Were all packed and ready for the road early this morning. Breakfast is to be on the way. So van and passengers loaded a we were off for short journey to the further suburbs of Calgary to a Breakfast Restaurant called Cora's. We all order breakfast. Oh my it's enormous!
 |
| John's fruit feast |
 |
| A Cowboy style breakfast with pancakes |
Breakfast over and back in the Van we head out of Calgary onto the highway Over to the West I can see the faint blue outline of the mountains. Apart from a Tim Horton's comfort and coffee break we continue until we see a sign for Buffalo Junction. We carry on on this lesser road until we come to a site called 'Smashed Head Buffalo Jump' Interpretive center.
As we arrive at the entrance to the Center the First Nations people are about to give a welcome show. This includes a prayer in their Native language and dances.
Buffalo Jumps can be found in different places in America and Canada. About 1000years ago before the horse and the gun the Native Blackfoot people at this site would gather when the buffalo herds were grazing here, to hunt them. A channel of rock cairns were prepared to lead the buffalo towards the cliff. A young brave was dresses in a young buffalo skin had to run ahead of the herd to act as a lost distressed young calf. The older buffalo would come to the aid of the distressed calf who would run as fast as he could leading them to the cliff edge. Other braves were dressed in Wolves skins to spook the herd from the back to stampede. Other braves in bear skins hid behind the cairns and as the herd passed jumped up to further spook the herd to stampede. The young brave needed to jump out of the way quickly as the herd plunged to their death over the cliff.
 |
| Buffalo Jump cliff. |
The name 'Smashed Head' had nothing to go with the Buffalo, but came about because a Brave wanted to see how the buffalo fell. So he hid underneath the cliff. At the end of the Jump. the other warriors found him dead with his head smashed in.
 |
| an interpretative of the jump inside the center |
 |
| It was really windy up of that ridge! |
 |
| Nancy outside a teepee |
The Burmis Tree is a limber pine located in south western Alberta along the Crowsnest Highway and east of municipality of Crowsnest Pass The tree died in the late 1970s after losing its needles. Its age was estimated to be between 600 and 750 years old. In 1998, it was toppled by wind, however members of local community refused to leave it lying. Efforts were made to fix the tree back up using rods and brackets. In 2004, vandals cut one of the tree's main branches. Locals again came to the rescue with a gallon or two of glue and a prop pole. The community rallied to have the new Highway 3 built around the tree rather than destroy the heritage symbol it has become. It is purported to be one of the most photographed trees in the world.
--from wikipedia-
Crowsnest Pass is a valley running through the Canadian Rockies from Alberta to British Columbia. The next stop was at Franks Slide. On the 29th of April 1903 a whole 83 million ton of Turtle mountain fell on to the town of Frank burying alive 76 people in the town and devastating the town.. High up on the mountain side opposite Turtle mountain is an Interpretive center and viewing platforms. It's a bleak sight and proves what a unstable planet we live on.
 |
| The rocks spread across a huge distance. |
In the Crowsnest Pass there are several small town communities. One is Blairemore where we stop at cafe called Stones Throws Cafe for a light lunch. John's Dad, Ralph, Grand Parents and Great Grand Parents grew up here. The next town along the Pass is the town of Coleman where John's Mum, Annie, grew up. At 16 she was the communities Rodeo Queen and went on to represent her community at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo.
Further into the Pass we cross the Boarder from Alberta through as 5 kilometer nomans land to British Columbia.
Another Tim Hortons tea and comfort break we carry on to the east Kootnay Valley and on to Cranbrook to the Elizabeth Lake lodge were we stopped for the night.
No comments:
Post a Comment