Adventures for Wilderness, Waiparous Creek Ice Walk – Mar. 4, 2023
March 4, 2023
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Text: Heinz Unger
Photos: Lindsey Wallis
The weather was good, and the turnout of hikers was good but the snow was deep – so much so that one participant wondered why this was advertised as “an ice walk”. It was a bit of a slog through the newly fallen deep snow but we could often hear the water flowing under our feet and also occasionally see open water sections of the creek or areas that had recently frozen over again. We were very fortunate that Wendell Koning, a retired Alberta Environment senior staff, was on the hike; he had lots of information to share about water quality and also how fish survive the winter under the frozen rivers.
As we made our way through sunny and shady sections of the deeply cut creek, we tried to read the various wildlife tracks that crossed our path (there wasn’t always full agreement). Quite tired already we reached the point where we left the creek and entered the forest for the return trip. Hiking up a steep slope we admired a forest spring that keeps flowing throughout the deep winter temperatures. After a brisk hike along the top escarpment of Waiparous Creek some of the group headed back home while others enjoyed hot cider and refreshments at the Ungers’ home in Benchlands overlooking the Ghost River.
Overlooking Waiparous River
Memorial bench
Animal tracks
Spring
