Jeremy C
Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2014
- Messages
- 106
I have been delaying putting this recap up for too long, so here goes my first trip report, not exactly a backpacking trip but it'll have to do.
At 4am one June morning I had the Mazdadon packed up and I set off towards Grasslands National park in southern Saskatchewan. This was my first trip into Saskatchewan so wasn't sure what to expect but was looking forward to a few days in the middle of no where hiking and shooting photos. It had been raining quite a bit the week leading up to my trip but the forecast claimed warm weather and clear skies...
Lies!
9 hours of that and coffee I arrived in Val Marie and checked in to the Ranger station to see what the park was like. Turns out they said i should be alright to get in and would have the entire park to myself. However, "be careful if it rains any more. You probably won't make it out in that case. Probably your best bet would be to camp in town here and hike in or try 70 Mile Butte road..."
70 Mile Butte road, aint gonna help me.
Obviously i ignored this and the warning and drove right on in through the sketchy roads to get into the park. The western block of the park has a single "scenic drive" through the middle, and as I had never been there had planned on staying in the one car campground for the first trip.
The campground ... or parking lot in the middle of nowhere
but things look good.
Turns out the river had swollen and washed out the only road in and out.
Hiking around, the area is spectacular! Only me and the coyotes and frogs.
Well the storm came back and it rained all night. No sleep for me. But i was rewarded with this at sunrise.
Roads were almost impassable, but the Mazdadon got me through, albeit with some scary moments.
I am truly bitten by this place so have planned a follow up trip this year. Will be backpacking in to get away from the "campground" on the west edge of the park as well as explore the east block which is roughly two hours further away from this side.
Featured image for home page:
At 4am one June morning I had the Mazdadon packed up and I set off towards Grasslands National park in southern Saskatchewan. This was my first trip into Saskatchewan so wasn't sure what to expect but was looking forward to a few days in the middle of no where hiking and shooting photos. It had been raining quite a bit the week leading up to my trip but the forecast claimed warm weather and clear skies...
Lies!9 hours of that and coffee I arrived in Val Marie and checked in to the Ranger station to see what the park was like. Turns out they said i should be alright to get in and would have the entire park to myself. However, "be careful if it rains any more. You probably won't make it out in that case. Probably your best bet would be to camp in town here and hike in or try 70 Mile Butte road..."
70 Mile Butte road, aint gonna help me.
Obviously i ignored this and the warning and drove right on in through the sketchy roads to get into the park. The western block of the park has a single "scenic drive" through the middle, and as I had never been there had planned on staying in the one car campground for the first trip.
The campground ... or parking lot in the middle of nowhere
but things look good.Turns out the river had swollen and washed out the only road in and out.
Hiking around, the area is spectacular! Only me and the coyotes and frogs.
Well the storm came back and it rained all night. No sleep for me
. But i was rewarded with this at sunrise.Roads were almost impassable, but the Mazdadon got me through, albeit with some scary moments.
I am truly bitten by this place so have planned a follow up trip this year. Will be backpacking in to get away from the "campground" on the west edge of the park as well as explore the east block which is roughly two hours further away from this side.
Featured image for home page:
