Enjoying a little muskeg R&R
Katie Ryan, the Source’s own intrepid reporter of the past two years did just that. Having just finished a short handed shift, Katie headed up to Ministikwan Lake to enjoy a little R&R as this past weekend was my daughter’s annual quadding /water sports/birthday weekend. Katie and my daughter Natasha became best of friends during high school and subsequently Katie would make many trips up to Ministikwan Lake from High River/Okotoks long before she came to know the Lloydminster area as a Source Reporter. The Saturday quadding adventure started around 11 a.m. with seven of us heading into the Bronson Forest, with all the rain we have been experiencing the trail was virtually dust free. Our trail took us west along Ministikwan Lake then south following the ridge around Little Bear Lake, where fisherman were catching perch. Then along the sandy shore of Worthington Lake, as we drove a decent whitetail buck jumped displaying his summer coat nice and sleek, almost red in the midday sun, and his 10 points of antlers having good growth while still covered in velvet. We then made our way through the bush over to Galletly Lake where we toured the lake’s edge ending up at the narrows between Galletly and Peck lakes. This we called the mid-way point. A fire was struck and wiener sticks were manufactured from green poplar saplings so they don’t burn off as you roast your hot dog or smoky. There’s nothing worse than having your last wiener fall into the fire and having to eat a little ash with your dog. With the fi re out we moved on heading over the wagon trail towards Bronson Lake. On the way, a side trip into some muskeg would keep the boys entertained for awhile. Further up the trail we popped out into the meadow at Bronson Lake where we watched several wild horses gallop across the full width of the meadow; quite a site knowing they were wild and free. Up to this point the ride had been pleasant. The forest was as lush as ever, the 30 C weather and sunshine were a welcome relief, but suddenly the boys would see open water and the fun begins - very similar to small boys wading into a mud puddle with rubber boots then ever so intensively watching the water flow over the top filling the boot. There were no water holes or mud holes left undisturbed. If they were not slashing each other going through, then we were pulling each other after the crossing effort would come to an end. On one occasion my quad stalled out in deep water allowing the water to travel backwards into the cylinder. At a point like this you have no choice but to jump off the saddle and enter the waist deep stagnant, slough water, pulling the winch cable along to get a pull out. That held us up for while getting everything dried out and re-started, that’s all part of the program. I was not the only one stuck. Katie and Natasha managed to land in several sink holes and once when it looked like there was land to jump onto, Katie leapt for the safety of dry land, but when the muskeg gave way and she landed sideways in the water getting fully drenched. Finally getting past all the muskeg we did some bush whacking on an unused trail bringing our convoy onto the pipeline where we headed back east then north coming out on the sandy isolated beach at the far end of Ministikwan Lake, where everyone dove in clothes and all. After the refresher the last leg of our trip following the shoreline home was fairly uneventful and after 92 kilometres and 8.5 hours we arrived back at the house. |
