Bearproof loos and Big Rock

After finishing up at Longview the last two stops on our daytrip was Sheep River and Big Rock.

Big Rock is the site of a Big Rock. I love the obvious namings of things in Canada. I am only sorry I might not get to the village of Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump this year. If you click on the photo of the Big Rock sign you will get the explanation for why it is there. I just like the fact that the biggest brewery in Alberta is named after it.

I think Sheep River must be named for the long-horned sheep (that look like goats) that live in the Banff area but we didn't see that day. We stopped at the Ranger's station near the main highway and the National Park. No one was there. I had heard stories about a woman cross-country skiing just outside the fenceline for Banff town who was savaged and killed by a cougar. I did not believe in the power of bearspray (which I didn't have) and off-key singing in the forest (which I was too proud to do).

Laura assured me that if we walked by the river near the highway we should be fine as the animals don't like the noisier areas but if we were lucky we'd see a moose. Then she proceeded to tell me stories about when she lived in Alaska and getting up close to bears there. Not comforting.

Sheep river was a beautiful walk. Parts of the river were still iced over and after a short snowball fight and me having a few treehugging "I love Canada" moments we headed back. I decided to use the outdoor loo near the Ranger's station only to find that it had a latch on the outside. To keep animals out. I can't imagine what a scare you'd get if you opened the door and found something large inside. Of course, as expected when I had just settled in, I heard the latch outside click home.

Laura.

The wait wasn't long that time until she freed me. She went one better at Drumhellier town, Alberta but you'll have to wait for that one.