We made our badlands rendezvous at the beautiful Tolman Bridge provincial campground, after two of us scouted new routes in the Rumsey Ecological Preserve. (We found a great circle route to return a different way than we went in last year) In the evening we strolled around the badlands, enjoying “Goose Hill,” topped by a Canada Goose standing sentinel, and a nice waterfall in a side canyon beside the old road route.

The Red Deer River canyon

It was a glorious 25 on Saturday in the canyon of the Red Deer River. Like Camelot, it rained several times during the night but was another glorious summery day in the morning (and there were no mosquitos). We awoke to the singing of the birds and pleasantly mild morning, refreshed by the best sleep in ages.

On a grassy knoll above the river

The Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park had been closed for three weeks by bad weather (the steep road is impassable in wet conditions) and had just opened. There had been no foot traffic and the informal trails were pretty much overgrown, so even more than normal, it was a case of wandering and exploring.

Side hill gouging in the badlands

We found some old footpaths clinging precariously to the side of bentonite hillsides. This time we basically did in reverse what I tried to do last year, but made a new frontal assault on the “dry island,” which is a prairie-level plateau surrounded by badlands erosion. We could not figure where the infamous “lost canyon” of last year’s trip was. This is the best thing about this area—you can walk there many times and never be able to find the same route again because the terrain is so amazingly complex and convoluted.

Cactus garden

Seeing the cactus in bud, we realized that we never see them in bloom because we tend to never go there in the summer.

Badlands patterns on a ridge

Our route down the badlands ridge off the “dry island” was familiar, except we didn’t remember being stranded on a grassy bench and having to descend a steep slope to get off.

June on a badlands peak

The countryside was lush green and the summer weather was like heaven after the long winter and late spring.

Perfect view of the jet stream overhead

We looked up and saw the telltale wisps of the jet stream directly overhead, foretelling another bout of lousy weather coming up. Back to the cars by 2:15, we enjoyed some ice cream and brownies and a rest, before finally tearing ourselves away from the wonderful warmth to head back to Calgary where it was cold and rainy.

Thanks to June and Del for a wonderful weekend. Carl, coordinator and scribe.