FEATURE | Recreation Lifestyle

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T H U R S da y, J u LY 9, 2 0 1 5

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Take a Drive this Summer into

S a s k at c h e w a n

black period costumes, ns by tio rt Walsh features Trades Day at Fo actments as well as demonstra powder and re-enin use during the period. trades that were jerg Photo Darla Lindb

Grasslands National Park West Block.

Parks Canada, Hogarth Photography

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Grasslands National Park West Block.

Parks Canada, Hogarth Photograhy 2011

by

Joanne McGowan

ABOUT THIS CONTENT: These stories were produced by the Edmonton Journal’s advertising department for commercial purposes. The Edmonton Journal’s editorial departments had no involvement in the creation of this content.

you heard the one about being able H ave to watch your dog run away for three

days in Saskatchewan? Well it seems the premise of that joke is wildly inaccurate.

“As the highest point east of the Rockies, and sharing the same elevation as the townsite of Banff, the Cypress Hills offer a mountain-like feel,” says Gail Kesslar, Executive Director of the Cypress Hills Destination Area.

And with road-trip season upon us again, Albertans are encouraged to cross the border within the interprovincial park into Saskatchewan, where, as Kesslar says, “attractions run the gamut of free natural wonders that include hiking and mountainbike trails, beaches and lakes, and iconic scenic viewpoints that include Lookout Point and the Conglomerate Cliffs.”

Plus, with Grasslands National Park mere hours away from the Cypress Hills, it’s an ideal drive for Albertans searching for natural beauty in serene surroundings, all for, as Kesslar points out, “a fraction of the cost and crowds typically seen in other resort-styled areas.”

As an added bonus, both parks are designated as Dark Sky Preserves in Saskatchewan, with Grasslands often being described as one of the quietest and best night-sky gazing places on earth – making it an ideal destination for those seeking peace and solitude.

Melody Nagel-Hisey, Park Area Naturalist at Cypress Hills, offers some advice for Albertans making the trek this summer: Plan for warm days and cooler nights.

If visiting the developed area of Cypress Hills take Highway 21 through Maple Creek and continue south for 30 kilometres to the Centre Block, which is the small green block of park land on the map.

The Centre Block is the resort portion of the park with plenty to see and do, including ziplining through the province’s only Lodgepole pine forest. There is an entry fee into this area, and all amenities and services, including gas, groceries, and restaurants, can be found here.

If traveling to the West Block Wilderness Area of the Cypress Hills, then go through Maple Creek. On the south edge of town, take Highway 271 southwest for 45 kilometres. Fort Walsh National Historic Site is located in the West Block, and you will also pass by the Cypress Hills Vineyard & Winery on this route.

Gas up and stock the cooler in Maple Creek before going to the West Block Wilderness Area, as there are no amenities, only rustic camping, equestrian camping (with your own horses/ processed feed only), and a ranger station.

If lengthening your stay by visiting Grasslands National Park as well, NagelHisey describes the diverse scenery between the two areas. “When leaving the forested slopes of the Cypress Hills, the landscape changes to grasslands, then farm land, and then back to grasslands with rolling hills, wildlife, and long meandering roads that lead you into the Dark Sky Preserve of Grasslands.”

Both Nagel-Hisey and Kesslar offer these tips for an enjoyable road trip from the Cypress Hills to Grasslands National Park: With so much to see on the scenic route of Highway 13 – known as The Redcoat Trail because it follows the path taken by the Northwest Mounted Police when marching west – the trip to Grasslands from the Cypress Hills can take close to three hours. Sights include the badlands of the Frenchman River Valley, the T. Rex Discovery Centre, some plains bison near Tompkins (via Highway 1), and a ghost town at what was once Scotsguard.

For a more direct route, the journey can be made by travelling back to Maple Creek and jumping onto the TransCanada Highway, from which the journey is two hours – one to Swift Current, and then another hour south on Highway 4 to the town of Val Marie, which borders Grasslands.

Either way you decide to travel, be sure to keep your gas tank full, as gas stations can be long distances apart.

Both parks are always abuzz with

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”— David Bowie

activities, so Kesslar and Nagel-Hisey have offered a sampling of what to see and do this summer in southern Saskatchewan: Regardless of when and where you travel in Saskatchewan, Nagel-Hisey is certain it won’t be your last visit, as Albertans tend to be repeat visitors to these park areas.

“Albertans want to return to do the things they didn’t have time for and to experience again those things that made memories.”

Best of all, she says, “we have no bears to fear, no pesky mosquitos after spring, and lots of wilderness and wildlife to explore.”

Sounds like the makings of a perfect summer road trip.

Summer Calendar July 11 Fort Walsh National Historic Site Rotgut Run (5 Kilometres Fun Run) July 15-17 Maple Creek Cowtown Pro-Rodeo July 17 Maple Creek Heritage Festival July 18 activities at Cypress Hills Park, July 21 Rcmp Musical Ride at the Fort Walsh National Historic Site July 24-26 Sleep Under the Stars Party at Grasslands National Park

July 25 Dronefest at Gull Lake July 31-Aug. 2 Frenchman River Gospel Jamboree (with Diamond Rio & High Valley) August 1 Trades Day at the Fort Walsh National Historic Site

August 2 Hillbilly Hustle in the Cypress

Hills Centre Block (Relay Race - Canoeing, Running, Biking, and Swimming Events)

Aug. 13-16 Summer Star Party at the Cypress Hills Observatory

Aug.14-16 Badlands Blast in Grasslands National Park

August 15 6th Annual Taste of Maple Creek September 6 Vacation Treasure Hunt in the Cypress Hills

Background photo: View from Bald Butte.

Photo Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

To advertise in the August 6 Recreation Lifestyle feature, contact Linda Tirs at ltirs@edmontonjournal.com or 780-429-5150 Editor: Ashu Sahajpal • asahajpal@edmontonjournal.com Designer: Kelle Cloutier, CGD

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10 Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy When on Vacation

by

Rachel Humenny

by

Shelley Boettcher

1. Fill any prescriptions your pet may have before you go away, and ensure vaccinations are up to date. Rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvo-parainfluenza — your dog needs regular vaccinations to prevent serious illnesses. “These viruses are incredibly contagious and often deadly,” says Dr. Petra Warnock, a veterinarian at the Edmonton Veterinary Emergency Clinic. “They’re also time-consuming and expensive to treat.”

Alberta’s Paddle Scene Heats Up

2. Your dog or cat tries to make friends with a porcupine. Now it has a snout full of quills. “Do not take them out yourself,” says Warnock. “Get to your vet as fast as possible. If you pull the quill and it breaks, the broken segment may migrate and we may not be able to get them out.” There’s the pain, too. “Some dogs are amazing and will sit through it, but it’s not overly kind,” she says. “If you bring them to a vet, we can provide pain medication.”

Previously an ocean sport, stand-up paddling has a new life on lakes, pools, and rivers in Alberta. tand-up paddling isn’t exactly a new sport, but it is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide and is picking up popularity in Alberta, according to Warren Currie, owner of The Easy Rider sports store.

Stand-up paddling, or “SUPing”, involves standing on a board, bigger and sturdier than a regular surfboard, and paddling around on top of a body of water for leisure or exercise – legally wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device, of course. Beyond this, Currie recommends that SUPers should use a leash to attach themselves to their boards in case of an upset.

There are already distance-, speed-, and surf-related SUP competitions around the world. But, the biggest surprise is its growth in land-locked Alberta.

Currie attributes the pick-up in SUPers to the sport being able to be done easily anywhere there is a body of water, including Alberta’s many lakes, rivers, and, even, pools.

“I’ve paddled on a puddle on the side of the road in the springtime – just because it was something fun to do,” says Currie.

“I think it’s really quite an easy sport to start because there is very little gear involved,” says Mike Darbyshire, a 28-year-old SUP instructor at Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre in North Vancouver, B.C. and an avid paddler for the past six years.

“It’s important that you start on the right gear, the right size, and ideally the right location,” he says. “A lot of people will start in Hawaii and they will often try in the middle of the afternoon when it’s quite windy or wavy and they will often be on a board that is too

T H U R S da y, J uly 9, 2 0 1 5

3. Your dog decided to tangle with a skunk. “If your dog seems totally fine but just smells awful, there are all kinds of concoctions you can use for the smell,” she says. But if you see your dog digging at its eyes or face, get it to a vet quickly. “If (skunk spray) gets in the dog’s eyes, it will damage the cornea,” she says.

small. What that means is that they end up falling in a lot more or find it more challenging than it actually can be.”

Instead, Darbyshire teaches his lessons in the morning when the water is calmer and the area less busy with boats, kayaks, swimmers, paddlers, and other water enthusiasts.

“People don’t usually realize what you can do,” says Darbyshire. “They don’t realize you can surf, you can race, you can do yoga, and you can float down the river.”

He also travels with his love of the sport, including heading to Edmonton’s Annual Easy Rider Standup Paddling Cup, where the surf competition is held in West Edmonton Mall’s World Waterpark and the distance section in the North Saskatchewan River.

“It’s pretty awesome in January to go put your board shorts on and paddle around and surf in a warm pool when it’s minus whatever outside,” says Darbyshire.

“Even in the middle of summer in Tofino, you still need a wetsuit. So it was pretty nice to get out and surf and paddle in Canada without a wetsuit comfortably.”

In order to continue to grow Edmonton’s SUPing crowd, The Easy Rider offers stand-up paddling and surfing lessons throughout the year at the Waterpark and he brings over 30 different boards and paddles for beginners to try wout. With boards averaging around $2,000 and paddles another $350, being able to test them out before purchase is one of the perks of these sessions, says Currie. To learn more or to register for one of these lessons, visit: theeasyrider.com.

4. Guard your pet against ticks, fleas, worms and even mosquitoes.

Fleas and ticks can spread illnesses to people, and mosquitoes can infect dogs with heartworm, notes Warnock. She recommends talking to your vet for reliable products, as over-the-counter ones aren’t always strong enough to protect your pet, and products you buy online may not be safe to use.

5. Every year, a few pet-owners kill their animals by leaving them in overheated cars. “Never leave your dog when you step out of the car, even if you’re just setting up the tent,” Warnock says. “Heatstroke can happen quickly and temperatures in a car can go up very fast.”

6. Ensure they always have access to clean drinking water, and watch what they’re eating around the campsite. “Some of those plants can be toxic,” Warnock says.

7. Watch your dog’s off-leash time carefully. “We see a lot getting clipped by a car or motorbike in the summer,” Warnock says. A leash also protects your animal when camping. “It prevents your animals from being attacked by a cougar or a bear. Or if it sees a rabbit and runs off, you won’t be losing your dog in the middle of the forest.”

8. Keep your dog away from the campfire, says Warnock. Every summer, she treats dogs that get too close to the flames.

9. Let them rest. “Make sure they’re comfortable,” Warnock says.

“If you’re hiking but you’re always throwing the ball for him, he’s doing six times the distance you are — at a sprint pace.”

10. Last but not least, don’t forget identification. If you and your pet get separated, it won’t find its way home. “We have so many ways to identify animals now — a collar with a tag, of course, and a microchip.”

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