Spring flowers blooming at last, and that’s no fooling, today’s April 1 date notwithstanding. For the first time this year, we were privileged to find not only blooming crocuses, but also some low cinquefoils and some beautiful yellow “flowers” which the Calgary Natural Areas Guide says are really not flowers at all. I quote: "Almost as soon a the snow disappears fungii can be seen fruiting. One of the first is often mistaken for a spring flower. In early April the shoots of Rock Cress (Arabis) emerge on prairie soils and the leaves at the top of the plant turn bright yellow, resembling a flower. The source of the colour is not a flower, however, but an infection by a rust disease-causing organism, Puccinia monoica, which gives the winter-weary landscape a delicate touch of colour". Thanks to Del for this research. Unfortunately, my attempts to photograph these flowers were out of focus thus not fit to print.

Big Hill Springs

Our destination for the first “true” spring trip, being defined by the blooms we found, was Big Hill Springs. The springs are quite impressive for a prairie coulee. There is a nice hiking trail around the little provincial park, but unfortunately not a speck of interpretive resources such as signboards to tell visitors about the unusual scenery and geology. This trail was quite treacherously icy so we had to pick our way carefully. One wise hiker had instep cleats, something we all need to consider for winter and spring hikes.

"watercress"

For instance, we would love to know more about the very unusual green vegetation growing in the springs, which provided some cheery greenery backdropped by north slope snow.

Big Hill Creek valley trail

We next hiked down the broad Big Hill Creek valley, coming around the corner to head west into a strong wind. The valley was bare but quite wet and muddy. Later in the day the surf was up on the otherwise calm water of the creek. It was a sunny 12-degree day and we went up a side drainage to find a sheltered spot with great view for lunch. We returned along the prairie level and found another protected spot for our afternoon basking-in-the-sun tea break.

Big Hill Creek valley

The Big Hill Creek valley is obviously one of the many glacial outlets in southern Alberta, where, at the time of the melt down of the continental ice sheet, great rivers carved deep valleys through the plains. When the ice was gone the rivers dried up, leaving puny creeks like this occupying their expansive valleys. From our viewpoint we could see heavy clouds and precipitation west of the edge of the mountains, emphasizing the difference in climate which allows us to hike year round in the lower foothills and high plains. Back in the 1960s this route was a road, which was later closed and revegetated.

Big Hill Creek meanders

We got a great view of the tight and photogenic meanders of the creek. At one point a beaver dam on a meander was cause for ice to still cover that short section of the creek. Geese, butterflies and ladybugs were out and about.

We were back at the cars at 2:20. Participants: June, Joyce, Joanne, Margret, Del and Carl, coordinator and scribe.