DRY ISLAND BUFFALO JUMP

Judging by the number of cars lining up at our tabletop parkade, it will be a busy day of hiking down in the canyon.

View from our parking lot.

Time to linger before heading down the one kilometre road indented with little canyons of its own.

This gentleman is explaining what the current provincial government has planned for Alberta's provincial parks - and none of it is good for Albertans who cherish doing what we as hikers are doing today.

TWELVE HAPPY HIKERS

On our way down.

There is good reason for this road being closed off to vehicle traffic.

The 724 kilometre long Red Deer River begins its journey in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The river goes through a number of course changes while travelling across Alberta eventually merging with the South Saskatchewan River 16 kilometres into Saskatchewan.

DRUMHELLER BOUND.

Heading back from our lunch spot. But our adventure has not come to an end yet.

This was a fun time negotiating our way down a dry and tangled drainage ditch which empties into the Red Deer River.

We all made it out in one piece although some did collect a few minor punctures and scratches along the way.

Paddling towards Trochu and surrounded by flying insects.

There are a number of shallow, slow-moving waters along this part of the river making it ripe for fly-fishing.

It is not so obvious how steep this kilometre long road is until it's time to go back up.
Keith is leading the way around the bend dressed in his fluorescent pink shirt.

WANDERING SOULS

QUOTE: "Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. They are characterized by steep slopes, minimal vegetation, lack of a substantial regolith, and high drainage density." END OF QUOTE