Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Grand Cache, Alberta – 20 September 2024
A sudden shift in the weather and reported snow in Banff. Luckily the longer term forecast did not include snow, but still a little worrisome as we have several mountain passes to go through with the trailer. We are going to have to purchase snow chains for both the truck and the trailer in Alberta as there are mandatory rules for having them when travelling through British Columbia after 1 October.
Coming into Grand Cache we passed the CST Coal mine. The McIntyre Porcupine Mines started the mine in 1969 and it is still a major industry in this area. Grande Cache is located 430 km northwest of Edmonton, on a mountain plateau. It started as a town to support the coal mining industry but since then has grown to include a wood chip plant and a federal prison. In recent years, wilderness tourism is an increasing industry.
The Grand Cache municipal campsite had only a few RVs in it. It was very much like many of the State parks we had been in – full of trees and nice sized camping sites. It was rainy so after a walk around the park we settled in for dinner and TV.
The following day after a hearty protein breakfast we drove to the Visitor’s center to get information about hikes in the area. We then drove a short distance to Sulphur Gates which is part of the Willmore Wilderness Park, a 4,600-square-kilometre wilderness area adjacent to the Jasper National Park. The short trail took us up to a number of view points from 75 metre high cliffs overlooking the confluence of the Smoky and Sulphur Rivers which were a spectacular turquoise blue colour. It was extremely windy and I could hardly stand upright within the barrier.
From there we walked about 3.5 km to Eaton Falls where we stopped for a break. Mostly flat but a few very stony up hills. A very popular place for horse riding and we saw a number of horses stationed at the beginning of the trail. The water at Eaton Falls fell from various spots in the sheer cliff face to a small creek below but not much flow this time of the year.
Once we returned to our car we took a drive into Grand Cache to see the Labyrinth Park. This is a labyrinth laid out with rocks and stones, intended as a walking, meditation park. You get a 360 degree mountain view as you walk.
We also passed a small park that had a 6ft statue of a Bighorn sheep. There was also a black painted steel sculpture of a sole figure raising a large steel I-Beam, mounted on a broad stone platform bearing two plaques containing the names of the miners who lost their lives working in the mines.
