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Writing-On-Stone
Provincial Park
Alberta
May 19, 2007
The May long weekend was largely a bust. We had plans to go backpacking in the Front Range, but we cancelled them because of bad weather. Instead we headed to Writing-On-Stone Park where the weather was considerably better.
We drove to the town of Milk River and set up camp before driving to Writing-On-Stone Park. We would have preferred to camp at the park but the campground was full.
At the park, an area is set aside for backcountry hiking. It looked interesting on the Internet, and I envisioned a long hike that would include exploring coulees. In reality it is a tiny area, only five kilometres long and a third as much wide. Nonetheless it was a fascinating area. With no goal in mind, we crossed Milk River and explored the badlands. Thankfully, except for two others whom we never saw, we had the area to ourselves. The river crossing undoubtedly kept the crowds away. We delighted in the 25° weather.
Fording the Milk River
Entering Davis Coulee
Looking north to the other side of Milk River
Don't know if this feature has a name or not
I did some scrambling on an interesting wall
Cliff swallow mud nests
Deepest section of the coulee
Same as above
A couple ford the Milk River
Sweetgrass Hills to the south
Flowers and cactus
Rabbit
Plenty of interesting rock formations to explore
Dinah checks out a window
I checked out another window
Dinah appears to have climbed a hoodoo, when in fact she merely walked to
the other side of the coulee (mouse over).
Hawks