Beyond the Gate

Mon. 13 May:  Sheep Valley Road/Missinglink

This beautiful Alberta valley had one more day of solitude before the winter gate was due to be flung open on May 15th.  Then the hordes of campers will flood westwards up to Bluerock campsite for the long weekend, and another frenzied season will have been launched.

Today, however, this quiet valley was mine to enjoy.  Being a Monday morning, I was alone as I biked west along the road beyond the gate.  The valley was not completely empty.  Two trucks passed by, their occupants probably on campsite preparation business; a lone individual stood in the wide meadows studying the bighorn sheep; and much later, on my return back down the valley, a middle aged couple passed me on their bikes.  Not exactly a crowd.

It was a bright, sunny day, but over the mountains lay a spectacular line of dark clouds, threatening to race eastwards across the prairie.  Higher up the hillsides I encountered strong westerly winds.  But this is the magic of Alberta.  The clouds were fastened to the line of mountains, and there they stayed until later in the morning, when a few small clouds struggled free.  It was a perfect day to be outdoors in the foothills.  Later in the day, the clouds would build up over the city, but for now they formed an impressive line along the western horizon.

I biked westwards along the wide, paved road, as far as the Bighorn parking area.  This was a perfect setting for lots more scenery photos, to add to the large collection of pictures nobody will ever see!  Since the previous week, spring had arrived in a rush.  The grass was quickly turning green, and leaves were coming out all at once, creating a colorful spectacle of light green against the blue of the sky.

Just past Bighorn, I pulled my bike into the woods beside the road, and set out on a short hike up the grassy hillsides to a spectacular viewpoint on the high ridges above the valley.   The steep, open slopes drew me upwards, with views which improved with every step.  I passed through deciduous woodland, up onto the higher slopes leading to the flat ridge top.  There had not been many wild flowers on the lower slopes, but here on the ridge, the crocuses carpeted the ground.  Here I found an ideal rock to sit on.  The westerly wind was strong, and I enjoyed the birds-eye view of the Sheep Valley and the mountains and foothills.  The fire lookout high up on Junction Hill, far across the valley, was clearly visible.

On my way back down the hillside I came close to some white tailed deer which, because of the wind, had not detected my presence until I was close enough for some good photos.  Back down by the road, I collected my bike and returned eastwards along the valley, stopping to enjoy the various views along the way, and speeding down the long hills.  The Sheep River was running swiftly through its canyon.  The racing brown waters would have made a river crossing either dangerous or impossible for a lone hiker.

Back at the winter gate, a young man was settling his small child into his bike seat for a trip up the road.  An elderly couple was returning to their car from a short walk.  It was a peaceful Monday, and the last time this corner of the world will be so quiet until the winter gate swings closed in December – but who’s thinking about winter, now that spring has at last arrived.

Statistics:

Total Distance:    3.0 km (hike) + 16.0 km (bike)    = 19.0 km

Height Gain:          770 ft.

Max. Elev.:         5,690 ft.

Time on Trail:      3 hrs. 30 mins.

Start bike:            7.57 am

Start hike:            9.04 am

Top:                    9.47 am

Ret. to bike:        10.29 am

Ret. to car:          11.27 am

Temp:                +5 to +17 deg.C

Weather:           Warm, sunny, strong W. wind on hillsides, cloud over mountains