Crescent Falls and a New Nephew

Crescent Falls

It's May Long Weekend!  It's the unofficial start of summer, and it was a good one, weather wise and fun wise. It's been known to snow on May Long so this one has been the nicest I can remember in recent years.

Proof of cuteness

We started the weekend by visiting my 6 day old nephew in Calgary. I have to say, he might just be one of the cutest newborns I have ever seen (besides my own of course!). I'm pretty sure I'd think so even if he wasn't related. I am fairly certain no one else in the history of babies has felt this way.

I am so excited to finally be an auntie and my son, who is 7, is excited to be a cousin. He really liked the idea of this new baby but quickly realized that babies don't do much. He says he will teach the baby to be cool. I asked how he would do this and he said that he just needs to be himself. What a kid!

Ended the day with a BBQ with most of the other Calgary family. Only about 50% of the conversation revolved around the new baby. I thought it would be more but since he was not actually in attendance I think it skewed the results.

We had talked over a couple possible things to do on Sunday but didn't really decide until we had packed up the truck and headed toward the highway....east or west....we chose west towards the mountains and the Nordegg area. I had been wanting to go back there since my trip earlier in the year. I had to see Crescent Falls for real this time. We went in the winter but didn't go far enough and only saw the canyon and didn't know I had to drive farther. Oops. This was my re-do.

Inukshuk

Long way down

To get down to the falls from the trail, it's a short but steep climb. A rope has been installed which makes it so much easier. It looked a bit daunting but it wasn't bad at all and it was TOTALLY WORTH IT.  It was just such a marvelous spot, with the mist lightly whirling around a picturesque inukshuk at the base of the falls (photo op!). I could've spent the afternoon sitting on the rocks soaking up the sun, but we has places to be! More on that later! (Spoiler alert...it's Nordegg and the Brazeau Collieries).

2 dudes and an inukshuk

The one selfie where I look acceptable, the boy has to have a goofy face lol

Today is yard work and working on getting wood ready for photos, I need to restock a store in town and for a few farmers markets coming up this summer. Hopefully there is good weather wherever you are.

Nordegg, Abraham Lake and almost Crescent Falls

Abraham Lake

ROAD TRIPPIN

I live in Central Alberta, and it's not too far to some amazing natural wilderness playgrounds. I packed up the car. Camera, snacks, extra clothes, kid. I told my son (7 y/o) that he should be playing with his imagination but that didn't go over well so I also packed the iPad. When I went on road trips as a kid...we had mad libs and word games like name a place beginning with the last letter of the previously named place. I would say Alberta..then someone would say Arkansas...etc etc. Also spot the weird license plates was a good one. I also had siblings to fight with. I wish I'd had an iPad.

First stop, Nordegg. Once leaving Rocky Mountain House there is next to nothing until Nordegg. Not even cell service in certain stretches of the tree lined highway. It's beautiful and peaceful. Nordegg was a coal mining town that came to be when Martin Nordegg discovered coal in 1911 and soon started the Brazeau Collieries. The Canadian National Railway arrived in 1914. The town boomed to 3000 souls and had many amenities including a hospital, fire hall, pool hall, hotel, bank and a Trading Company. Tragedy struck the mine on October 31, 1941 when a massive explosion killed 29 miners. Declining use of coal finally did the town in and the mine closed for good in 1955. Most of the town is gone but a few buildings remain. Almost all of the processing plant buildings of the Brazeau Collieries are still standing and the area was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2002. The mine site is open in the summer month for tours. I will definitely be going back!

Main Street Nordegg - Trading Co and Bank buildings

Canadian Bank of Commerce
Provincial Archives 

Next stop, Abraham Lake.  This lake was created in 1972 with the building of the Bighorn Dam. If you google pictures you'll be amazed at the photos of the frozen methane bubbles. I was not able to get good photos of the bubbles this time around, but had a nice walk....despite the very windy conditions. Here is a link to the famous bubbles: https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/intriguing-photos-alberta-lakes-famous-bubbles

Last stop on 'The Road Less Travelled' is Crescent Falls. I had never been down this road and stopped at a small parking area and look out.  I assumed this was the falls but no water was flowing and could not see anything but cliffs. I found out later I had to keep going up the road to see the frozen falls. Another day I guess! This area is great for camping and hiking and general outdoorsiness and I am excited to come back in the summer!

HAYDEN SMASH!

Nordegg

Nordegg Church 

Abraham Lake

Crescent Falls minus the falls

Bighorn Sheep