July 2005

Sacred Summer Hot Spot

It’s mid-summer now and the only thing on my mind is Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park. Truly, I blame this on my parents. As children growing up, my brothers and I lived the lives of royalty living in glorious wind sculpted sand castles. We battled evil wizards down winding pathways and through forbidden forests. The sandstone hoodoos seemed to provide no end of creative stimulation. Today, children still play in those same castles.

Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, however, is more than having fun in gigantic sand formations and playing on a beach filled with incredible and delicate soft white sand. It is not just about cruising down a rapid, shallow river in a dingy or tire tube. And checking out all the different species of wildlife and plants natural to the area is only a bonus. – Best be careful not to step on a Plains Spadefoot Toad tadpole when wading through the water’s edge and try not to panic when you see the rare Western Small-footed Bat. More likely you’ll need to be wary of porcupine crossings and scaring away the resting Nighthawks. – Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park is about history, the history of the land we now call home.

Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park was created in 1957 and in 1977 became host to an archaeological preserve, which works aimed to protect and pausing the degradation of more than 50 rock art sites that were originally created by the Plains Aboriginal Peoples. In 1981, a portion of the park was designated as a Provincial Historic Resource. The original North-West Mounted Police Post that was situated down from the base of the Sweetgrass Hills in Montana, to help bring about law and order to Canada, is no longer there. However, a reproduction has been built on the original site and when touring the post with an interpreter, you will be sure to see the large rock where men of the NWMP Post had etched their names. Hmm, history or original graffiti?

There is camping, but pre-bookings are only available to group sites. Swimming is at your own risk, as, with all the flooding, colliform levels may be high. Scheduled interpretative tours will be ongoing throughout the summer and will be a highlight for any nature or history buff. Free tickets for these tours can be picked up one hour prior to each tour at the Naturalists’ office. Enjoy hikes, evening programming and other events that will be posted throughout the park. Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park is located 19 miles east and 4 miles south of Milk River, Alberta, Canada. For information on the park phone (403) 647-2364 or 1-877-877-3515 or check out the Alberta Centennial web site at www.cd.gov.ab.ca/enjoying_alberta/parks/planning/gateway/siteinformation.asp?id=177

Please e-mail BeKean@telusplanet.net