By Outreach Assistant Randy Paquette. Part 1 of this blog can be found here.
Dear May-2021 Randy,
Not so very long ago, you wrote a blog based on some of your first impressions of Southern Alberta coming into a summer job with the Oldman Watershed Council. Even though you have conducted some research and prepared yourself as best as you could before moving, nothing will have prepared you for what the summer has in store for you. Over the next few months, you will have the pleasure of traveling throughout the watershed and seeing new and exciting things that you never had the chance to see before. It’ll be truly spectacular!
Weather and Climate
Spending the summer in southern Alberta during a historic heat wave is something you won’t have anticipated. Record temperatures will be recorded in various areas of the province. On June 29, Environment Canada reports a new record high of 36.4 degrees Celsius in Lethbridge, breaking the old record of 34.0 degrees set in 1984.
Other areas of the Oldman watershed will also break records on the same day:
Waterton Park area: 33.4 degrees (30.7 set in 2008)
Taber area: 36.3 degrees (33.7 set in 2008)
Pincher Creek area: 33.6 degrees (32.2 set in 1896)
Claresholm area: 35.7 degrees (33.5 set in 2008)
Cardston area: 35.0 degrees (34.4 set in 1937)
The heat will be something to get used to. While working in the backcountry, one thing that you’ll come to enjoy after a hot day in the sun is dipping your toes into the water to cool yourself down. After a few long historic-heat days in July, with the sun beating down while you’re pounding willow stakes into the ground, it will feel refreshing. Not only will it become something to look forward to all day, it will give all four of you the chance to relax and take in the beautiful scenery around yourselves.
Randy cooling off at Waldron Falls after a long few days of willow staking during a summer filled with historic heatwaves. Photo by Sydney Taplin.
The Outreach Assistants taking breaks after long days of conducting surveys in the backcountry to go swimming and cool themselves off. Photos by Randy Paquette
The wind won’t be as big of a deal as you feared it would be. Chinooks are less common in the summertime but are more frequent during the winter and spring. Although there will be some windy days, there won’t be anything that takes you by surprise. That extra windbreaker, the one you bought as an extra in case something happens to your other one, will sit mostly in your closet all summer - you will only use it a couple of times.
Landscape
Throughout the summer, you will be amazed by the topography of the landscape in the Oldman watershed. Every time you head west from Lethbridge onto the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3), it will blow you away. You will never tire of the drive, even though by now you have been back and forth on that highway countless times, taking in all of the scenery. It will remain something that you look forward to every week. The diversity of the landscapes that you researched when you were moving to Southern Alberta will come to life as you venture out onto the highway.
Many of the breathtaking views over the summer. Photos by Randy Paquette
As mentioned in your First Impressions blog, you researched a lot of the areas that you would be coming across throughout the summer. You will visit all of those areas and then some! You’ll soon realize that you can take as many pictures as you want, but the pictures never turn out the way you want - they fail to perfectly capture the scenery in its splendidness. There is something about being in the moment and taking in the views firsthand that makes it so special and memorable.
In the headwaters, where you will spend the majority of your time, there are so many unique geological features that will stand out to you. Waterfalls in particular are one of your favourite landscape features, and you will be pleasantly surprised by how many you come across. The sound of water gushing over the side of rocks is something so relaxing.
Oldman River Falls (above) and Castle Falls (below).
Wildlife
You won’t be disappointed with the amount of wildlife that you encounter over the summer. To be fair, you are expecting to come across some wildlife while in the backcountry. Yes, you will indeed spot some endemic species of Southern Alberta that you researched, like pronghorn! Coming home from native seed planting at Naapi’s Garden, you’ll be taken by surprise: two pronghorn munching away in the corn field off the highway. Keep your eyes peeled, because a few hours later when you are on your way back, they’ll still be grazing in the same location.
Although you’ve vowed to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, you will not encounter a single one all summer. You will, however, see a bull snake and a few garter snakes. You’ll realize that maybe there weren’t as many rattlesnakes in Southern Alberta as you thought. Their populations are declining after all.
While you won’t see a rattlesnake, you will see plenty of other forms of wildlife, including a western toad, which is a near-threatened species in our watershed. Watch out for birds of prey, frequently seen perched on fence posts on the side of the highway, awaiting their next meal. While willow staking in early July, you’ll come across a family of spotted sandpipers. Brandon, your fellow Outreach Assistant, will rescue one that got lost and return it back to its mother. Be sure to keep an eye out for mountain bluebirds perched on nest boxes along the road!
To wrap up, you are going to have a fantastic summer exploring this diverse landscape. Expect to learn about a lot of neat places, and explore the backroads to find hidden gems that the Oldman watershed had to offer. All of the research that you conducted before moving to Southern Alberta was helpful, but experiencing it firsthand will prove nothing short of amazing.
Yours truly,
September-2021 Randy
