of the attractions along these roads are in serious need of upgrades to help prevent the masses of tourists from creating permanent damage. Quiet Times are the Best Times. If you really want to get the experience that you saw on the brochure, get an alarm clock. The sun comes up early in the mountains during the summer months. If you're on the shores of Lake Louise or Moraine Lake at 6 am, you'll likely have the view all to yourself…and don't tell anybody, but those two sites are best when the sun first hits the mountains. Don't forget the evening though as well. Once the hordes head back to their hotels, the landscape quiets down again and you can have that great experience. Keep track of your sightings. If you see something exciting like a grizzly bear, wolf, cougar, or wolverine - report it. Park managers are always looking to keep tabs on wildlife and sightings helps to add another data point to their wildlife research. Support organizations like the Friends of Kananaskis and Friends of Jasper. These not for profit groups do an amazing job in helping to raise awareness of park issues, run educational programs, offer volunteer opportunities to make a difference on the ground and even operate gift shops and other facilities designed to raise money for their ongoing operation. Read a good book. Our connection to our sense of place always improves with knowledge and understanding. What once was an unknown wilderness suddenly becomes a community of plants, animals, birds, and other living beings - each with an important role to play in the maintenance of the community. Every book that helps you to understand the place you call home can only enhance your ability to feel an even stronger connection to that place. Meet your neighbours. The next time you walk one of the local trails, take the time to learn the story of one new plant, animal, bird, or other residents of the mountain landscape. I say "learn the story", because each one is much more than just their name. Why are they there? What role do they play? What's the coolest thing about them? As you repeat this process, the mountain landscape becomes much more familiar and ever more welcoming as you look forward to the acquaintances you've made and begin to mark the seasons by the comings and goings of old friends. Start up a neighbourhood watch. By this I mean keep an eye on your mountain community and look for changes. Are there new plants on the landscape that weren't there in the past? New birds? Changes in the community often reflect changes in the environment. Every resident of a particular community is there because that habitat offers all the essential requirements they need to survive. Plants need the right amount of moisture, sunlight, soil, nitrogen, and perhaps even a particular neighbour with whom they have a dependent relationship. Every plant will have a different list of needs, as will every bird and animal. A small change to the ecology will be reflected in changes to the individual plants and animals in that community. Simply sit down. We hike, mountain bike, cross-country ski, and snowshoe along the mountain trails season after season and year after year. Sometimes, the best experience can be had by simply sitting quietly and absorbing everything that's around you. Take off your shoes and socks (in the summer of course), and feel connected to the landscape. Listen to the sounds. Can you recognize all the birds around you? Watch the fish rising in the water to eat insects hatching on the surface. Smell the air. Are their particular smells that spark a memory? Smell is the sense most tied to memory and often a strong smell will instantly transport you to a particular place or time in your personal history. For me, the pungent sweet smell of wolf willow represents the smell of home. Talk to a senior. Our sense of place is more than just learning the natural history. To understand the natural history, we also have to understand the ways that people have interacted with it in the past. Somebody that's been on the land for 50 years can share insights that only come with the passing of the years and the experiences that those years brought. The elders are the keepers of the stories. They are a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and time spent talking with elders about their lifetime of adventures and understanding will always help guide you to a new appreciation of the world around you. Be a tourist now and then. Take a tour. Visit a museum or attraction. Fly in a helicopter. Often, we learn more about places we visit then we do about our own backyard. Make a point of seeing the mountains like visitors see them. Spending time with people that are seeing the Rockies for the first time is one of the things that I love the most about being a guide. Every tourist sees something different. They bring a new perspective born of a lifetime of experiences in their past. I'm constantly guided towards new perspectives simply because they are looking at a scene with fresh eyes. Why not make 2018 a year where we commit to understanding and connecting to the mountain landscape around us? If at the end of the year, you've learned a few new plants, or birds, or animals, and how they both benefit and are benefitting other members of the community, then you will have started on an exciting role that will deepen your personal sense of place. I hope to see you out there. Next up, what determines success when bears are relocated outside of their home range? Success of Relocating Grizzly Bears This past summer, people were stunned when Bear 148 was moved far from her home range. Unfortunately, she subsequently wandered across the British Columbia border and was legally shot by a hunter. The media covered this story extensively and in many cases used the wrong terminology. When wildlife managers move a bear to an area within its current home range, we call it relocating the bear. This term refers to moving a bear simply to another area that is still within its territory and within which it can comfortably survive. In cases, such as with 148, where the bear is moved far from its home range, the preferred term is translocated. This means that the bear is moved to completely unfamiliar territory where it doesn't know the seasonal food patterns or their locations. It doesn't know the landscape and it doesn't know the other resident bears into whose territory it has just been placed. As you can imagine, this puts the bear in a very high-risk situation, but just how high risk? What are its chances of surviving so far from its home range? This is one area of study that has been largely neglected until recently. There really had not been any peer-reviewed analyses of the factors that affected survival when a bear was translocated. An article published in the January 2018 issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management evaluated 110 different grizzly translocations within the Alberta Rockies and looked to determine what factors impacted successful movements and looked for ways to increase the success of future translocations. Biologist Sarah Milligan and her fellow researchers defined a successful translocation as one that required no additional management intervention and showed the bear surviving one entire year without returning to its home range. It's well known that the odds are not in favour of the non-resident bear when it is moved to unfamiliar territory. Of the 110 translocations examined, a full 70% were failures. A 30% success rate is still much higher than generally reported in the media. Translocations are never popular, but unfortunately, with some bears, the only other alternative is to shoot it. Conservation officers never make the decision to move a bear lightly. They know the dangers that it will face in its new home but their first priority is the safety of the community. While Bear 148 never injured anyone, it got to the point where conservation officers simply had to make the difficult decision to move her. In order to determine the success of bears in new habitats, biologists needed to better understand how bears currently living in the area use the landscape. Researchers tagged resident bears to learn how they used the landscape, feeding habits, and denning areas. Alberta also has a long history of monitoring bear movement with satellite and radio collars and this historical data is also helpful in studies like this one. One of the biggest challenges with translocating bears is their homing instinct. Many bears will simply abandon their new homes and travel back towards their home range. It is for this reason that Bear 148 was moved north of Jasper National Park. The further the movement, the lower the likelihood that the bear will return home. The quality of the habitat into which a bear is released can also have a strong bearing on reducing the homing instinct. Ideally, the release location should match, as much as possible, the home range in terms of available foods, movement corridors, and denning sites. The study found that the success rate was highest if bears were moved as early as possible in the season. Unfortunately, in many cases, the highest potential for human-grizzly conflicts occurs during buffaloberry season between mid-July and mid-September. Translocated bears also tended to have ranges some 3.25 times larger than resident bears. This shows they needed to cover more territory in order to find sufficient forage to survive. This is likely connected to their being unfamiliar with the landscape. While their home ranges did decrease over time, they continued to be larger than resident bears. Of the translocations that were considered failures, the primary causes were homing, new incidents of conflict, and mortality. Of the 77 failed translocations, 28 bears were killed because of management actions, and 30 failed due to homing. Bears translocated more than 200 km reduced the odds of homing by 95%. When it comes to the timing of winter denning, the study showed no significant difference between resident and translocated bears. The study concluded: "Repeated conflict and mortality were the greatest causes of translocation failure. Our results suggest that the most important factors for translocation success are the level of human-caused mortality risk at the release site and the time of year when the translocation occurred. Specifically, we found that the odds of translocation success decreased with increasing levels of mortality risk surrounding the release site. This result is likely related to the large post-release movements that are typical of many wide-ranging species, which can bring individuals near areas of conflict or mortality risk." Translocation remains an important management tool. Studies like this one help wildlife officers to make the best decisions to increase the opportunities for a successful movement. It's never an easy decision to move an animal away from its home range but the more we understand ways to increase their chances of success, the more the pendulum can move towards reduced mortality. In the central Rockies, people are the biggest problem. We need to work harder to coexist with bears and to respect closures. When people violate closures, it's always the bears that pay the price. And with that, it's time to wrap this episode up. Remember that Ward Cameron Enterprises is your source for snowshoe, nature, hiking, and photography guides across the mountain west. We've been sharing the stories behind the scenery for more than 30 years. Don't forget to check out the show notes at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep054 for links to additional information. You can also comment on the stories and subscribe so that you don't miss a single episode. If you'd like to reach out personally, you can hit me up on Twitter @wardcameron and with that said, the sun's out and it's time to go snowshoeing. I'll talk to you next week.
So, what would you be willing to endure to make it home for Christmas In these modern times? These days trips home usually involve expensive plane fares or long drives on winter roads made safer by winter tires, interior heaters, and modern clothing. What if you were faced with a 112 km snowshoe trek on an unbroken trail in a blizzard - you know, just like your parents told you what it was like to walk to school in the days of yore! Well, Tom Wilson was more than just a mountain man. He was the personal assistant of "Hells Bells Rogers" during his railroad surveys through the Rockies and later started the first guiding operation in the mountains. In December of 1904, Tom was determined to be home for Christmas dinner with his family. His route began at Kootenay Plains where he had his horse ranch. Today it's located along the David Thompson Highway east of the Saskatchewan River Crossing in Alberta. His route would have followed the Siffleur River Valley up and over Pipestone Pass. He then followed the Pipestone River towards its confluence with the Bow River, and then followed the Bow into Banff. He wasn't the first to follow that route. In August of 1859, James Hector of the Palliser Expedition had passed this way. He wrote in his journal: "After camping to the south of the pass, “…opposite to a waterfall which forms the source of Pipe Stone Creek, and where the stream leaps and rushes down a gutter-like channel, from a height of 450 feet,” they set out to, “ascend to the height of land by a steep rocky path that led at some places close by snow that was still lying from last winter. After five miles we got above the woods, and passed over a fine sloping prairie, with big bald mountains on either side. Plants with esculent roots were very abundant here, and many parts of the sward looked as if it had been ploughed, where the bears had been rooting them up like pigs….Two miles further we passed over a bleak bare “divide,” where there was no vegetation, and elevated about 2000 feet above last night’s encampment.” Others had also passed that way. They included Normal Collie, Hugh Stutfield, and Herman Wooley in 1898 as they headed north on an expedition that saw them discovering the Columbia Icefields. Just a few months after Hector had passed through, the Earl of Southesk, James Carnegie, also traversed the pass. These men were all seasoned travellers, but none of them attempted the route in winter. Tom, like all of his contemporaries, would have been kitted out in heavy woolen clothing with leather boots and snowshoes. Here is how Tom described his experience in a letter to pioneer surveyor and founder of the Alpine Club, A. O. Wheeler: "There is not much to tell of my trip over the Pipestone Pass. It was simply the case of a man starting on a seventy-mile snowshoe trip across the mountains to eat his Christmas dinner with his wife and family, and getting there and eating dinner, the pleasure being well worth the trip. I rode to within eight miles of the summit and started early the next morning on snowshoes to cross the pass (8,300 feet). It was snowing a little and very cold when I started and when I got opposite the Clearwater Gap, a blizzard came up. I could not see more than six or eight feet ahead in that grey snow light that makes everything look level. I was on the trail alongside a mountainside, and was afraid of falling down into one of those steep side collars (which you remember on that side), and of breaking my snowshoes, so I turned and went down the mountain to the creek bottom. The snow was seven or eight feet deep and I fell through a snow bridge, getting both feet wet. It was below zero and a long way up to timber whichever way I turned, but I'd never liked hitting the back trail. It was eight o'clock at night before I crossed the summit of the pass and reached the first timber. I got a fire started, but it was drifting and snowing so hard that the snow covered my socks and moccasins as fast as I could wring (sic) them dry, and, owing to the fierce wind, the flames leap in every direction , making it impossible to get near the fire, so at half past nine I gave it up, put on my wet foot gear and snowshoes and started down the valley. I could not see and felt my way with a stick. By daylight I had made three and a half miles; not much, but it kept the circulation going. In the heavy timber I made a fire and dried out. My feet were beginning to pain as they had been thawed out twice already. I made three miles more that day and finished the last of my grub. The big snowshoes sank fifteen inches in the soft new snow and were a big drag on my frozen toes. I saw it meant three or four more days tramping without grub to make Laggan. I made it in three, but the last day I could only make about fifty yards without resting, and my tracks did not leave a very straight line. The chief trouble I had was to keep from going to sleep; it would have been so much easier to quit than to go on. " Wheeler tried to bring some clarity to Tom's adventure. He wrote: "Think for a moment what it really meant; that every time he put on his snowshoes, his toes got frozen owing to the tight shoe straps; that every time he took them off, his feet had to be thawed out; that every step had to raise a load of ten to fifteen pound of soft snow; that wood had to be collected and cut to keep alive during the night; that the fierce pain would drive away sleep; that he had no food, and always before him those interminable, slow, dragging miles of snowy wilderness. It must have required iron determination to make it to the end of the never-ending track, to eat his Christmas dinner with his wife and family. " Like any winter backcountry traveller that has suffered from frostbite, Tom made his way to see Dr. Brett, Banff's resident physician. He is rumoured to have stated: "I hope I won't have to loose (sic) them Doc. I've hade (sic) 'em a long time and I'm sort of used to 'em." Tom was very lucky. He did lose several toes on each foot but he liked to joke that since the doc had removed the same number on each foot, he was still well balanced. I want to thank Roger Patillo for sharing this story in his book The Canadian Rockies Pioneers, Legends and True Tales. Click the title of the book if you'd like to purchase a copy. Tom was one of many early and modern mountain wanderers to lose toes to frostbite. Even today, it is a real danger for people out on snowshoes, as well as backcountry and cross-country skis. Always plan for changes in weather and remember, unlike Tom, you can always turn back if conditions change for the worse. Are wolves returning to the Bow Valley? The Bow River valley has not been a good home for wolves. Over the years, pack after pack has become established only to gradually get whittled away by vehicle and train impacts, and more recently, human food conditioning. The summer of 2016 was particularly bad for the Bow Valley wolf pack. The summer began on a very high note its 5 adults being joined by 6 new pups making for a total of 11 wolves in the pack. Unfortunately, this situation changed for the worse with four of the pups killed in two separate incidents with trains. The alpha female and another young female were both shot by Park Wardens after becoming accustomed to handouts from campers in the Two Jack Lake Campground. By the end of the season, none of the pups had survived. In a separate incident, one of the remaining wolves was shot by a hunter in B.C. By 2017, there were only two wolves remaining and they dispersed. As of Sept 2017, the alpha male had joined a pack in the southern part of Banff known as the Spray Pack. The surviving female had joined another male and possibly moved out of the area. Paul Paquette is a well-respected biologist who headed the largest wolf study ever undertaken in the Bow Valley. In recent years he was quoted as stating the following about the challenges for wolves in the Bow River valley: “It’s a wildlife ghetto. People need to understand, the Bow Valley has two townsites that are growing, two highways, a corridor for high transmission power lines, dams, golf courses, ski hills … They’ve got all that in the valley, so you can imagine the responses for the wolves and wildlife – it’s a ghetto for them and they’re trying to survive in there.” We are in a constant battle with developers and the town to try to make sure that we can keep wildlife like wolves and grizzly bears on the landscape. Recently, there seems to be a reason for cautious optimism. The Bow Valley is great habitat for wolves when you consider the high numbers of potential prey animals available to them. In a recent interview on CBC, Jesse Whittington, a wildlife ecologist with Parks Canada stated: "We're curious about what's going to happen," said Whittington. "Either the old male and the pack from the Spray could move back into the Bow Valley, or one of the neighbouring packs might slide in." In October of 2017, three wolves were spotted west of Banff near Castle Mountain. These were previously unknown wolves that may be looking for a new place to call home. As Jesse Whittington stated in an interview with the Rocky Mountain Outlook: "If you have a male and female who hook-up and have pups, all of a sudden you could have a pack of seven wolves, and if those pups survive and have pups again, you get a pretty large pack" The Bow Valley has not been kind to its wolves, but we still need them. They play a key role in keeping elk and deer populations in check. It's too easy to look at Banff today and point out the world-class wildlife crossings along the highway and assume that wolves will have an easy time coexisting with people. This couldn't be further from the truth. The section of highway that is fenced is primarily through Banff and a little to the east and west. Wolves cover vast ranges and the crossing structures only protect them in a small part of their range. The train tracks and Bow Valley Parkway also remain unfenced. Just this past November, two wolves were killed on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Canmore. It was trains that killed 4 of the pack's cubs in 2016. Parks Canada and Canadian Pacific Railway have been conducting ongoing research around the idea of fencing and other wildlife warning systems in areas of highest danger. We also have rampant development in areas like Canmore which can hamper movement through the valley to the east and south into Kananaskis and beyond. And finally, we have the challenge of people on the landscape. More than 90% of the use of our designated wildlife corridors in and around Canmore was by people. If the corridors are viewed as just another recreational trail, then eventually, the wildlife will simply avoid the corridor altogether. In the past, we've been lucky enough to have several wolf packs adjacent to the Bow Valley, for instance in the Cascade and Spray Valleys, but the Bow Valley Pack has come and gone repeatedly due to the many hazards that face them when they arrive in the valley. Let's keep our fingers crossed that these wolves do stick around. We need to do our part to make sure they have the best possible opportunity to survive and thrive. Here are a few things that we can do to help keep our wolves safe: Slow down on highways like the Trans-Canada, Bow Valley Parkway, Highway 40, and Spray Lakes Road Never ever feed wildlife or stand idly by while other people offer food. Keep your distance. Moving ever closer for that selfie puts your life, and the life of the animal, at risk. Obey trail closures. They are there for a reason. If we all make a point of doing what we can to keep wildlife safe and help to educate visitors who may not be aware of the consequences of their actions, then we may be able to help keep wolves on the landscape. Next up 10 New Years Resolutions for the Mountain Parks New Years Resolutions for the Mountain Parks The mountains are more than just a place to hike, bike and explore. They are home to 53 species of mammals, 260 species of birds, 996 species of vascular plants, 407 lichens, 243 mosses, and 53 liverworts (source: http://canadianparks.com/alberta/banffnp/page3.html). There are also almost 90 species of fungi in the mountain parks (source: http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pubwarehouse/pdfs/11896.pdf). Everything we do in the mountains has an impact and here are some resolutions that will help you to better appreciate this beautiful place. Explore less busy sites. More than 95% of visitation to the mountain parks visits the same 2 or 3% of the park, essentially the paved corridors. Many of the attractions along these roads are in serious need of upgrades to help prevent the masses of tourists from creating permanent damage. Quiet Times are the Best Times. If you really want to get the experience that you saw on the brochure, get an alarm clock. The sun comes up early in the mountains during the summer months. If you're on the shores of Lake Louise or Moraine Lake at 6 am, you'll likely have the view all to yourself…and don't tell anybody, but those two sites are best when the sun first hits the mountains. Don't forget the evening though as well. Once the hordes head back to their hotels, the landscape quiets down again and you can have that great experience. Keep track of your sightings. If you see something exciting like a grizzly bear, wolf, cougar, or wolverine - report it. Park managers are always looking to keep tabs on wildlife and sightings helps to add another data point to their wildlife research. Support organizations like the Friends of Kananaskis and Friends of Jasper. These not for profit groups do an amazing job in helping to raise awareness of park issues, run educational programs, offer volunteer opportunities to make a difference on the ground and even operate gift shops and other facilities designed to raise money for their ongoing operation. Read a good book. Our connection to our sense of place always improves with knowledge and understanding. What once was an unknown wilderness suddenly becomes a community of plants, animals, birds, and other living beings - each with an important role to play in the maintenance of the community. Every book that helps you to understand the place you call home can only enhance your ability to feel an even stronger connection to that place. Meet your neighbours. The next time you walk one of the local trails, take the time to learn the story of one new plant, animal, bird, or other residents of the mountain landscape. I say "learn the story", because each one is much more than just their name. Why are they there? What role do they play? What's the coolest thing about them? As you repeat this process, the mountain landscape becomes much more familiar and ever more welcoming as you look forward to the acquaintances you've made and begin to mark the seasons by the comings and goings of old friends. Start up a neighbourhood watch. By this I mean keep an eye on your mountain community and look for changes. Are there new plants on the landscape that weren't there in the past? New birds? Changes in the community often reflect changes in the environment. Every resident of a particular community is there because that habitat offers all the essential requirements they need to survive. Plants need the right amount of moisture, sunlight, soil, nitrogen, and perhaps even a particular neighbour with whom they have a dependent relationship. Every plant will have a different list of needs, as will every bird and animal. A small change to the ecology will be reflected in changes to the individual plants and animals in that community. Simply sit down. We hike, mountain bike, cross-country ski, and snowshoe along the mountain trails season after season and year after year. Sometimes, the best experience can be had by simply sitting quietly and absorbing everything that's around you. Take off your shoes and socks (in the summer of course), and feel connected to the landscape. Listen to the sounds. Can you recognize all the birds around you? Watch the fish rising in the water to eat insects hatching on the surface. Smell the air. Are their particular smells that spark a memory? Smell is the sense most tied to memory and often a strong smell will instantly transport you to a particular place or time in your personal history. For me, the pungent sweet smell of wolf willow represents the smell of home. Talk to a senior. Our sense of place is more than just learning the natural history. To understand the natural history, we also have to understand the ways that people have interacted with it in the past. Somebody that's been on the land for 50 years can share insights that only come with the passing of the years and the experiences that those years brought. The elders are the keepers of the stories. They are a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and time spent talking with elders about their lifetime of adventures and understanding will always help guide you to a new appreciation of the world around you. Be a tourist now and then. Take a tour. Visit a museum or attraction. Fly in a helicopter. Often, we learn more about places we visit then we do about our own backyard. Make a point of seeing the mountains like visitors see them. Spending time with people that are seeing the Rockies for the first time is one of the things that I love the most about being a guide. Every tourist sees something different. They bring a new perspective born of a lifetime of experiences in their past. I'm constantly guided towards new perspectives simply because they are looking at a scene with fresh eyes. Why not make 2018 a year where we commit to understanding and connecting to the mountain landscape around us? If at the end of the year, you've learned a few new plants, or birds, or animals, and how they both benefit and are benefitting other members of the community, then you will have started on an exciting role that will deepen your personal sense of place. I hope to see you out there. Next up, what determines success when bears are relocated outside of their home range? Success of Relocating Grizzly Bears This past summer, people were stunned when Bear 148 was moved far from her home range. Unfortunately, she subsequently wandered across the British Columbia border and was legally shot by a hunter. The media covered this story extensively and in many cases used the wrong terminology. When wildlife managers move a bear to an area within its current home range, we call it relocating the bear. This term refers to moving a bear simply to another area that is still within its territory and within which it can comfortably survive. In cases, such as with 148, where the bear is moved far from its home range, the preferred term is translocated. This means that the bear is moved to completely unfamiliar territory where it doesn't know the seasonal food patterns or their locations. It doesn't know the landscape and it doesn't know the other resident bears into whose territory it has just been placed. As you can imagine, this puts the bear in a very high-risk situation, but just how high risk? What are its chances of surviving so far from its home range? This is one area of study that has been largely neglected until recently. There really had not been any peer-reviewed analyses of the factors that affected survival when a bear was translocated. An article published in the January 2018 issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management evaluated 110 different grizzly translocations within the Alberta Rockies and looked to determine what factors impacted successful movements and looked for ways to increase the success of future translocations. Biologist Sarah Milligan and her fellow researchers defined a successful translocation as one that required no additional management intervention and showed the bear surviving one entire year without returning to its home range. It's well known that the odds are not in favour of the non-resident bear when it is moved to unfamiliar territory. Of the 110 translocations examined, a full 70% were failures. A 30% success rate is still much higher than generally reported in the media. Translocations are never popular, but unfortunately, with some bears, the only other alternative is to shoot it. Conservation officers never make the decision to move a bear lightly. They know the dangers that it will face in its new home but their first priority is the safety of the community. While Bear 148 never injured anyone, it got to the point where conservation officers simply had to make the difficult decision to move her. In order to determine the success of bears in new habitats, biologists needed to better understand how bears currently living in the area use the landscape. Researchers tagged resident bears to learn how they used the landscape, feeding habits, and denning areas. Alberta also has a long history of monitoring bear movement with satellite and radio collars and this historical data is also helpful in studies like this one. One of the biggest challenges with translocating bears is their homing instinct. Many bears will simply abandon their new homes and travel back towards their home range. It is for this reason that Bear 148 was moved north of Jasper National Park. The further the movement, the lower the likelihood that the bear will return home. The quality of the habitat into which a bear is released can also have a strong bearing on reducing the homing instinct. Ideally, the release location should match, as much as possible, the home range in terms of available foods, movement corridors, and denning sites. The study found that the success rate was highest if bears were moved as early as possible in the season. Unfortunately, in many cases, the highest potential for human-grizzly conflicts occurs during buffaloberry season between mid-July and mid-September. Translocated bears also tended to have ranges some 3.25 times larger than resident bears. This shows they needed to cover more territory in order to find sufficient forage to survive. This is likely connected to their being unfamiliar with the landscape. While their home ranges did decrease over time, they continued to be larger than resident bears. Of the translocations that were considered failures, the primary causes were homing, new incidents of conflict, and mortality. Of the 77 failed translocations, 28 bears were killed because of management actions, and 30 failed due to homing. Bears translocated more than 200 km reduced the odds of homing by 95%. When it comes to the timing of winter denning, the study showed no significant difference between resident and translocated bears. The study concluded: "Repeated conflict and mortality were the greatest causes of translocation failure. Our results suggest that the most important factors for translocation success are the level of human-caused mortality risk at the release site and the time of year when the translocation occurred. Specifically, we found that the odds of translocation success decreased with increasing levels of mortality risk surrounding the release site. This result is likely related to the large post-release movements that are typical of many wide-ranging species, which can bring individuals near areas of conflict or mortality risk." Translocation remains an important management tool. Studies like this one help wildlife officers to make the best decisions to increase the opportunities for a successful movement. It's never an easy decision to move an animal away from its home range but the more we understand ways to increase their chances of success, the more the pendulum can move towards reduced mortality. In the central Rockies, people are the biggest problem. We need to work harder to coexist with bears and to respect closures. When people violate closures, it's always the bears that pay the price. And with that, it's time to wrap this episode up. Remember that Ward Cameron Enterprises is your source for snowshoe, nature, hiking, and photography guides across the mountain west. We've been sharing the stories behind the scenery for more than 30 years. Don't forget to check out the show notes at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep054 for links to additional information. You can also comment on the stories and subscribe so that you don't miss a single episode. If you'd like to reach out personally, you can hit me up on Twitter @wardcameron and with that said, the sun's out and it's time to go snowshoeing. I'll talk to you next week.
Home for Christmas - Tom Wilson has a close call So, what would you be willing to endure to make it home for Christmas In these modern times? These days trips home usually involve expensive plane fares or long drives on winter roads made safer by winter tires, interior heaters, and modern clothing. What if you were faced with a 112 km snowshoe trek on an unbroken trail in a blizzard - you know, just like your parents told you what it was like to walk to school in the days of yore! Well, Tom Wilson was more than just a mountain man. He was the personal assistant of "Hells Bells Rogers" during his railroad surveys through the Rockies and later started the first guiding operation in the mountains. In December of 1904, Tom was determined to be home for Christmas dinner with his family. His route began at Kootenay Plains where he had his horse ranch. Today it's located along the David Thompson Highway east of the Saskatchewan River Crossing in Alberta. His route would have followed the Siffleur River Valley up and over Pipestone Pass. He then followed the Pipestone River towards its confluence with the Bow River, and then followed the Bow into Banff. He wasn't the first to follow that route. In August of 1859, James Hector of the Palliser Expedition had passed this way. He wrote in his journal: "After camping to the south of the pass, “…opposite to a waterfall which forms the source of Pipe Stone Creek, and where the stream leaps and rushes down a gutter-like channel, from a height of 450 feet,” they set out to, “ascend to the height of land by a steep rocky path that led at some places close by snow that was still lying from last winter. After five miles we got above the woods, and passed over a fine sloping prairie, with big bald mountains on either side. Plants with esculent roots were very abundant here, and many parts of the sward looked as if it had been ploughed, where the bears had been rooting them up like pigs….Two miles further we passed over a bleak bare “divide,” where there was no vegetation, and elevated about 2000 feet above last night’s encampment.” Others had also passed that way. They included Normal Collie, Hugh Stutfield, and Herman Wooley in 1898 as they headed north on an expedition that saw them discovering the Columbia Icefields. Just a few months after Hector had passed through, the Earl of Southesk, James Carnegie, also traversed the pass. These men were all seasoned travellers, but none of them attempted the route in winter. Tom, like all of his contemporaries, would have been kitted out in heavy woolen clothing with leather boots and snowshoes. Here is how Tom described his experience in a letter to pioneer surveyor and founder of the Alpine Club, A. O. Wheeler: "There is not much to tell of my trip over the Pipestone Pass. It was simply the case of a man starting on a seventy-mile snowshoe trip across the mountains to eat his Christmas dinner with his wife and family, and getting there and eating dinner, the pleasure being well worth the trip. I rode to within eight miles of the summit and started early the next morning on snowshoes to cross the pass (8,300 feet). It was snowing a little and very cold when I started and when I got opposite the Clearwater Gap, a blizzard came up. I could not see more than six or eight feet ahead in that grey snow light that makes everything look level. I was on the trail alongside a mountainside, and was afraid of falling down into one of those steep side collars (which you remember on that side), and of breaking my snowshoes, so I turned and went down the mountain to the creek bottom. The snow was seven or eight feet deep and I fell through a snow bridge, getting both feet wet. It was below zero and a long way up to timber whichever way I turned, but I'd never liked hitting the back trail. It was eight o'clock at night before I crossed the summit of the pass and reached the first timber. I got a fire started, but it was drifting and snowing so hard that the snow covered my socks and moccasins as fast as I could wring (sic) them dry, and, owing to the fierce wind, the flames leap in every direction , making it impossible to get near the fire, so at half past nine I gave it up, put on my wet foot gear and snowshoes and started down the valley. I could not see and felt my way with a stick. By daylight I had made three and a half miles; not much, but it kept the circulation going. In the heavy timber I made a fire and dried out. My feet were beginning to pain as they had been thawed out twice already. I made three miles more that day and finished the last of my grub. The big snowshoes sank fifteen inches in the soft new snow and were a big drag on my frozen toes. I saw it meant three or four more days tramping without grub to make Laggan. I made it in three, but the last day I could only make about fifty yards without resting, and my tracks did not leave a very straight line. The chief trouble I had was to keep from going to sleep; it would have been so much easier to quit than to go on. " Wheeler tried to bring some clarity to Tom's adventure. He wrote: "Think for a moment what it really meant; that every time he put on his snowshoes, his toes got frozen owing to the tight shoe straps; that every time he took them off, his feet had to be thawed out; that every step had to raise a load of ten to fifteen pound of soft snow; that wood had to be collected and cut to keep alive during the night; that the fierce pain would drive away sleep; that he had no food, and always before him those interminable, slow, dragging miles of snowy wilderness. It must have required iron determination to make it to the end of the never-ending track, to eat his Christmas dinner with his wife and family. " Like any winter backcountry traveller that has suffered from frostbite, Tom made his way to see Dr. Brett, Banff's resident physician. He is rumoured to have stated: "I hope I won't have to loose (sic) them Doc. I've hade (sic) 'em a long time and I'm sort of used to 'em." Tom was very lucky. He did lose several toes on each foot but he liked to joke that since the doc had removed the same number on each foot, he was still well balanced. I want to thank Roger Patillo for sharing this story in his book The Canadian Rockies Pioneers, Legends and True Tales. Click the title of the book if you'd like to purchase a copy. Tom was one of many early and modern mountain wanderers to lose toes to frostbite. Even today, it is a real danger for people out on snowshoes, as well as backcountry and cross-country skis. Always plan for changes in weather and remember, unlike Tom, you can always turn back if conditions change for the worse. Are wolves returning to the Bow Valley? The Bow River valley has not been a good home for wolves. Over the years, pack after pack has become established only to gradually get whittled away by vehicle and train impacts, and more recently, human food conditioning. The summer of 2016 was particularly bad for the Bow Valley wolf pack. The summer began on a very high note its 5 adults being joined by 6 new pups making for a total of 11 wolves in the pack. Unfortunately, this situation changed for the worse with four of the pups killed in two separate incidents with trains. The alpha female and another young female were both shot by Park Wardens after becoming accustomed to handouts from campers in the Two Jack Lake Campground. By the end of the season, none of the pups had survived. In a separate incident, one of the remaining wolves was shot by a hunter in B.C. By 2017, there were only two wolves remaining and they dispersed. As of Sept 2017, the alpha male had joined a pack in the southern part of Banff known as the Spray Pack. The surviving female had joined another male and possibly moved out of the area. Paul Paquette is a well-respected biologist who headed the largest wolf study ever undertaken in the Bow Valley. In recent years he was quoted as stating the following about the challenges for wolves in the Bow River valley: “It’s a wildlife ghetto. People need to understand, the Bow Valley has two townsites that are growing, two highways, a corridor for high transmission power lines, dams, golf courses, ski hills … They’ve got all that in the valley, so you can imagine the responses for the wolves and wildlife – it’s a ghetto for them and they’re trying to survive in there.” We are in a constant battle with developers and the town to try to make sure that we can keep wildlife like wolves and grizzly bears on the landscape. Recently, there seems to be a reason for cautious optimism. The Bow Valley is great habitat for wolves when you consider the high numbers of potential prey animals available to them. In a recent interview on CBC, Jesse Whittington, a wildlife ecologist with Parks Canada stated: "We're curious about what's going to happen," said Whittington. "Either the old male and the pack from the Spray could move back into the Bow Valley, or one of the neighbouring packs might slide in." In October of 2017, three wolves were spotted west of Banff near Castle Mountain. These were previously unknown wolves that may be looking for a new place to call home. As Jesse Whittington stated in an interview with the Rocky Mountain Outlook: "If you have a male and female who hook-up and have pups, all of a sudden you could have a pack of seven wolves, and if those pups survive and have pups again, you get a pretty large pack" The Bow Valley has not been kind to its wolves, but we still need them. They play a key role in keeping elk and deer populations in check. It's too easy to look at Banff today and point out the world-class wildlife crossings along the highway and assume that wolves will have an easy time coexisting with people. This couldn't be further from the truth. The section of highway that is fenced is primarily through Banff and a little to the east and west. Wolves cover vast ranges and the crossing structures only protect them in a small part of their range. The train tracks and Bow Valley Parkway also remain unfenced. Just this past November, two wolves were killed on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Canmore. It was trains that killed 4 of the pack's cubs in 2016. Parks Canada and Canadian Pacific Railway have been conducting ongoing research around the idea of fencing and other wildlife warning systems in areas of highest danger. We also have rampant development in areas like Canmore which can hamper movement through the valley to the east and south into Kananaskis and beyond. And finally, we have the challenge of people on the landscape. More than 90% of the use of our designated wildlife corridors in and around Canmore was by people. If the corridors are viewed as just another recreational trail, then eventually, the wildlife will simply avoid the corridor altogether. In the past, we've been lucky enough to have several wolf packs adjacent to the Bow Valley, for instance in the Cascade and Spray Valleys, but the Bow Valley Pack has come and gone repeatedly due to the many hazards that face them when they arrive in the valley. Let's keep our fingers crossed that these wolves do stick around. We need to do our part to make sure they have the best possible opportunity to survive and thrive. Here are a few things that we can do to help keep our wolves safe: Slow down on highways like the Trans-Canada, Bow Valley Parkway, Highway 40, and Spray Lakes Road Never ever feed wildlife or stand idly by while other people offer food. Keep your distance. Moving ever closer for that selfie puts your life, and the life of the animal, at risk. Obey trail closures. They are there for a reason. If we all make a point of doing what we can to keep wildlife safe and help to educate visitors who may not be aware of the consequences of their actions, then we may be able to help keep wolves on the landscape. Next up 10 New Years Resolutions for the Mountain Parks New Years Resolutions for the Mountain Parks The mountains are more than just a place to hike, bike and explore. They are home to 53 species of mammals, 260 species of birds, 996 species of vascular plants, 407 lichens, 243 mosses, and 53 liverworts (source: http://canadianparks.com/alberta/banffnp/page3.html). There are also almost 90 species of fungi in the mountain parks (source: http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pubwarehouse/pdfs/11896.pdf). Everything we do in the mountains has an impact and here are some resolutions that will help you to better appreciate this beautiful place. Explore less busy sites. More than 95% of visitation to the mountain parks visits the same 2 or 3% of the park, essentially the paved corridors. Many of the attractions along these roads are in serious need of upgrades to help prevent the masses of tourists from creating permanent damage. Quiet Times are the Best Times. If you really want to get the experience that you saw on the brochure, get an alarm clock. The sun comes up early in the mountains during the summer months. If you're on the shores of Lake Louise or Moraine Lake at 6 am, you'll likely have the view all to yourself…and don't tell anybody, but those two sites are best when the sun first hits the mountains. Don't forget the evening though as well. Once the hordes head back to their hotels, the landscape quiets down again and you can have that great experience. Keep track of your sightings. If you see something exciting like a grizzly bear, wolf, cougar, or wolverine - report it. Park managers are always looking to keep tabs on wildlife and sightings helps to add another data point to their wildlife research. Support organizations like the Friends of Kananaskis and Friends of Jasper. These not for profit groups do an amazing job in helping to raise awareness of park issues, run educational programs, offer volunteer opportunities to make a difference on the ground and even operate gift shops and other facilities designed to raise money for their ongoing operation. Read a good book. Our connection to our sense of place always improves with knowledge and understanding. What once was an unknown wilderness suddenly becomes a community of plants, animals, birds, and other living beings - each with an important role to play in the maintenance of the community. Every book that helps you to understand the place you call home can only enhance your ability to feel an even stronger connection to that place. Meet your neighbours. The next time you walk one of the local trails, take the time to learn the story of one new plant, animal, bird, or other residents of the mountain landscape. I say "learn the story", because each one is much more than just their name. Why are they there? What role do they play? What's the coolest thing about them? As you repeat this process, the mountain landscape becomes much more familiar and ever more welcoming as you look forward to the acquaintances you've made and begin to mark the seasons by the comings and goings of old friends. Start up a neighbourhood watch. By this I mean keep an eye on your mountain community and look for changes. Are there new plants on the landscape that weren't there in the past? New birds? Changes in the community often reflect changes in the environment. Every resident of a particular community is there because that habitat offers all the essential requirements they need to survive. Plants need the right amount of moisture, sunlight, soil, nitrogen, and perhaps even a particular neighbour with whom they have a dependent relationship. Every plant will have a different list of needs, as will every bird and animal. A small change to the ecology will be reflected in changes to the individual plants and animals in that community. Simply sit down. We hike, mountain bike, cross-country ski, and snowshoe along the mountain trails season after season and year after year. Sometimes, the best experience can be had by simply sitting quietly and absorbing everything that's around you. Take off your shoes and socks (in the summer of course), and feel connected to the landscape. Listen to the sounds. Can you recognize all the birds around you? Watch the fish rising in the water to eat insects hatching on the surface. Smell the air. Are their particular smells that spark a memory? Smell is the sense most tied to memory and often a strong smell will instantly transport you to a particular place or time in your personal history. For me, the pungent sweet smell of wolf willow represents the smell of home. Talk to a senior. Our sense of place is more than just learning the natural history. To understand the natural history, we also have to understand the ways that people have interacted with it in the past. Somebody that's been on the land for 50 years can share insights that only come with the passing of the years and the experiences that those years brought. The elders are the keepers of the stories. They are a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and time spent talking with elders about their lifetime of adventures and understanding will always help guide you to a new appreciation of the world around you. Be a tourist now and then. Take a tour. Visit a museum or attraction. Fly in a helicopter. Often, we learn more about places we visit then we do about our own backyard. Make a point of seeing the mountains like visitors see them. Spending time with people that are seeing the Rockies for the first time is one of the things that I love the most about being a guide. Every tourist sees something different. They bring a new perspective born of a lifetime of experiences in their past. I'm constantly guided towards new perspectives simply because they are looking at a scene with fresh eyes. Why not make 2018 a year where we commit to understanding and connecting to the mountain landscape around us? If at the end of the year, you've learned a few new plants, or birds, or animals, and how they both benefit and are benefitting other members of the community, then you will have started on an exciting role that will deepen your personal sense of place. I hope to see you out there. Next up, what determines success when bears are relocated outside of their home range? Success of Relocating Grizzly Bears This past summer, people were stunned when Bear 148 was moved far from her home range. Unfortunately, she subsequently wandered across the British Columbia border and was legally shot by a hunter. The media covered this story extensively and in many cases used the wrong terminology. When wildlife managers move a bear to an area within its current home range, we call it relocating the bear. This term refers to moving a bear simply to another area that is still within its territory and within which it can comfortably survive. In cases, such as with 148, where the bear is moved far from its home range, the preferred term is translocated. This means that the bear is moved to completely unfamiliar territory where it doesn't know the seasonal food patterns or their locations. It doesn't know the landscape and it doesn't know the other resident bears into whose territory it has just been placed. As you can imagine, this puts the bear in a very high-risk situation, but just how high risk? What are its chances of surviving so far from its home range? This is one area of study that has been largely neglected until recently. There really had not been any peer-reviewed analyses of the factors that affected survival when a bear was translocated. An article published in the January 2018 issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management evaluated 110 different grizzly translocations within the Alberta Rockies and looked to determine what factors impacted successful movements and looked for ways to increase the success of future translocations. Biologist Sarah Milligan and her fellow researchers defined a successful translocation as one that required no additional management intervention and showed the bear surviving one entire year without returning to its home range. It's well known that the odds are not in favour of the non-resident bear when it is moved to unfamiliar territory. Of the 110 translocations examined, a full 70% were failures. A 30% success rate is still much higher than generally reported in the media. Translocations are never popular, but unfortunately, with some bears, the only other alternative is to shoot it. Conservation officers never make the decision to move a bear lightly. They know the dangers that it will face in its new home but their first priority is the safety of the community. While Bear 148 never injured anyone, it got to the point where conservation officers simply had to make the difficult decision to move her. In order to determine the success of bears in new habitats, biologists needed to better understand how bears currently living in the area use the landscape. Researchers tagged resident bears to learn how they used the landscape, feeding habits, and denning areas. Alberta also has a long history of monitoring bear movement with satellite and radio collars and this historical data is also helpful in studies like this one. One of the biggest challenges with translocating bears is their homing instinct. Many bears will simply abandon their new homes and travel back towards their home range. It is for this reason that Bear 148 was moved north of Jasper National Park. The further the movement, the lower the likelihood that the bear will return home. The quality of the habitat into which a bear is released can also have a strong bearing on reducing the homing instinct. Ideally, the release location should match, as much as possible, the home range in terms of available foods, movement corridors, and denning sites. The study found that the success rate was highest if bears were moved as early as possible in the season. Unfortunately, in many cases, the highest potential for human-grizzly conflicts occurs during buffaloberry season between mid-July and mid-September. Translocated bears also tended to have ranges some 3.25 times larger than resident bears. This shows they needed to cover more territory in order to find sufficient forage to survive. This is likely connected to their being unfamiliar with the landscape. While their home ranges did decrease over time, they continued to be larger than resident bears. Of the translocations that were considered failures, the primary causes were homing, new incidents of conflict, and mortality. Of the 77 failed translocations, 28 bears were killed because of management actions, and 30 failed due to homing. Bears translocated more than 200 km reduced the odds of homing by 95%. When it comes to the timing of winter denning, the study showed no significant difference between resident and translocated bears. The study concluded: "Repeated conflict and mortality were the greatest causes of translocation failure. Our results suggest that the most important factors for translocation success are the level of human-caused mortality risk at the release site and the time of year when the translocation occurred. Specifically, we found that the odds of translocation success decreased with increasing levels of mortality risk surrounding the release site. This result is likely related to the large post-release movements that are typical of many wide-ranging species, which can bring individuals near areas of conflict or mortality risk." Translocation remains an important management tool. Studies like this one help wildlife officers to make the best decisions to increase the opportunities for a successful movement. It's never an easy decision to move an animal away from its home range but the more we understand ways to increase their chances of success, the more the pendulum can move towards reduced mortality. In the central Rockies, people are the biggest problem. We need to work harder to coexist with bears and to respect closures. When people violate closures, it's always the bears that pay the price. And with that, it's time to wrap this episode up. Remember that Ward Cameron Enterprises is your source for snowshoe, nature, hiking, and photography guides across the mountain west. We've been sharing the stories behind the scenery for more than 30 years. Don't forget to check out the show notes at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep054 for links to additional information. You can also comment on the stories and subscribe so that you don't miss a single episode. If you'd like to reach out personally, you can hit me up on Twitter @wardcameron and with that said, the sun's out and it's time to go snowshoeing. I'll talk to you next week.
This easy hike/ walk in Kananaskis is a 3.5km there and back trail where your destination is a cool waterfall!https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/kananaskis-valley/troll-falls/
This episode is an overview of hiking/ scrambling up The Wedge in Kananaskis.
This week I take a look at one of our most secretive animals, the northern flying squirrel. It also looks like B.C. has broken a record this summer for the worst fire season on record. Finally, I'll share the story of the Greatest Canadian Railroader, that wasn't well Canadian, William Cornelius Van Horne. And with that said, let's get to it. Flying Squirrels We're all familiar with the red squirrel, that ubiquitous little scavenger that invades bird feeders and constantly chatters at us whenever we enter its forested domain. However were you aware that the red squirrel is NOT the only squirrely resident of our western forests? The northern flying squirrel shares the forest with its more gregarious neighbour but for most residents of the mountain west, these squirrels remain virtually invisible. They range from 25 to 37 cm in length and they have a light underside and dark backs. They give birth to just a single litter each year and may live communally in the winter in order to huddle together to share warmth. They are far more secretive than the red squirrel and are usually only active at night. Like red squirrels, their diet is very flexible, including seeds, cones, tree sap, fungi and even eggs, and nestlings. They are characterized by a skin membrane that runs from their front feet to their back which, when stretched out, gives them a large leathery sail that allows them to fly like a furry kite from tree to tree to tree. The proper name for these membranes are patagia. If this doesn't give them enough of a wing, they have cartilage spurs on each wrist that can help to extend the patagia even further. As they leap from their perch, they stretch out their arms and legs and soar away. When they approach their landing site, they'll rapidly raise their flat tail which, in turn, shifts their body upwards. This positions all four legs forward for landing and the patagia also forms a breaking parachute to slow them down for landing. Globally, there are 43 species of flying squirrels and in some cases, flights of up to 300 feet can be made. The northern flying squirrel averages around 20 metres, but flights of up to 90 metres have also been recorded. If you've ever seen a youtube video of humans wearing squirrel suits, you will noticed that they don't just fly in a single direction, they can execute sharp turns by changing the orientation of their arms and legs. Squirrles are the real master at this. They can make incredibly sudden corrections and turns mid-flight, even completely reversing direction if needed. While they're foraging on the ground though, they're clumsy as they collect seeds and cones to store in their caches. Large eyes help them to see in the dark and they quietly scurry about looking for tasty morsels. The range of the northern flying squirrel covers almost all of Canada. With the exception of southeastern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. Just because you haven't seen one doesn't mean they're uncommon. In fact in many areas, they are very common, and like red squirrels, they're not above invading an attic or two. If you're out at night and see two big eyes staring at you from the treetops, you may just be seeing one of our most secretive residents. Take a few minutes and watch, you may just get lucky and see it make a quick aerial exit. In the winter, you will sometimes come across a set of squirrel tracks that mysteriously just begins in the middle of a field. That's a sure sign that a flying squirrel has been passing through. Next up…a record breaking season - for all the wrong reasons Worst Fire Season Ever It's now official. 2017 already has become the worst fire season in British Columbia history - and the season isn't even over yet. As of Aug 16, fires had blazed across an estimated 894,941 hectares in the province since April 1 according to a CBC story. To battle these fires, the federal and provincial governments have spent in excess of $315 million dollars. That number doesn't yet surpass the $382 million dollars spent in 2009, but again, the season isn't over yet. Perhaps even more important than financial costs to fight the fires, has been the loss of homes and lengthy evacuations of some 45,000 people over the course of the summer. As of August 22, there were still 3,800 people unable to return to their communities due to evacuation orders. Currently firefighters are fighting a single fire that covers some 4,674 square kilometres making it the largest single fire in B.C. history. It was created when 19 individual fires converged to create one single monster blaze near Quesnel. From end to end it stretches 130 kilometres. This is more than double the previous record held by a 1958 fire that charred 2,250 sq km. Province wide, there are still 135 fires burning. This season is far from over. Many of the fires currently burning will continue until the snows of winter douse them. Let's hope for some good solid rains for B.C. this fall. Next up…a rainmaker saves the CPR Van Horne’s Line The building of the Canadian Pacific Railway was an epic adventure for a small nation. There are many stories related to this line but I wanted to introduce you to one of the key characters responsible for helping us to get the job done. His name is Sir William Cornelius Van Horne. As Canada struggled to build its railroad, the epic struggle against an unforgiving landscape and diminishing coffers made for a very difficult undertaking for a small population. We had little experience with such an immense railroad project and the politics around the construction managed to topple two governments. As time passed, and funds diminished, the disorganization around the construction began to become overwhelming. The final straw occurred during the 1881 season where the company only managed to lay just over 200 km of track and in the process squandered $10 million. We still had some 3,000 left to finish. It became clear that we needed to bring in a rainmaker. As it turns out there was just a man south of the border: William Cornilius Van Horne. Van Horne had begun his career as a telegraph operator during the civil war. While working one day, a train rolled into the station and he saw the grand private car of the railroad superintendent…and he was impressed. He immediately declared that someday, he would also have his own private car. In order to accomplish this, he knew that he would need to learn everything there was about railroading; and so, he set out to learn. He began staying after work to copy the drawings of the railroad engineers…until he was caught. Fortunately for him, he was pretty good. They hired him to do their lettering from that point on, and for the rest of his life he was an amateur engineer. He was only 29 when he got his private car, and was named the superintendent of the St. Louis, Kansas City, and Northern Railroad, making him the youngest Railroad Superintendent in the world. Van Horne was a gambler and he never hesitated to gamble on his own abilities. He gained a reputation for taking bankrupt railways and making them pay. Since broke railroads didn’t have a lot of money, but had a lot of useless stock lying around, he would negotiate as much of his pay in stocks as possible. He could later sell them for a fortune; once he turned the fortunes of the railway around that is. One of his contemporaries, Colonel Allan Magee stated: "You always knew when Sir William Van Horne was approaching his office, even when he had just got off the elevator, was still coming down the corridor, but had not yet turned the corner. The sounds were unmistakable--the heavy tread, the wheeze, the shuffle, the snort, all warnings that a portentous figure was about to loom into view" He had a reputation of being everywhere at once, and he took great pains to cultivate that reputation. At one point he learned that some of his workers were taking pillows from passenger compartments to make beds in the luggage compartment. He arranged for a telegram to meet them in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night and all that telegram said was: “put those pillows back! Van Horne” Even though he had his private car, he would often travel 2nd class as that was the best way to see the operation of your line the way your customers saw it. On one trip, some roughians were taunting a young African American woman with a child that wouldn’t stop crying. He sat quietly until one of the youths got up and slapped the child. Van Horne, who was a man of rather generous proportions launched to his feet, grabbed the youth by the scruff of the collar and said: “Leave that child alone!” When the youth responded with: “Who the hell are you?” Van Horned replied: “Never mind! Be careful how your conduct yourself or I shall throw your off the train” By this time the tempers were flaring, and the testosterone was pumping, but the angry stare of Van Horne caused the youth to back down. Things were very tense until they got into the next station when the youth’s sidekicks hustled him off the train. Van Horne watched as they unloaded on the platform, all the while wondering where his conductors had been during this entire time. Suddenly one of them appeared and ordered Van Horne to duck down: "Do you know who those men are?" he whispered..."That's Jesse and Frank James and the Younger brothers. Lie as you are or they may take it in their heads to shoot you as the train leaves." The story of how the ‘super’ had bested the most notorious train robbers of all time helped to cement his reputation. It was stories like these that eventually brought him to the attention of the builders of the Canadian Pacific Railway. When Van Horne was hired to take over the Canadian Pacific he was paid $15,000/year, making him the highest paid general manager in North America. As one author put it: -"Van Horne...took the CPR in his hands like a giant whip, cracked it once to announce his presence, cracked it again to loose the sloth and corruption and cracked it a third time simply because the 1st two had felt so good" On Jan. 1 of 1882, Van Horne officially took over and appeared at the end of track in Winnipeg. R.K. Kernighan wrote about Van Horne's first visit to end of track at Flat Creek, Manitoba--the headline: "Massacre at Flat Creek" "...when manager Van Horne strikes the town there is a shaking of bones. He cometh like a blizzard and he goeth out like a lantern. He is the terror of Flat Krik. He shakes them up like an earthquake and they are as frightened of him as if he were old Nick himself. Yet Van Horne is calm and harmless looking. So is a she mule, and so is a buzz saw. you didn't know their inwardness till you go up and get the feel of them. To see Van Horne get out of the car and go softly up the platform, you might think he was an evangelist on his way west to preach temperance to the Mounted Police. But you are soon undeceived. If you are within hearing distance you will have more fun than you ever had in your life before. He calls the first official he comes to just to get his hand in and leads the next one by the car, and pointing eastward informs him that the walking is good as far as St. Paul. To see the rest hunt for their hides and commence scribbling for dear life is a terror. Van Horne wants to know. He is that kind of man. He wants to know why this was not done and why this was done. If the answers are not satisfactory, there is a dark and bloody tragedy enacted right there. During each act, all the characters are killed off and in the last scene the heavy villain is filled with dynamite, struck with a hammer and by the time he has knocked a hole plumb through the sky, and the smoke has cleared away, Van Horne has discharged all the officials and hired them over again at lower figures." Van Horne met with railroad officials in Winnipeg and boasted that he would lay 500 miles of track during the 1882 season. The room was filled with echoes of laughter, but nobody was laughing at the end of the year when he had bettered that claim by some 48 miles. J.H.E. Secretan, the man in charge of the railroad surveys on the prairies complained that: “construction was moving so quickly that grating crews passed him during the night, grading ground that hadn't yet been surveyed” With the efficiency with which Van Horne was laying track the railroad coffers were also quickly being drained. As the railroad struggled to keep up with financing this breakneck pace of track laying, the 1883 season led off with a bang. They began grading in March and were laying track only a few weeks later. My the end the season they had reached the Kicking Horse Pass. During one 42 day period, they laid an average of 5.6 km of track per day. July 28 was a particularly good day with 10.3 km of track laid. Van Horne was just the man the railroad needed, but as he pushed the crews, the finances of the railway were quickly falling into ruin. Eventually the railway would push through those financial challenges and complete the route. William Cornelius Van Horne was the right man at the right time. We are just beginning to tell his story in this episode and I promise he will be an important part of future episodes. Suffice it to say that without his unrelenting leadership the CPR, the tie that binds this nation together coast to coast might never have been completed. Today you can see his likeness in front of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. His statue stands in front of one of the railroad hotels that he had built in order to provide high class accommodation to passengers traveling his line, but that is a story for another day. Next week I'll look at the completion of the line as there were still major challenges ahead of the railroaders before the last spike could be hammered. And with that, it's time to wrap this episode up. I want to thank you for sharing your time with me and remember, if you're looking for a hiking or step-on guide, speaker or workshop facilitator, Ward Cameron Enterprises is your source when it comes to the mountain west. We will make sure that your western Canada memories last a lifetime. If you'd like to connect with me directly, you can contact me through the show notes at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep041 or hit me up on twitter @wardcameron.
Ode to Grizzly 148 This has been a heartbreaking week as bear 148, the beloved daughter of Banff's most famous bear 66, was translocated far away from her home territory of Banff and Canmore all the way north to Kakwa Provincial Park, located to the west of Grand Cache. It was a difficult decision for officials with Alberta Environment and Parks, but 148 was getting increasingly closer to people and in the end they felt that the risk of an escalation in behaviour left them with few options other than to move her out of the area. This is the second time she has been moved. Earlier in July she was captured and returned to an area west of the Town of Banff but she returned to Canmore to feed on buffaloberries. In past episodes, I've talked at length about the importance of buffaloberries to bears and how they will always be attracted to low elevation valleys in order to take advantage of these critical calories. One message that doesn't seem to be getting out is that the bears have little choice but to be in communities like Canmore and Banff at this time of year. Buffaloberries need sunlight to grow. Sunlight requires openings in the forest canopy, and this is provided by developers cutting down trees, urban parks, trails and roads…all things that are prevalent in townsites. Essentially, townsites create great conditions for buffaloberry to thrive, even more so than the undeveloped areas between Canmore and Banff where openings are created more sparingly by falling trees or old fires. When you put it all together, there will likely be more berries in Canmore than there will be in an undeveloped forest area. Powerline right of ways become habitat patches for a few months of the year. Every new trail we build allows sunlight to percolate down to the forest floor and creates good conditions for buffaloberries to grow. The story of buffaloberries is about much more than corridors. Wildlife movement corridors are about allowing animals connectivity with adjacent patches of good habitat. Animals will often use the corridors to simply traverse between places like Banff and Kananaskis, through Canmore. However at this time of year, corridors become habitat patches as the openings create buffaloberry buffets. Bears are attracted from many miles to take advantage of these critical foods. It's for this reason that the story of 148 is particularly poignant. She was the canary in the coal mine. If we couldn't create a situation where she could take advantage of the berry crop, then what is the hope for the other 7 or 8 bears currently feeding in the valley? Closures are an important strategy at this time of year, but a closure that is ignored is no closure. If people violating closures get injured by bears, it's always the bears that pay the ultimate price. We need to think beyond 148. Her chances of survival are very slim, but how many other bears do we need to lose in a similar fashion. If we don't create a workable solution then so much of our current battles for corridors will be for nothing. Alberta Parks simply doesn't have the resources to constantly patrol the many entrance and exit points on some of these closures - and neither does Parks Canada. I was impressed to hear about Canmore Bylaw Officers charging people trying to shortcut between the Peaks of Grassi and Quarry Lake over the weekend as well. Maybe it's time for a new approach. I know from my posts on the Bow Valley Community Connection Facebook page that we have a very engaged local population. Maybe we need to set up volunteer systems where people are trained in bear safety and ecology who simply wait at key entry points to try to encourage people to obey the closures. This could NOT be a vigilante force. It would a group of educators, helping people to understand the importance of the closures and how important it is that the bears are allowed to feed unimpeded during the brief berry season. This would help keep both people and bears safe. The volunteers could coordinate with the various enforcement agencies, but their role would simply be one of awareness. Recent studies on wildlife corridors showed astounding use by people and dogs, both on and off leash. The study showed that in the designated wildlife corridors around Canmore, people accounted for 94% of traffic. Of that, 56% of the incidents included people with dogs - and 60% of the dogs were off leash! We need to have a visible presence during closures and maybe a Friends of Wildlife patrol could work similarly to the Wildlife Guardians in the national park that patrol bear jams and try to educate visitors on safe ways to view wildlife responsibly. They also set up stations at popular viewpoints with the sole purpose of providing education and outreach. Our wildlife patrol could fulfil a similar role, educating and informing, while also adding additional sets of eyes to help enforcement officials when the need arises. Next up. Walter Moberly's western surveys The Canadian Pacific Railway Part 2 - Walter Moberly I can't tell the story of the building of the Railway without mentioning Walter Moberly. He was a pivotal personality in the history of British Columbia and a huge proponent of a transcontinental railway. Born in Oxfordshire, England in 1832, his family moved to Upper Canada when he was just 2 years old. As he grew into a man, he became a logger and worked several timber holdings in the Muskoka area before he headed west to British Columbia. He began to do some survey work for the community of New Westminster, and between 1961 and 64 he worked on a number of road building projects. He helped Edgar Dewdney build the Dewdney trail from Hope to the Okanagan. He also built a section of the road to the Caribou gold fields. This experience led him to be named the Assistant Surveyor General of British Columbia in 1865, and he was assigned to search for new travel routes through the mountains landscape of the province. It was this year that Moberly made his most important discovery - Eagle Pass which enabled him to travel through the Gold Range from Shuswap Lake in the Okanagan to join the Columbia River at Revelstoke. As Moberly told the story of the discovery, he shot an arrow at an eagle nest and watched the eagle as it flew up the valley. Since the birds were unlikely to fly up a valley blocked by mountains, he decided to follow them and discovered Eagle Pass. At this time, there was NO talk about a transcontinental railway, but Moberly always believed that it as an unavoidable eventuality. He claimed to have blazed a tree and carved "This is the Pass of the Overland Railway". Eventually, some 20 years later, the railroad would follow this portion of his imagined route. It didn't take Moberly long to hear about the agreement to build the railway in 1972 and so he set about to position himself as just the man to get the job done. By coincidence, as a child, he had gone to school with a girl named Susan Agnes Bernard. She was now the wife of Prime Minister John A Macdonald, and so he managed to talk his way into a dinner invitation with them at their home in Ottawa. Never a shy man, Moberly told Macdonald that he knew exactly where the train should go and that he was the man to do it. In fact he could begin construction within 6 weeks of his return to British Columbia. The boast came with a caveat: "I don't know how many millions you have, but it is going to cost you money to get through those canyons" Moberly had an ego bigger than the mountains and there was only one possible route - his route! He returned to B.C. as District Engineer in charge of the region between Shuswap Lake and the foothills of the Rockies. Moberly was as tough as nails and one of the best axemen in the country, but it would take more than muscles and axes to crack the mountain barrier. Between Shuswap Lake and the foothills sat the impenetrable Selkirk Mountains. Even the Columbia River couldn't penetrate these ramparts. It's forced to flow north for 200 hundred kilometres to go around the northern extent of the Selkirks before turning south towards the U.S. If the mightiest river on the Pacific couldn't crack the mountain rampart, than how could the railway? In fact, Moberly had this all figured out as well. He planned on going around the Selkirks by crossing an old fur trader route over Howse Pass. This would take it through Eagle Pass, around the Selkirks to the north and enter Alberta to the west of the current day Saskatchewan River Crossing and David Thompson Highway. Moberly spent the next 8 months exploring the territory of his proposed line. He also explored the Selkirks to see if there was any possible pass through. After being almost buried by an avalanche, he spent New Year's day of 1872 all alone in a trappers cabin. He wrote in his diary: "I think it...one of the most wretched and dreary places I ever saw...this was the most wretched New Year's Day I ever spent." but as for the Selkirks he continued "I found there was not any practicable pass through the Selkirk Range." He reported his finding to the Chief Surveyor Sandford Fleming. Now did I mention that he had an ego? The thought that Fleming would not agree with his routing never crossed his mind and so he decided to start the work of surveying the Howse Pass right away. After all, better to apologize than ask permission…right? Fleming did agree to a quick trial line through the pass, but Moberly planned for a detailed location survey. He instantly took Fleming's approval to mean that his route was confirmed. As he put it, he read the telegram: "which led me to infer that the line I had taken so many years to explore and discover, and which I was quite confident would be the best to adopt for the proposed transcontinental railroad, would be adopted" After hiring men, hiring pack trains and buying thousands of dollars on supplies, much of which had already been dispatched to places like Eagle Pass, he received a telegram from Fleming telling him that the Yellowhead Pass to the west of Jasper had been chosen instead of Howse Pass. The telegram arrived just 4 hours before his party headed into the wilderness. He was ordered to head north through the Athabasca Pass and to conduct a survey of the Yellowhead Pass, which is the route the Canadian National Railway takes today. Moberly was crushed and actually tried to buy his way out of his contracts, but alas, it was too late. Moberly met with Fleming in the Yellowhead and Fleming was extremely displeased with his excessive spending. Moberly thought Fleming unpatriotic for not using his route. Clearly these two men were not going to get along. Before long, Fleming sent a message taking control of the survey away from Moberly and giving it to someone else. Moberly simply ignored the message and continued working. As he put it: "the instructions conveyed in the letter were too childish to be followed" He would obey orders: "when I could see they were sensible but not otherwise...I went on the survey for business, not to be made a fool of" When Marcus Smith was officially placed in charge of the British Columbia surveys, Moberly left the service. Ironically, some 20 years later, the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway would be hammered in Eagle Pass, right where he predicted so many years ago. One of the great things about much of our western history is that the first-hand journals of many explorers have survived to help keep their stories alive. But we also have to keep in mind that many of these journals were written for their boss. They weren't going to enter: "I saw a grizzly bear and wet my pants". Instead they'll say: "I saw a grizzly and I dropped it from 200 yards with one shot from my Henry rifle". However occasionally we find a journal that was written for more personal reasons. Such is the case of Robert M. Rylatt. Rylatt was one of the surveyors that Moberly had dispatched to Howse Pass. He had a sickly wife and felt that the money from the survey work would help get her the level of care that she needed. His journal was written for his mother and he constantly states that if he ever thought it would be published, he would drop his pen immediately. Rylatt was in charge of the pack trains on the expedition. He signed up for a one year contract, but there was an option to extend it to 2 years - at the railroad's discretion. When he left home in July of 1871, little did he know that he would not return home until June of 1873. Once dispatched, there really was no way to quit. The wilderness was too remote for a lone individual to walk out without the support of the pack trains. Along with Rylatt, Engineer E.C. Gillette was in charge and the party also included 4 surveyors, sixteen axemen, 8 native and Mexican packers and a hunter. Every day Rylatt had to supervise the loading and unloading of 45 pack animals carrying almost 7 tonnes of supplies. About the pack animals Rylatt wrote: "How worried would be any member of the Humane society, could he see the treatment animals in a Pack Train receive, where the animals themselves are only a secondary consideration, the open sores on their backs, from hard and incessant packing, angry and running with humour, over which the Packer, too often, if not closely watched, without washing throws the heavy apparajos, or Pack Saddle, and as the sinch [sic] is tightened the poor beast groans, rears and plunges and not unfrequently sinks down under the pain, only to be whipped again into position." The work was backbreaking. The axemen led the way, hacking through endless numbers of both standing and prostrate trees. Only then would the pack trains continue on. When they met the junction of the Columbia and Blaeberry Rivers, the real work began to cut their way towards Howse Pass. It was about this time that Rylatt first began to feel lonely: "Your sense of being alone in the heart of a city, or even in a village, or within easy distance of fellow beings...gives you no claim to use the term 'alone'. You may have the feeling peculiar to being alone--that is all. Listen sometime when you think you are alone...Can you hear a footfall; a door slam in the distance; a carriage go by? Or the rumble of one...? Can you hear a dog bark? Hare you a cricket on the hearth or even the ticking of a clock...? They reached the pass on October 26, 1871 and the snows of winter quickly signaled that they would need to settle in and wait for spring. Once the snows landed, there would be no mail, pay or new supplies until the next spring. By New Year's Day, tempers were flaring and Rylatt found himself in a standoff with several of the crew that were trying to raid the supplies, and accused Rylatt of hiding the sugar that had ago run out. As they rushed the pantry, he took an axe and cut off three of the fingers of the ring leader. When they returned an hour later, all armed with axes, Rylatt held them off with his Henry rifle. As he wrote: "the roughs of the party are in open mutiny. Growling at their food, cursing me for being out of sugar, all this I care little for...but my pent up feelings have found vent today, and the leader of the roughs will carry my mark to his grave. I have passed through a somewhat exciting scene and don't care to have it repeated" As spring arrived, so did mail, but nothing for Rylatt who was distraught at not knowing if his wife was alive or dead. "We were informed that the white man who undertook to carry down the mail from Wild Horse Creek to Hope last fall, did not reach; and that this spring his body was found somewhere on the lonely route, the mailbag beside him" The mosquitoes were unrelenting as well: "I have smothered my face with mosquito muslin, smeared my hands with bacon grease, but bah! nothing keeps them off, and the heat only melts the grease and sends it beneath my clothing" On May 15, they received word that the Howse Pass route was to be abandoned and that they were to head north. Rylatt also received a long awaited letter when Moberly arrived in camp. In the letter, his bedridden wife begged for him to return but Moberly would not release him from his contract. By August of 1872, the mosquitoes were unrelenting and Rylatt was also beginning to suffer from the effects of scurvy. "My teeth have a feeling of looseness, and my gums are so sore, to touch them with my tongue gives me acute pain; am wondering if it is a touch of Scurvy; it is not very comforting to be sick in the mountains, but to be sick and all alone makes the chills creep down my back. These mountains are inhospitable enough for a man in full vigor." In September, he received three more letters, the last saying: "Oh! Bob, come home, I can't bear it". He was overcome with grief as there was no way he could make his way home to his beloved wife. By October, they were camped at the base of Mounts Hooker and Brown near to Athabasca Pass in present day Jasper National Park. It was here on Oct 19 that Rylatt received a message that simply stated: "Dear Rylatt--The papers state your wife has passed beyond the stream of time. Don't be too cut up, dear old fellow" Three days later, his dog Nip broke through the ice and Rylatt was unable to help as the dog vainly struggled to get out of his icy trap. As he disappeared beneath the ice, Rylatt dropped to his knees and screamed: "Oh God! Must everything be taken from me?" By April, Scurvy was taking its toll on Rylatt: "My mouth is in a dreadful state, the gums being black, the teeth loose, and when pressed against any substance they prick at the roots like needles. At times the gums swell, almost covering the teeth. To chew food is out of the question and so have to bolt it without mastication. My legs also becoming black below the knee...My breath is somewhat offensive and I am troubled with a dry cough. In fact I feel like an old man" With his poor health, he was finally allowed to leave the surveys and return home to an empty house. He left on May 13, 1873. Rylatt's ordeal showed us the things we don't often see in the journals of surveyors and explorers…the hardship, the horror, the loneliness and, in Rylatt's case, the heartbreak. Rylatt's journals are still available for purchase on Amazon.ca. I'll leave a link in the show notes for those that may like to buy a copy. Of all the books I've read on the survey, this one is my favourite because of its brutal honesty. Next week, we'll begin to look at the surveyor that ended up cracking the barrier of the Selkirk Mountains, Major A.B. Rogers. Next up - bird eating deer…say what? Bird-eating Deer While this is a story that comes out of states like South Dakota and Pennsylvania, it's just so unexpected that I thought it might be of interest to listeners of this podcast. It may also be happening right under our noses, but simply not been observed. So often we categorize our wildlife as either carnivore or herbivore depending on what they eat. Deer eat plants and Cougars eat deer. Some animals, like bears and humans get the special title of omnivore or eater of everything. Well it looks like those labels may have been too limiting as scientists have recently discovered that deer are a major predator of songbirds…yes you heard that right, white-tail deer eat birds, in particular ground nesting birds like eastern meadowlarks, sparrows, red-winged blackbirds and others. You can go onto Youtube and find some a number of videos of deer munching on a bird or two but researcher Les Murray placed cameras on 25 different nests in Valley Forge National Historic Park in Pennsylvania. Eight of the 25 nests was beset upon by predators and, as it turned out, the number-one predator was white-tailed deer. White-tails ate all 5 eggs from an eastern meadowlark nest, all but one egg from a field sparrow nest and four 5-day old nestlings from another field sparrow nest. Ok, so deer at a few eggs and nestlings - well they accounted for 38% of the recorded predation events as compared to 25% for fox, and 13% for both raccoons and weasels. Studies had shown that deer do occasionally eat an egg or nestling, but nobody expected that they were such an avid fan of birds. It may have something to do with sheer numbers of deer as opposed to the numbers of fox or raccoons. As songbird populations are shrinking in many areas, this is the first study to indicate that deer may actually play a role in the drop in population. States like Delaware have population densities of 45 deer/square km. That's potentially a lot of deer to hoover up eggs. The first time a bird was discovered in the gut of a deer was in 1970. It was later discovered that birds netted for population studies in Michigan were also being gobbled down by white-tails. Maybe it's time to redefine the word herbivore? Next up solar eclipse time Solar Eclipse coming next month On August 21, parts of North America will get the chance to experience a total solar eclipse. For many sky watchers, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Few people ever get to see a total solar eclipse simply because they are very rare. They take place when the moon lines up perfectly between the Earth and the sun and blocks out all of its light, casting the moons shadow on the Earth. For those of us in the mountain west, we won't get the full-meal-deal, but we should be able to see about an 85% coverage of the sun by the shadow of the moon. This eclipse is unique in that it will travel right across the U.S. from coast to coast - and that hasn't happened since 1918. Globally, partial solar eclipses happen between 2 and 5 times each year, but total eclipses only happen every 12-18 months. While we won't get to see the total eclipse, it will still be a special event. Want to see the TOTAL eclipse, well then it's time for a road show…'shotgun'. Head south to Oregon, Idaho or Montana. The total eclipse will last for just a few minutes and within a 110 kilometre wide band stretching from Oregon to South Carolina. You'll also need to be ready at between 10 am and 12:30 pm Mountain Daylights Savings Time. For those of us that can't do a road trip, it will begin at 10:18 am, hit its maximum at 11:31 am and be finished at 12:48 pm. If you want to learn about the timing where you are, I'll leave a link in the show notes at mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep038 to make sure you don't miss the show (https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2017-august-21) Now don't you be looking directly at it though as you can quickly damage your eyesight. You can buy special eclipse glasses for a few dollars or build a pinhole projector to help you watch it without risking vision damage. I'll have a link to this as well (https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/box-pinhole-projector.html) While we haven't had a many cloudy days this summer, should you just not have luck, you can watch it live on NASA's site by clicking the following link: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream And with that it's time to wrap this episode up. For links mentioned in this story simply visit www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep038 for show notes and links to additional stories.
Forest Fires Spreading across British Columbia and now threaten parts of Alberta When I wrote last week's fire focused episode, little did I know that my own community of Canmore would be smelly and smoky this week as fires continue to spread and the number of evacuees in British Columbia climbs. The hot dry weather is showing no signs of abating and over the past week, the number of people forced out of their homes and communities in British Columbia has swelled from 14,000 to more than 45,000 as of July 18, 2017. This makes it one of the largest mass evacuations in the history of the province. The previous record was an evacuation of 50,000 due to fires near Kelowna in 2003. Heat waves that year also caused massive fires across both Alberta and British Columbia. Over this past weekend, high winds caused a number of fires to rapidly expand in size and has subsequently resulted in more evacuations. In other areas, the fires around Williams Lake and 100 Mile House have stayed fairly stable over the past few days allowing firefighters to make some headway. Some people are being allowed to return to their communities, although many may return to find their homes have been destroyed. Members of the Ashcroft Indian Reserve and the community of Cache Creek are returning home after an 11-day absence. Residents of 100-Mile House may also be returning home soon. Province-wide, there are still 155 active fires burning and there is still no sign of significant rain on the horizon. Closer to the Alberta border, a fire in the Verdant Creek area of Kootenay National Park ignited last week. This fire puts flames within just 2.5 kilometres of Sunshine Village in Banff National Park. In just 24 hours it swelled in size by a factor of 10, growing from a few hundred hectares on Sunday to some 2,000 ha by Monday. The fire is considered to be out of control and crews are working in the Sunshine area to try to prevent the loss of any structures should the fire continue to spread eastward. Huge water pumps are also at the ready in order to keep buildings wet if the fire encroaches the resort area. As you can imagine, there is now a total fire ban throughout the mountain national parks. Kootenay National Park has also closed the Verdant Creek area all the way to the Simpson River in the south and Banff has closed Sunshine Meadows and Village, as well as access to the Egypt Lake area, Healy Pass, Citadel Pass, Whistling Valley and Pharaoh Pass. I would expect additional closures to occur as the conditions continue to evolve. Even in towns like Canmore and Banff, the mountains are barely visible and the air quality is dropping fast. Currently, the Verdant Creek fire is approximately 24 km from Banff and 31 km from Canmore. Environment Canada has issued an air quality warning for Banff, Canmore and Kananaskis warning that: "Due to the smoke, the AQHI (Air Quality Health Index) will likely reach 10, or high risk, in parts of Central and southern Alberta on Wednesday. There is some uncertainty as to where the thickest smoke will set up, but current indications are that the corridor of thickest smoke and poorest air quality will be between Hinton, Red Deer, and Edmonton." "Individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk." "In general, wearing a mask is not the best way to protect your health during a smoke event. In fact, masks may lead to a false sense of security, which may encourage increased physical activity and time spent outdoors, meaning increased exposure to smoke. They can also make breathing more difficult." The smoke is not only affecting communities in the Rockies, but it has spread as far west as Vancouver and as far east as Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. These smoke plumes can carry for hundreds of kilometres and as the fires continue to spread, we can expect air quality to suffer along with it. In the interior of B.C., near Williams Lake, the Air Quality Index was reportedly as high as 23, and that is on a scale of 1 to 10 with a 10+ reserved for very high-risk air quality. Today should see some of the winds shifting to send more wind westward to the coast, but the eastern slopes are still completely smoked in. Also in last week's episode, I talked about the need to ramp up our use of prescribed burns as we see summer weather regimes shift with the shifting of climate norms. As summers see more and more prolonged droughts, separated by severe storms, lightning caused fires may become far more prevalent. To complicate matters, we have had years of fire suppression leaving many of our western forests susceptible to large fires. Even places like British Columbia's Interior Rainforest, some of which may not have burned for a millennium or more, are susceptible to large fires if their normal weather regiments continue to change. The interior rainforest is unique on the planet as more than 97% of all rainforests occur in coastal areas. However, while it is considered a rainforest, it doesn't get enough rain to truly qualify. What it does get is huge accumulations of snow. The slow melting of this snow releases vast amounts of moisture and essentially allows it to simulate a true rainforest. Should that change, these forests could also burn. With changing climates we need to look at fire in a very different way. After my comments last week, I came across a CBC News article that interviews a fire ecologist by the name of Robert Gray, of R.W. Gray Consulting. Gray consults with communities to help them reduce their overall fire risk and he echoes my previous comments. He recommends a minimum of doubling the current number of prescribed burns - especially if we see a continuation of the hot summer drought conditions that are becoming more common in the mountain west. The extreme heat this summer created tinder that was ignited by thousands of dry lightning strikes. According to David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, the number of lightning strikes increases by 15% for every additional degree of warming. To complicate things further, years of mountain pine beetle infestations have left tens of thousands of standing dead trees which are extremely flammable. While the potential for large, catastrophic fires has been building over the past decade, the incidence of prescribed burns has dropped in British Columbia from 150-200,000 hectares in the 1980s to just 5,000 in the past few years. Prescribed burns are a hassle. They're smoky and smelly, and tourists hate them, but they are still a way better option than ignoring the problem and waiting for conflagrations to ignite. For generations, first nations used prescribed fires in order to improve wildlife habitat. We need to recognize that these forests are going to burn, there is nothing we can do to prevent it. Robert Gray is very clear that there is no way to avoid smoke in a prescribed burn, but as he puts it: "There is no 'no smoke' option…How do you want your smoke — wild or controlled?" Recent studies have also shown that by having smaller, more controlled burns, the amount of smoke is reduced as are the amount of unhealthy particulates that are floating through the air at the moment. Let's use this as a wake-up call to begin looking at our forests and our climate as a pair. As the climate warms, the fires burn. Let's ramp our prescribed burn schedules up to help keep the mountain west a little safer. For some areas of B.C., fire breaks are being created the hard way at the moment. Let's try to make the next decade one of adaptation to new fire realities. Bear 148 Gets a Reprieve In episode 34, I talked about the challenges that the Provincial conservations officers seem to be having when dealing with Grizzly 148, the daughter of Banff's beloved Bear 64. If you'd like to listen to the story, check it out at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep034. After an incident in the Peaks of Grassi area where 148 bluff charged a man with a stroller and two dogs, conservation officers live-trapped her and relocated her back to her home turf in Banff. They also made it clear that they planned to euthanize her should a similar incident occur in the future. This was despite the fact that a bluff charge is simply a way of telling an intruder that she is in charge. Bluff charges are especially common when people bring dogs into bear country as dogs are easily perceived as a threat by bears. She was in a designated primary wildlife corridor doing exactly what she was supposed to be doing. The people were in her turf, not the other way around. As we encroach more and more on wilderness corridors, we can only expect to see more and more incidents like this one. After the relocation, a petition was started that attracted more than 4,000 signatures from people that did not want to see 148 killed for no good management reason. Even the individual that was involved in the bluff charge encounter supports the right of 148 to use that particular corridor. She is just at the age where she may have mated for the first time and female bears are critical to the stability of the local bear population. After this huge public outcry, conservation officers have softened their stance on 148. Alberta officials are now talking about a partnership with Banff Park Wardens when dealing with bears like 148 when she leaves the boundaries of the park and wanders into Provincial lands. Despite this, Conservation Officer Jay Honeyman did reiterate that "bears cannot be within the developed footprint of the Town of Canmore", despite the fact that the designated corridors force them to be within this supposed no-go zone. In a recent article in the Rocky Mountain Outlook Honeyman was quoted: “When that bear comes out we’re trying to do what we can to enable her to live on the landscape without causing public safety concerns,” Honeyman said. “Nobody is taking this lightly. Nobody, more so people who work with wildlife, want to harm or euthanize wildlife … but we can’t and won’t ignore public safety.” This is particularly important as the area she was spending time is an area where buffaloberries are now ripening. Many more bears will be attracted to the lower Bow Valley over the next several weeks as these berries ripen. If you don't know how to recognize this plant, then stop right now and watch this safety video that I've put together to help you understand the critical importance of buffaloberries. Buffaloberries mean bears and so over the next 6-8 weeks, or until the first frost of the season, bears will descend to the valley bottom to feast on these critical berries. Don't walk along the town trails without bear spray on your belt - especially in the areas around Quarry Lake and the Peaks of Grassi primary wildlife corridors. Things are only going to get tougher for bears in the Canmore/Quarry Lake area as the Town of Canmore pushes forward with its proposed mountain bike park in the Quarry Lake area. Mayor John Borrowman supports this ecological madness, continually claiming that the area is NOT a habitat patch and therefore not of importance to wildlife. This is something that I have a lot of background in. I wrote two books on mountain biking, including Mountain Bike! The Canadian Rockies and Mountain Bike! Southwestern British Columbia. I also designed the original route for the famous Trans Rockies Challenge that ran from Fernie British Columbia to Canmore. It was called the "Toughest Race in the World" by both Mountain Bike and Bike magazines. I've spent the past 30 years out on foot and pedal and, as a biologist, I'm always working to educate people on bear safety. I understand the Mayor saying that there are already too many pirate trails that go through wildlife corridors and they should be dismantled. Wildlife corridors should be signed and marked off limits. This would have to be tempered by the reality that the corridors west of the Peaks of Grassi are already mostly useless - especially if we punish bears for using them. Areas adjacent to the corridors are NOT places to put intensive development. If a bear is using the corridor and feels crowded, it will move into adjacent habitats. New trails will be used by bears if they are perceived to be quieter than the wildlife corridor due to less human use. Building trails does NOT mean that bears will not use them, just ask the Nordic Centre. I would also argue that the off-leash park should also be moved to an area not adjacent to critical habitat - especially since the town does NOT enforce illegal off-leash use outside of the dog park. It's time for this community to make a choice. Do we stand with wildlife, or do we stand with development? Do we want a vibrant community surrounded by intact ecosystems or do we want Disney? If you want the latter, hang out in Silver Tip as they are planning a wildlife apocalypse. Please join with me in opposing this bike park, regardless of the faulty reasoning that the mayor presents to share its ecological basis. His logic is false and his support of this development indicates that maybe it's time for a change at the helm. Next up…no national bird for Canada No National Bird for Canada Way back in Episode 14, recorded in November of last year, I talked about an effort to get the government of Canada to designate a national bird. If you'd like to hear more about the story, check out the full episode at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep014. When I first began writing this story, I was unaware that Canada DIDN'T already have a national bird. After all, we had a national animal, a national tree and even a national horse - but alas, no bird. In 2016, the Royal Canadian Geographic Society sought to put an end to this obvious oversight by doing a national poll to see what bird should win the right to be Canada's feathered flagbearer. There were many contenders. People were invited to submit their suggestions for the best avian representatives and these were compiled to create a feathered list of frontrunners for a national vote. The ballot contained a list of birds that would make an Canuck proud. They included the black-capped chickadee, the Canada goose, the snowy owl, the loon and the Gray (or Canada) Jay. There were ardent avian allies of all the birds submitted. Any Canadian that has set up a winter bird feeder knows the black-capped chickadee with its habit of chirping its name as it collects sunflower seeds. It is a steadfast Canadian and refuses to leave in even the harshest of winters. They are friendly, and faithful to feeders from coast to coast. The Canada goose is another bird known to all. However it has, a dark side as one of very few waterfowl that do most of their feeding on land. This leads them to gather on golf courses and public parks where they have become a nuisance, so their votes suffered accordingly. The snowy owl seemed like a good options, but it is only known to a few dedicated birders and as a result, never garnered the numbers needed for a win. Now the loon. That was one that I thought would be a shoe in. Most of its worldly breeding range is in Canada and its call has become symbolic with the northern wilderness. Few Canadians don't recognize the haunting call of the loon and it has made many a camping trip memorable as campers try to imitate the call with their hands cupped tightly. The Gray (or Canada) Jay has been selected as Canada's candidate for a National Bird The rightful winner was the Gray jay. It's a bird with many names, gray jay, Canada jay, camp robber, whiskey jack, Perisorius canadensis…take your pick. It's an ever present companion to most outings in the wilds of Canada. Gray jays will quietly stalk your forays and appear just when the sandwiches are ready to be eaten. Turn your back on them and you may catch your corned beef flying off into the spruce and pine forest. I was an early advocate of the loon, but I la ter sang the praises of the gray jay and it ended up taking the title of the bird most likely to become Canada's National Bird. Alas, this hope all came crashing down earlier this month when the federal government sent a terse message that they were not considering any additional national symbols at this time. Is that the end of it? I hope not. Perhaps a flock of crafty camp robbers will roost on Parliament Hill and carry off politicians lunches until they cry "uncle" and demand the liberals move forward with this feathered designation. And with that said, it's time to wrap this episode up. If you would like to explore the Canadian Rockies, Ward Cameron Enterprises is your one-stop shop for step-on and hiking guides, nature workshops and keynote presentations. We will make sure that your next mountain experience is one to remember. And with that said, the valley is smoky, so I'm hanging out with the ashes. Talk to you next week.
Lisa McGrath’s sculptures are the expression of the animals with whom she shares her backyard. McGrath plucks those beings and transports them into her whimsical, wonder-filled narratives..... so to with her functional work. It is just as full of wonder and evokes a story... this mug reminds you perhaps, of the night circus – or something.... Lisa McGrath completed her BFA in Ceramics from Alberta College of Art and Design in 1997. She lives and maintains her studio on the cusp of Kananaskis country with her partner and child and four furry fa
This week we'll look at efforts to reintroduce grizzly bears to the north Cascades of Washington State. The plan may include some Canadian bears to help repopulate an area that has excellent habitat for bears. We'll also look way back into the earliest history of bison on the North American landscapes. With this summer looking to be the busiest ever, I'm promoting a new Rocky Mountain Pledge to help visitors enjoy the mountain landscapes in a safe and sensitive way. Finally, we'll look at the challenges of human use in designated wildlife corridors. Story 1 - North Cascades Grizzly Reintroduction The long history of grizzly bears has seen them removed from most of their historic range. Today they are limited to only the wildest of western landscapes. Once they ranged across most of western and northern Canada and south as far as Mexico. As people began to migrate westward, the grizzly bear was a natural competitor for many of the resources that these early pioneers sought. For this reason, like the buffalo, they were gradually wiped from the map of most of the United States and many areas of Canada. Like Banff is doing with bison, other landscapes are hoping to do with grizzly bears, in particular, the north Cascades ecosystem in northern Washington State. Like the south coast of British Columbia, grizzlies have been largely squeezed and hunted to the extent that there are only a few bears in this particular landscape. Today, there may be less than 10 bears wandering the north Cascades - a landscape that could easily support a few hundred bears. There is a growing movement to reintroduce grizzlies to the north Cascades. Now while we proudly boast about reintroducing buffalo, we need to realize that grizzlies ain't no buffalo. Compared to grizzlies, bison are a piece of cake. They are incredibly adaptable ecosystem engineers. Like beaver, they change the landscape to benefit their expansion. Grizzly bears are local specialists. You've heard me time and again talking about the importance of knowing the seasonal food preferences of bears in order to stay safe in bear country. Unfortunately, every bear population has a different list of seasonal foods. Bears in Banff have never tasted a salmon. Each bear must spend years with its mother learning how to survive in the landscape that it calls home. You can't just airlift a bear from one landscape and hope that it can survive in another - especially when it doesn't know what the locally available foods are. To be successful, the north Cascades need to find bears with a familiar palate, bears that are familiar enough with the local flora and fauna so that they will be able to adapt to a terrain largely devoid of competing bears. If you can find the right bear and put it into the perfect landscape, then you may have a winning combination. Wells Gray Provincial Park in southern British Columbia might be able to assist in such a reintroduction program. Its population was listed as 317 bears in 2012. The plan would involve removing just a few young bears to seed the reintroduction. Over the next five to ten years, 25 bears could be reintroduced from more than one seed population. The plan can only move forward if the local populations can sustain the loss of some of their young bears. Populations in decline or in a precarious balance, obviously would not be able to become donors. The north Cascades are in the midst of a huge public consultation at the moment…and even though this is taking place in the U.S., Canadian comments are also welcome - after all, Canadian bears are likely to be included in any successful reintroduction program. The public comment period is open until April 28, 2017.You can add your voice to the discussion here: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=327&projectID=44144&documentID=77025 The history of the north Cascade grizzly has been a difficult one. During the period of 1827 to 1859, 3,788 grizzly hides were loaded onto Hudson Bay Company ships from trading posts in the area. No bear population can survive such an onslaught. It would feel really great to help grizzly bears begin to march south again as opposed to having their range continually squeezed further to the north. What do you think? Story 2 - Bison vs wooly Mammoths Bison wandered the Canadian landscape for thousands of years. They helped to define the great plains as one of the chief ecological engineers helping to keep forests at bay and support huge populations of insects, and in turn, insect-eating birds. It's easy to toss out numbers like 'thousands', but just how many thousands of years? Just when did bison first appear on the North American landscape and how did their arrival impact the plants and animals that preceded them? New research by University of Alberta biologist Duane Froese and Professor Beth Shapiro of the US Santa Cruz Genomics institute have pushed those boundaries back by a factor of 10. Scientists have long debated the tenure of bison on the North American Landscape. Bison fossils from across the continent have often suggested different histories. One thing scientists do agree on is that the original migration of bison to the continent was from the north. This study looked at the oldest bison fossils known in order to try to narrow down the period in which they first thundered onto the North American landscape. It is still believed that they crossed the land bridge across the Bering Strait, but when? During ice ages, the bridge formed when ocean levels dropped due to great extents of water being locked up as ice. As glaciers shrank, so did the bridge disappear as rising ocean levels submerged its ephemeral passageway. By looking at the very oldest fossil sites in the Yukon Territories, they looked at the mitochondrial DNA found in these fossils. This DNA is usually inherited from the female and allows scientists to trace a long maternal lineage. This study pushes the tenure of bison back…way back to 130,000 years ago and possibly as far as 195,000 years. These were not the bison we know today but were the ancestors that would gradually become the bison that Banff is so proud to have reintroduced recently. Bison would have taken the landscape by storm. They discovered a place already populated with wooly mammoths, camels, sabre tooth cats, and wild horses. Bison don't simply move in, they re-engineer the ecology of their adopted homes. Before long, they became one of the principal grazers of the Great Plains and were well-established thousands of years before the first humans set foot on the North American continent. Story 3 - The Rocky Mountain Pledge I was listening to the Roadtreking podcast recently and host Mike Wendland did a story about the Yellowstone Pledge. The story really struck a chord with me. As a naturalist and guide, I've watched and reported on, the challenges inherent in increasing numbers of visitors heading to the Canadian Rockies every year. When I heard about the Yellowstone Challenge, I thought, why not adopt a great idea and see if we could help it to adapt to a wider geographic area. So here's my pitch! Yellowstone, like the mountain west, has become number one Americans bucket list of travel destinations. Surprisingly, the same site that introduced me to the Yellowstone Challenge has a picture of Moraine Lake on their home page today with the headline: "Why Canada needs to be on your 2017 RV Travel Bucket List". Like Yellowstone, we run the risk of becoming a victim of our own success. 2017 is Canada's 150th birthday and we are all proud as a nation, especially during some of the turbulent times that are taking place in other parts of the world. As a Canadian, I'm very proud to showcase the Rockies to visitors every year. However, like Yellowstone, we struggle to create an atmosphere that will encourage visitors to feel the same way we do about the importance of keeping the wild in wildlife, and of protecting the landscapes that will be the focus of so many selfies in the upcoming months. Yellowstone developed the Yellowstone Pledge. It is a series of promises that it's asking visitors to take to help make sure that their visit will combine amazing experiences with minimal impact. Let's jump right into it - here's my suggestion for the Rocky Mountain Pledge To be a steward and help protect myself and the park, I pledge to: Practice safe selfies by never approaching animals to take a picture. Park in designated areas and avoid blocking traffic. Make sure my actions do not add additional stress or danger to the wildlife I am lucky enough to view Stay with my car if I’m stuck in a wildlife jam. Follow speed limits and pull over to let cars pass. Travel safely in bear country by carrying bear spray, making noise, and hiking in groups. Keep my food away from animals. Recycle what I can and put my garbage in bear-proof containers. Report resource violations by calling 911 or talking to a member of the park staff. You can read more about the Yellowstone Pledge by visiting: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/yellowstonepledge.htm Like any pledge, it's critical that we ALL take the pledge and share it on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and our other social networks with the hashtag #RockyMountainPledge. Maybe we can help to create a movement that can translate to some of the many visitors that come to the mountains every summer. This year we will see record numbers of travelers that have never experienced a landscape like the one that surrounds us. Don't judge them by the looks of wonder that will be all over their face. Rather, we need to help educate them. Everyone in the mountains needs to be a part of the message this year. We need to spread the Rocky Mountain Pledge far and wide and help visitors to understand how these 9 simple pledges will help to ensure that their grandchildren's grandchildren will be able to share the same experience when Canada celebrates its 300th birthday. I for one will take the pledge…will you? Story 4 - Humans in the Corridors A recent study by Alberta Environment & Parks looked at current wildlife corridors in and around Canmore and they came up with some disturbing stats: humans represent 94% of the use of wildlife corridors. Researchers Melanie Percy and John Paczkowski collected 1.5 million images from wildlife cameras. These were broken down into 178,000 separate events and of those, wildlife accounted for barely 6%. Even more disturbingly, 56% of the total events included humans with dogs. Of those, 60% of the dogs were off-leash. Let me say that again…60% of the people with dogs in the designated wildlife corridors had those dogs off-leash. The town of Canmore works in conjunction with the province on wildlife corridors in and around the town and while they have developed some recommendations around wildlife corridors, clearly something has to be done. While wildlife are becoming more and more limited in their movements within the Bow Valley, these designated corridors need to be protected for their movement - and not for illegal off-leash dogs. For too long in the Canmore area, dog owners have rarely been charged for having their dogs off-leash. Perhaps utilizing wildlife cameras in known corridors can help file more charges against flagrant violations of laws relating to dogs on leashes. At the same time, we need to make sure these wildlife corridors are clearly marked so there can be no doubt when people begin to stray off designated trails and into wildlife corridors. Banff National Park has excellent signage where designated trails intersect with critical corridors. Great examples are along the Sulphur Mountain Road and around Johnson Lake. It is very difficult to 'accidentally' wander into closed areas and so it becomes much easier for Wardens to lay charges to violators. Banff also uses automated cameras for protecting sensitive sites like the restricted area around the middle hot spring along Sulphur Mountain Road. As developments like Silver tip, Three Sisters, and Smith Creek move forward, every corridor in this valley will become increasingly precious to animals trying to move through the area. The corridors in and around Canmore offer critical connections between Banff National Park to the west and Kananaskis Country to the east. Towns like Canmore become roadblocks to the movement of these animals. As humans, we tend to build towns at crossroads. At Canmore, we have the confluence of numerous valleys offering access to Spray Valley Provincial Park, Wind Valley, Cougar Creek, Slogan Pass and others. We need to make sure that connecting corridors remain viable so that animals can continue to move freely within the valley.
Story 1 - Castle Parks are Expanding Whenever we hear about new parks being established, it's great news - and this January, we got a double whammy as the Alberta Government finalized the boundaries of Castle Wildland and announced the creation of Castle Provincial Park on January 20, 2017. These two parks protect more than 1000 square kilometres or almost 400 square miles of the southern Alberta Rockies known as the crown of the continent. They provide a critical habitat that encompasses the spine of the Rockies which is one of the most diverse ecological areas in the entire Rocky Mountain chain. Bordered on the south by communities like Missoula and Great Falls Montana, it follows the Rocky Mountain Ridge northward to Alberta's Kananaskis Country. These newly established parks will help to provide more consistent protection along the Rocky Mountain Ridge and runs all the way from Waterton Lakes National Park to the Crowsnest Highway, or Highway 3, in southern Alberta. The Wildland Park will focus more on low-impact access and will contain the most critically sensitive landscapes in terms of headwater protection, wildlife movement corridors and critical plant and animal habitat. The provincial park will have more frontcountry development and includes former Provincial Recreation Areas like Lynx Creek, Castle Falls, Castle River Bridge, Syncline, and Beaver Mines provincial Recreation Areas. Story 2 - Whirling Disease Updates Just this week, aquatic specialists with Parks Canada announced plans to remove all the fish from Johnson Lake. Parks is planning to use nets and electrofishing this spring to begin the removal process. They'll pack it in for the summer months between Canada Day on July 1 and the end of the Labour Day weekend in September. The lake will be open for visitation this summer, but all watercraft will remain banned. This includes stand-up paddleboards as well. The spores are just too easily spread by watercraft and all too often the boats are not cleaned well enough to make sure they are spore free. In the fall they'll continue to collect fish and also lower the water level using pumps in order to make it easier to force the fish into a smaller area and facilitate their capture. It's also a better time to lower the water level as park biologists are worried about the local amphibian population and they're more prevalent in the lake during springtime. Story 3 - Shocking Bears As part of a recent study undertaken by Parks Canada in coordination with Canadian Pacific Railway, park officials are continuing to investigate the use of electrified mats or electromats along with electrified fencing in areas that have become hotspots for bear fatalities. The mats are still in the experimental phase and the heavy snowfalls that occur in the mountains still provide limitations to their effectiveness. A number of different solutions are being investigated and many different solutions may eventually be incorporated to reduce the number of bears fatally struck by trains passing through the mountain parks. Story 4 - Pine Beetle Updates The past 2 decades has seen our mountain media full of stories of the mountain pine beetle. This tiny beetle has decimated pine forests through the mountain west for the past 10-20 years. Pine beetles are barely the size of a grain of rice, yet they are the most damaging insect pest in North America. The odd thing is that they are not some introduced pest from Europe or Asia, but a natural part of the mountain forest ecosystem. Every species is a reflection of its habitat as reflected in the climate, landscape, and plant communities. The mountain pine beetle has always been a part of this larger ecosystem, but in the last 20 years, it has exploded in numbers and in many ways overwhelmed the forests that it has called home.
Story 1 - Park Passes are still necessary Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year you'll likely be aware that the federal government has decided to make entry into Canada's national parks completely free for 2017. Parks still needs to be able to track the number of visitors to national parks, so passes will still be necessary. If you're planning a trip to any of Canada's National Parks this year, you can pre-order the pass for free online by visiting http://bit.ly/2iUBQVD For the national parks, the 2017 summer reservations opened on January 11, so again, book as early as possible by visiting www.reservation.pc.gc.ca Outside of the national parks, there are also many other camping options. You can reserve sites in Alberta Provincial Parks by visiting www.reserve.albertaparks.ca The site opens for bookings on Feb 21, 2017 so if you'd like to reserve your site, be on the site on that day. One important note, they are planning on closing Three Sisters Campground, just on the outskirts of Banff National Park, at the community of Dead Man's Flats. This will take another 60 campsites out of the already limited availability for camping during the summer months. Reservations for British Columbia's Provincial Parks can be made at www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/reserve. The key this year is planning ahead. We expect the parks to break visitation records and I want to help you to have the kind of visit that you have in your mind's eye. The key is planning and visiting whatever destination you want to explore as early in the day as possible. Parking Lots at many of the Rockies most famous attractions, places like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, are usually full by 9am. Be there at 7am and you can have a truly magical experience…and besides, sites like these are really morning scenes. Don't forget, the sun comes up very early here so by 7 am the sun is already getting high in the sky. Plan ahead, get a good alarm clock, and I'll see you this summer. Story 2 - We're Number One Canada has been getting a lot of kudos lately. We're a fabulous place to live and an awesome place to visit - and the world seems to be getting the message. This week, the New York Times put out its list of 52 places to go in 2017 and topping the list was Canada. In the past, places like Toronto, Ontario were on the list but this year, they entire nation got the nod. According to the story, Canada's 150th birthday is a great reason to visit Canada. There will be celebrations planned from coast to coast to coast throughout the year and, as we've already mentioned, all the national parks are free. In addition to Canada's birthday, the city of Montreal, turns 375 this year, so they'll also be celebrating both events. Story 3 - Canmore Becomes a Hub of Water Research There's no arguing that water is the issue of the 21st century. With changing weather and climate patterns, we're seeing more moisture in the mountains of Alberta and B.C. but we're getting it in fewer, more extreme weather events. 2013 has become a stark reminder of just how vulnerable many areas are to catastrophic floods. It also moved the scientific community to increase the amount of research being focusing on issues directly and peripherally related to water. Canmore has become the centre point for much of the research now taking place and Dr. John Pomeroy of the University of Saskatchewan is the lead researcher. Pomeroy is the Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change, and Director of the University of Saskatchewan's Centre for Hydrology. Pomeroy will serve as Associate Director of the Global Water Futures: Solutions to Water Threats in an Era of Global Change Initiative (or GWF), based in Canmore. As part of a 900 million dollar federal funding initiative, the University of Saskatchewan was awarded $77.8 million to partner with the University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University, and McMaster University. By combining grants received by those partners, total funding adds up to $143 million. This makes it the largest university led water research program in the world. Story 4 - Climate Trends in 2016 NASA has released some updated statistics on climatic trends for 2016 and it seems that two particular climate change indicators are continuing to break records - global average temperature and Arctic sea ice extent. For the first 6 months of 2016, each month set a record as the warmest respective month since record keeping began around 1880. The first 6 months of 2016 were also the warmest collectively on record, averaging 1.3°C or 2.4°F warmer than in the late 1800s. Of the first 6 months of the year, 5 set a record for the lowest extent of Arctic sea ice since satellite records began in 1979. It is of particular importance that these two trends are working in unison. They are both reflections of the greenhouse effect with increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere holding more and more heat. Story 5 – Mountain Caribou Globally, things are not too rosy for caribou. Here in the Rockies, a 2009 avalanche along the slopes of Mount Hector killed the last 3 remaining caribou within the boundaries of Banff National Park. Jasper, bordering Banff to the north, still has caribou but they too are declining over time. Caribou in the southern mountain population are currently listed as threatened according to the Species at Risk Act, however the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada lists the southern mountain population as endangered. They comprise some 19 herds across the mountains of Alberta and British Columbia and, at present, fully 13 of those 19 herds are in decline - with many likely to disappear. In the mountain national parks, Parks Canada has identified 5 major threats to local populations. They include changes to predator prey interactions, human caused changes to the landscape that allow increased predator access to caribou, direct disturbances, loss of habitat and finally, stresses inherent to small populations. Like moose, caribou are a northern specialist and have roamed the north country since the ice age. Unfortunately, without some major changes, their future is likely to be uncertain. Over the past 3 decades, populations of caribou in the mountain national parks have dropped from 800 individuals to less than 250 today. One of the first steps in trying to build any kind of recovery program is to identify those areas that are most critical to caribou. By looking at areas that caribou currently and previously occupied, as well as looking at how caribou travel between areas of critical habitat, biologists can begin to get an idea of where to focus conservation efforts. In the mountain parks, there are currently only 5 local herds. Four of them are in Jasper National Park and the Columbia south herd, is in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Park. Of the 4 herds in Jasper, only the A La Peche herd is currently stable with about 100 animals. Recent aerial surveys showed the Tonquin herd had approximated 30-34, the Brazeau around 15 and the Maligne herd has dropped to just a few individuals.
Story 1 - Winter Ticks Have you ever gone on a spring hike and returned to your car only to find that you had unwittingly picked up an eight legged hitchhiker? Maybe you didn't notice and, a few days later found a growing eight-legged grape tucked away in your navel, or worse - and let's leave it at that for now. Well suck it up princess - how would you feel if you had some 140,000 of the little suckers with their thirsty mouths embedded into your hide slowly draining your vitality? As much as that may sound like something out of a bad horror film, it can be just another day in the life of a moose wandering the mountain landscape. Story 2 - Insect Cold Weather Strategies In episode 12, we introduced the idea of winter ecology. When it comes to surviving long northern winters, there are as many strategies as there are species…and the smaller you are, the more challenging these winters can be. Over millions of years, our smallest residents, the insects have had to create very specialized ways of keeping the species going every year. While winter brings, challenges, spring brings rebirth. Now if you’re an insect, you already have one thing working against you - you're cold blooded - so you can't stoke the furnace with a good meal like warm blooded mammals and birds. When it comes to insects and spiders, there are not just a few strategies, rather and entire continuum of ways that they try to game the system, all in the hopes of surviving the theoretically unsurvivable. Story 3 - Northward Migrations Insects and spiders are not the only things moving north. There are hundreds of plants, animals and birds that are also altering their seasonal patterns to, in some cases survive, and in other cases, take advantage of, changing climatic norms. Climate change is a carousel filled with winners and losers. Cold dependent species like polar bears, are finding that they're habitat is simply melting away with the winter pack ice. Other species, like grizzly bears, are exploring new and exciting habitats and in some cases, even interbreeding with grizzlies to create, depending on who you talk to, either pizzlies, or grolar bears. Unfortunately, northern migrations today, are very different than the might have been at the end of the ice age some 10,000 years ago. While these early migrations had to deal with nomadic bands of human hunters, todays species need to deal with fences, roads, overpasses, underpasses, pipelines, and habitat that has become fragmented and dissected by human occupation. Researchers looked at some 3,000 species of birds, mammals and amphibians to see how they might respond to warming climates. Like migrating birds, there are definite routes of northward migrations depending on many factors. For each animal, bird and amphibian, scientists needed to determine their optimal habitats and then project where those conditions would be most likely to occur in a warming climate. In the article, I refer to an interactive map. You can view the map and associated story at the following link: http://bit.ly/2eAdVIq.
What did I learn by interviewing dozens of entrepreneurs, authors, thinkers, and creators in 2016? Throughout these conversations, there were three common threads that stood out. Listen to some of my favorite clips from previous guests as we cover: Start Now - Some of us tend to overanalyze and procrastinate. It stops us from starting and finishing projects. The antidote? Start now, and start small. It helps create momentum, and alleviates the fear of failure, and the never-ending pursuit of perfection that stops us from doing our work. Trust Your Gut - Success happens at the intersection of opportunity, the skills to take advantage of that opportunity, and trusting your instincts. Trusting your gut is trusting the collection of all your subconscious experiences collected over a lifetime. We repress this internal guidance system, and second-guess ourselves leading to poor choices and regret. One At A Time - Most of us are impatient. We want to reach success faster, sometimes without the patience required to pay our dues and work through the required process. We want to have the overnight success story, without doing the hard part of facing failure and persevering through the “through of sorrow”. Success is built one connection at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time. I will be implementing these lessons in my work, starting now. And I hope you will find them helpful as well. Here are my projects for 2017: Speaker School - speaking training for entrepreneurs and professionals. We are starting with a live 2-day workshop in Calgary, Canada and then moving the curriculum online. You can check out the first website iteration at: http://speakerschool.co/ Analog Camp - 2 day wilderness retreat for entrepreneurs and professionals. No connection. No cell phones. No distractions. A hand-picked selection of 12 people will go through a program that includes meditation, yoga, TED-style workshops, and dedicated Deep Work time. We are running a beta version in Kananaskis, Canada in March. For details, check out: http://analogcamp.ca/ TEDx - I will be speaking at TEDxCanmore on January 20th. My talk will focus on distractions that prevent us from doing meaningful work, and how to break free. This ties everything together. I will document the entire TED talk preparation process on Speaker School, and the topic speaks to the core of Analog Camp. More details can be found here: http://tedxcanmore.com/tedx-canmore-speakers-2017/ ### Thanks for listening! If you liked the show, please share it with your networks or give us a review or a rating! You can always reach me at https://twitter.com/ebarbaric, or read my articles at http://ernestbarbaric.com
Story 1 - Buying Your First Pair of Snowshoes What should you look for when buying your first pair of snowshoes. First, you'll need to answer these fundamental questions: Where do you want to go? How steep will the terrain be? How deep with the snow be? Will it be powder or packed? Are you looking to walk or run? Answering these questions will make it easier for store clerks to match you with the right snowshoe for the types of outings that you are most often going to be undertaking. Like cross-country skis, there are snowshoes designed for a wide variety of terrains and activities so finding the right match is critical. In time, you may find that you want a pair for tracked conditions, another for deep powder and maybe even a third pair for steep ascents. For now, though focus on your main goals when buying your first pair. If this all sounds confusing, there is a pretty good way to test the waters without investing in the purchase of new equipment - you can choose to take a guided snowshoe program, or you can rent some snowshoes and try them out on your own. Most guided snowshoe tours will provide the snowshoes for the day so you can get an introduction into the sport while at the same time testing some snowshoes. Here at Ward Cameron Enterprises, we would love to take you out into Kananaskis Country or Banff and help you get a feel for this incredible sport. We have all the gear you need as long as you have good winter clothing and a sturdy pair of snow boots. Drop us a line a info@wardcameron.com if you'd like to learn more about our early season packages. Story 2 - The Crowds...they are a Comin' 2017 represents Canada's 150th birthday. In celebration, the federal government has decided to make entry into all Canadian national parks completely free of charge for the entire year. This is a bad decision that should be reversed immediately. Banff and Jasper National Parks are already operating way beyond capacity. Adding another several hundred thousand visitors into the mix is simply poor management of our parks. Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen slammed parks for making decisions that affect the town without offering any consultation or assistance to deal with the huge influx of vehicles that the town will need to accommodate next year. Story 3 - Super Duper Moon This month has a number of astronomical delights for those of us that like to watch the night sky. Topping the list is tomorrow's Super Duper Moon. A supermoon is defined as a full moon that takes place during those months where the moon is at its closest approach to the Earth. We've had several of the 'super' moons this year. Last month's full moon was a super moon and so will Decembers, but no moon in the past 68 years will be as large or as bright as the one on November 14, 2016. I know this is short notice, but if you listen to this be sure to check out the sky tomorrow for a spectacular show, weather permitting. The next time you'll be able to see a similarly dramatic supermoon will be November of 2034, so don't forget to mark your calendar. This week also marks the peak of the annual Leonid Meteor Shower so if you're up in the early hours of November 17 and have a clear view to the east and can wait for the moon to dip behind the horizon, you may have an opportunity to see between 10-20 meteors each hour.
Story 1 - Adapting to Winter There are many ways that animals and birds can adapt to deal with the cold temperatures of winter. In most cases, we can classify animals as winter avoiders, winter tolerators and winter lovers. Right now we're seeing migratory birds like the tundra swan gathering on our local ponds on their way to warmer climes in the south. Many of our local birds, like the American Robin, also take to the wing and head south. Other birds, like harlequin ducks and bald eagles may choose to head west instead of south. They'll winter on the west coast. Another strategy to avoid winter is to die. Some insects will die and leave it up to eggs or larvae to repopulate the landscape come spring. We even have a frog that freezes solid in the winter, yet thaws out with no negative results. Hibernation or dormancy is another strategy to avoid winter. Ground squirrels and bears will take to their dens to sleep away the winter months. Other animals, like the red squirrel will sleep through the coldest winter weather but will remain active for the majority of the snowy months. Some animals can't skip winter altogether, but they also don't have any real adaptations to help them thrive. These tolerators need to use behaviour adaptations to help them to make it through the winter to the next spring. Animals like mule deer have a very hard time walking in deep snow. With just a small accumulation these deer are forced into a bounding gait and the energy expended in movement can quickly outweigh the benefits of movement. By gathering in groups, they can take turns breaking trail and conserve energy. Other animals will take advantage of the fact that it never gets cold under the snow. That's why snow shelters like igloos are such a comfortable winter shelter. Mice and voles will thrive in tunnels beneath the snow oblivious of the blizzards that may be taking place above the surface. Other animals like the pine marten will spend some time above the snow but will take shelter in the natural snow caves created beneath the many downed logs in the mountains. This helps them to stay warm, but also gives them access to all the mice and voles that are also hanging out beneath the snow surface. Finally, there are the winter lovers. The moose is a great example. It is a remnant of the ice age and was designed specifically for winter landscapes. Their large hooves and prominent dew claws help them get traction and increases the surface area of their foot. However they are equally comfortable walking through very deep snows. They can easily lower their body temperature in the winter to reduce the amount of food energy they need to consume. Story 2 - The History of Snowshoes Snowshoes have been around for a long time - I mean a really long time. The oldest pair ever discovered was dated at 3,700 to 3,800 BC and found in the Italian Alps. It is also possible that snowshoes may have already been an ancient innovation at that time. As humans made their way to the new world, they may have brought their snowshoes with them. first nations across Canada developed a wide variety of wooden frame snowshoes held together by a rawhide mesh. They allowed our first nations to explore the winter wilderness without sinking through the soft snows. As European fur traders and explorers arrived on the scene, they adopted the snowshoes as soon as they saw how effective they were for exploring the winter landscape. They were as important an innovation as the canoe and the red river cart and were instrumental in much of the early exploration of the Canadian north. By the mid 1800s, snowshoeing was being used for fun as well as for work. Snowshoe clubs began to appear and before long snowshoe racing was all the rage. By the late 1800s though, downhill and cross-country skiing were introduced and snowshoeing lost its attractiveness for some time. In the 1980s snowshoeing began to undergo a renaissance as the designs began to evolve and people began looking to snowshoes with renewed interest. Tubular aluminum frames with nylon decking and crampons beneath brough new interest and snowshoeing began to grow again in popularity. Today it is the fastest growing winter sport. Next week, I'll look at how to choose your first pair of snowshoes.
Story 1 - Winter Weather Predictions I look at some of the predictions for this year's winter weather. We've had a few very mild winters now but the change towards La Niña conditions may shake that up with higher than average snowfalls. Story 2 - Leave Your Drones at Home Camera drones are becoming more and more popular in the mountains and this year saw a dramatic increase in illegal use of these devices in the mountain parks. Drones are illegal in both the national and Alberta's provincial parks and can result in hefty fines. Please leave your drone's at home Story 3 - Dr. Brian Luckman on the glacial history of the Athabasca Glacier Dr. Brian Luckman has been studying the Athabasca Glacier for the paast 50 years. He has pioneered new ways of studying the history of mountain glaciers using tree rings and even lichen growth. This is a portion of a presentation that he gave at the Jasper Museum in September and is reproduced with permission.
Story 1 - Life In a Rut Now that September has arrived, thoughts will be turning to romance in the local elk population. The antlers that have been covered in velvet since late-April are now beginning to peel as the blood supply is cut off to the velvet. Big bulls, properly called stags will begin to rub the antlers against trees to get rid of the itchy skin as the velvet dies. At the same time, they'll get more standoffish with other males and begin to collecting the cows, or hinds, into a harem. The strategy of the elk is not one guy, one girl, its one guy and all the girls! Story 2 - Famous Fall Hikes This story looks at some of the great places for fall colours in the Canadian Rockies - and in particular, the autumn golds of the alpine larch. We look at several trails and the important information for getting the most out of your autumn hiking experience. In particular, we talk about the following walks: Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass in Banff National Park Sunshine Meadows as well as Healy Pass, also in Banff Burstall Pass and Chester Lake in Alberta's Kananaskis Country. Story 3 - Jasper's Dark Sky Festival In many places in the world, the opportunity to see the milky way has been thwarted by urban light pollution. Jasper is one of the largest dark sky preserves on the planet. This year, between October 14 and 23, they'll be hosting the Jasper Dark Sky Festival. Of particular note are presentations by Bill Nye the Science Guy and George Takei of Star Trek fame. For more information visit www.jasperdarksky.travel. Story 4 - Canada's National Bird Believe it or not, Canada does NOT have a national bird. The Royal Canadian Geographic Society is looking to change this and we'll look into their efforts to find the most Canadian of birds.
Story 1 - The End of the Buffaloberry Seaon For the past 6 weeks or so, we have been talking about a bumper crop of buffaloberries. However, since they only last until the first frost of autumn, the berries have now disappeared and bears will be moving onto other fall foods. This means it is especially important to harvest and fruit trees you may have on your property as bears will be looking to replace the high calorie buffaloberries. This year has seen great crops of crab apples, nanking cherries, mountainash and even choke cherries and these can all attract bears that have been feeding near the townsite into the townsite. Let's try to keep our communities bear free. Story 2 - Whirling Disease Found in Johnson Lake This week officials confirmed the first case in Canada of whirling disease, in Johnson Lake in Banff National Park. This is devastating news on many levels. Johnson Lake is one of the few lakes in Banff that actually warms up in the summer to allow swimming and is always packed with people enjoying the water, whether swimming, paddling or picnicking. The lake is now closed until further notice until the extent of the infection within the larger Bow River watershed can be determined. Whirling disease affects the trout and whitefish in the area and can have devastating effects on fish populations. Story 3 - Quagga Mussels While whirling disease is here, likely to stay, quagga mussels is one of the potential invaders that has yet to find its way into Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. However, like whirling disease it is a one way introduction so both the Alberta government and Parks Canada are doing mandatory inspections of all watercraft visiting Alberta waterways. Let's keep Alberta quagga free! Story 4 - New Fossil Discoveries from the Burgess Shale Formations The Burgess Shales are one of the most important fossil beds on the planet. They represent perfect timing, around 550 million years ago, the time of the greatest explosion of life in the history of the planet. They also add unprecedented levels of preservation - even preserving animals that had no hard parts. This story looks way way way back into our ancestry.
Story 1 - Photographers Using Telemetry Gear to Track Wildlife This week we heard from Parks Canada staff that unscrupulous photographers may be using telemetry antennas to track wildlife to photograph. These antennas, generally the sole property of wardens, conservation officers and biologists have been showing up in the hands of photographers. They have now banned the possession of the equipment with a potential fine of $25,000 and a mandatory court appearance. Story 2 - Banff National Parks Canine Unit Honoured Dogs are also a key aspect of law enforcement in Banff National Park. This month, dog handler Mike Henderson and his dog Cazz were awarded the Parks Canada CEO Award for Exemplary Service. We often forget the important role of dogs in all kinds of criminal investigations and search and rescue. Mike and Cazz have been partnered for the past 5 years and have spent their time tracking lost and missing hikers, skiers, avalanche victims, poachers and criminals. Story 3 - Ice Free Corridor Migration Busted I love science, except when it suddenly changes years of accepted reality - and great stories. As a naturalist I am also a storyteller, but this story changes everything that we have long thought about the original migration of the ancestors of our first nations from Asia. Story 4 - Book Reviews We look at two books that are disproportionately timely at the moment, one looking at a previous Bow Valley Wolf Pack and the other looking at the floods of 2013 and how they forever changed the landscape. Story 5 - Reflections on Researchers This is a follow-up of our last program. In it, we played a presentation by 5 Columbian Ground Squirrel researchers. This clip offers some of their personal reflections on teir experiences in the Canadian Rockies.
Story 1 - Breaking News There have been several news stories since our last episode. The first one deals with an unexpected challenge related to bears and buffaloberries…Calgary outdoor shops have been having a hard time keeping bear spray in stock. You may have to look around a bit to find a canister if you don't already have one. Well, at least people are beginning to stock up on bear spray. In other news, there is a proposal for a gondola to the gondola in Banff Townsite. The road to the Sulphur Mountain Gondola has been getting busier and busier and routinely gets backed up for an hour or more during peak times. This 66 million dollar proposal would see a gondola built from the townsite to the Upper Hot Springs/Sulphur Mountain Gondola base with stops at Tunnel Mountain Trailhead, The Banff Centre, and the Fairmont Banff Springs along the way. It will be a tough sell to parks as it would need expansion beyond the townsite boundaries in order to build the large parking lots designed to catch vehicles at both entrances to town in order to funnel them to an expanded public transit system as well as to the townsite gondola stations. New funding is coming to Kananaskis Country and surrounding parks. The Alberta government has announced 25.6 million dollars will be spent improving and expanding camping facilities in the Kananaskis and nearby areas. The money will add more sites with power, additional trails and improvement to camping facilities. This is welcome news. Jasper National Park is also seeing two major developments. First, there will be a major development at the Mount Edith Cavell Day-Use Area. In 2012 and 2014, large blocks of ice broke off of the Ghost Glacier high above the tiny lake at the base of Angel Glacier. The first one sent a huge tsunami-like wave that caused major destruction to the day-use and parking areas. The 2014 incident was smaller but still caused significant damage. This fall's development will require the area to close Sept 19 so they can move (and enlarge) the parking lot out of the danger zone and improve the trail systems. South of Jasper townsite, the Valley of Five Lakes Trailhead parking area is also seeing a major upgrade. This will result in it closing as of Sept 6 for the season to allow workers access. Over the past few years, the popularity of this low elevation trail system has resulted in cars spilling out to the highway for miles as hikers jockey for a place to park. This will expand the parking lot as well as improving the washroom facilities and adding additional picnic tables to the site. Story 2 - Another Wolf Put Down by Parks A second female wolf from the Bow Valley Pack has had to be destroyed after getting into human food and garbage. This is yet another terrible hit for the beleaguered Bow Valley pack and leaves it with only 3 adult wolves and 2 remaining pups from an original 6 at the start of the season. This wolf pack has had a very difficult year. Hopefully the remaining wolves can stay clear of human food and continue to wander the landscape around the town of Banff. Story 3 - Ground Squirrel Research I was lucky to be able to take in a presentation by 5 biologists studying ground squirrels in Kananaskis Country. Led by lead researcher Danielle Rivet provided some really good information on general ecology as well as some of the impacts of climate change on two different populations of ground squirrels. Surprisingly, climate change does not simply mean less winter snow and an earlier rise for ground squirrels, especially in high elevations like Ptarmigan Cirque. In fact research has shown an increase in late season storms which may have a very different effect on the little guys. They were kind enough to let me record the program and so I've edited it down a bit for time but I hope you enjoy it. I certainly did. Many thanks to Danielle and the rest of her team: Sophie Tuppen, Jorden Gladden, Elena Plana and Elly Hedt.
Story 1 - Buffaloberry and Bears Update This has been another busy week for black and grizzly bears in the Rockies. With the bumper crop of buffaloberries this year, the number of close encounters has been growing steadily. This week. Kananaskis Country has issued a warning for the entirety of Kananaskis Country. In Canmore, mush of the area between the Peaks of Grassi and the town is closed to human use to give the bears room to feed. You'll want to check trail reports ahead of leaving your home at this time of year to check if there are any warnings or closures that may affect your plans. This is also a great time of year to think about leaving the valley bottoms and hiking into the high country. Trails like Ptarmigan Cirque and the Centennial Ridge Trails in Kanananaskis are great examples. Since buffaloberries grow at lower elevations, these higher trails leave the berries, and with them, most of the bears behind. Story 2 - Tips to Beat the Crowds on Busy Holiday Weekends We also look at some ways to beat the crowds this weekend. With record numbers of visitors this year, the secret is to head out earlier than everyone else - the earlier the better. I would recommend 7 am or earlier. This allows you to beat the crowds and have the kind of experience you truly want. With destinations like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake being routinely closed due to the crush of traffic, going early is the best way to make sure that you are in control of your experience. One of the community challenges related to buffaloberries is the challenge of fruit trees attracting bears into the community on years, like 2015, when the berry crop fails. Jasper is leading the charge in this respect with a program designed in partnership with Parks Canada that partners the owners of fruit trees with volunteer pickers who will harvest their crab apples or choke cherries and make the fruit available to people that may want to use it. This is definitely a program that Canmore and Banff could benefit from modeling. Story 3 - Wildlife Overpasses in Banff In our final story, we play some live tape from a recent coach tour where I talk about the wildlife over and underpasses in Banff National Park. These are an amazing success story and they are gradually being copied in other jurisdictions as well. When the program began in the 1990s, Parks began by building underpasses beneath the highway in conjunction with fencing to keep wildlife off of the roadways. At first it seemed like the large carnivores were reluctant to use the noisy bridge style crossings. As a result, when they designed phase 2, they added two large overpasses at a cost of 1.8 million dollars each. The good news is that they work. The even better news is that we've learned that good science takes time. We've now had more than 20 years to study the over and underpasses and we've learned that, in time, the large carnivores have adapted to the underpasses. They prefer the more open overpasses, but parks can build 3 or 4 underpasses for the cost of one overpass. To create a good balance, they put overpasses at critical crossing locations and underpasses at secondary crossings. From the day that the first underpasses were built, park wardens and biologists have been keeping track of every individual crossing. They know how many times every species of animal has used each of the over and underpasses and, as a result, have compiled an amazing amount of detailed information on the movements of large carnivores and hoofed animals. They are a great testament to Parks Canada's long-term commitment to our wildlife populations.
Well it's official. We're now on the iTunes Store. You can subscribe directly by searching for us on iTunes or simply by clicking the following link: http://apple.co/29V9UOh. Subscribing is the best way to make sure you have access to every episode as soon as it's uploaded. We also appreciate any reviews from happy listeners. Every review helps more people to discover this podcast so please give us a rating and help the message spread. Story 1 - Citizen Science If you regularly find your way high into the Alpine, why not help out scientific research taking place in the Rockies. The High Elevation Localized Species (or HELS) initiative is designed to keep real-time records of sightings of hoary marmots, mountain goats, pikas and white-tailed ptarmigan. Each of these animals are alpine specialists and so it can be difficult to collect ongoing date simply due to the remote and often widely separated locations that these animals call home. By crowdsourcing sightings from those of us that like to play in the mountains on a regular basis they can begin to gain a much clearer understanding of their range, behaviour, movement and population. Participating in the program is easy. Head to www.BowValleyNaturalists.org and follow the links to the HELS reporting area. You'll simply be asked to register followed by a simple reporting process. Important information includes the species, number of individuals, any details of the sighting and the location. If you don't have gps coordinates (as most of us won't), you can pinpoint your location on a digital topographic map. Story 2 - Bear 148's Wanderings Bear 64 was one of the greatest bears of the past several decades. She called the town of Banff home and helped scientists learn more about the use of wildlife over and underpasses as well as the bears use of important seasonal foods. She passed away in 2014 and now her female cub, bear 148 has taken over her territory with gusto. Recently she took to exploring her home and decided to take a bit of a walkabout. She travelled east along the Trans Canada Highway all the way to Canmore, and after passing the Legacy Trail on the highway (and causing a brief closure), she headed up to the Spray Valley and wandered all the way to the south end of Spray Lakes Reservoir. After turning north, she made a beeline back to the town of Banff covering the distance in just 20 hours. Now that it's buffaloberry season, she'll be looking for good patches to spend the next month or so until the first frost of autumn brings the berry season to an end. If you're travelling the trails in and around the Bow Valley be sure to make lots of noise. When bears are feeding on these berries they are completely focused on feeding and may not hear your approach. It's up to you to be vigilant for the both of you. Leave your ear buds at home and be sure to have bear spray on your belt and know how to use it. Over the past two days there have been two bear attacks, one near Cochrane and a second today near Canmore. The bears are on the trails and because the buffaloberries need sunlight to grow, they line our low elevation trails. If you haven't listened to episode 1, check it out as we talk in great depth about the importance of these important berries. Story 3 - We're Off to See The Icefields…By Bike! Jasper National Park has announced a 66 million dollar plan to build a paved bike path from the town of Jasper all the way to the Columbia Icefields. This trail would use portions of the original highway as well as paralleling the current road as it winds its way uphill toward the glaciers. The plan has received mixed reviews with cyclists applauding it and environmentalists warning of the loss of habitat as well as the potential for increased traffic along this important wildlife corridor. This is a difficult story since the environmental impact would be very high but at the same time the highway is becoming more and more dangerous for cyclists to take the risk. This is a story that we'll be watching unfold for some time and Parks has yet to reveal all of the details of the proposed trail. Story 4 - Book Report I love images taken from camera traps. You know the ones, where researchers have set up special cameras that are triggered by movement so that they catch wildlife unaware. They are critical for studying very wary animals and have been used in every corner of the globe. There are some awesome local videos produced by using these cameras as well. Glenn Naylor of Kananaskis Country did this amazing video in Kananaskis by monitoring a scent tree used by bears: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AihvuZiDhsg. Jasper National Park has also produced a series which you can watch here: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/jasper/ne/prissurlevif-caughtintheact.aspx. Now back to our book. Biologist Roland Kays of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has used camera traps for years in his work. Recently he realized that he was not the only biologist with a 'greatest hits' folder on his computer. He began to reach out to other biologists to see if they might be willing to share some of their best images as well. The result is a fabulous book called: Candid Creatures: How Camera Traps Reveal the Mysteries of Nature, looks at the history, the techniques and the humour related to using camera traps. The images reveal a world that is hidden to humans and in many cases reveal behaviours not previously observed. Why not pick up a copy at Amazon.ca. You can buy it from this link: http://amzn.to/2awoLi7. By purchasing the book from this link you are helping to support the show.
Have you ever saved a life?In an emergency, can you do what it takes to help someone? Could you rescue them from a life-or-death situation? Perhaps you might think I am being a bit dramatic, but it's a serious question. Are you prepared? In July 1983, the 15th World Scouting Jamboree was held at Kananaskis, Alberta, in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies. In December 1981, several members of our Venturer company were selected to attend the HikeMaster training camp in July 1982. If we passed the tests - physical and written, we would be part of a dedicated group that would be leading scouts from around the world on hikes and camps in the Rockies at the World Jamboree the next year. We were given plenty of warning so that we had time to prepare - and prepare we did.At 15 and 16, we were becoming reasonably experienced campers, and we all attended a St John's first aid course. We also had to do a weekend "solo" hiking pre-camp (no adult leaders), to help prepare us for being self-reliant and leading groups of scouts - including their adult leaders.Little did we know we would be testing our skills, teamwork and those First-Aid lessons in earnest in only a few short months - in a real life-or-death situation. Listen to the podcast or read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog.
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