In my attempt to find a new route out of Whitemud Ravine today, I got lost in Aspen Gardens. Not a big deal, except that it was hot and humid, and I was afraid Maggie would stroke out before we found our way through the cul-de-sac lousy neighbourhood. Turns out, Maggie has a better sense of direction than me. After about 20 minutes of sun drenched dead-ends, when I wanted to go left, she veered right and refused to go with me. Dog is smart. Eventually things started to look familiar, and we ended up at Westbrook School. Second mistake of the day, we took a short-cut through the field. As of the last few days, the mosquitoes are back with a vengeance. They swarmed our blood-infused flesh, and there was nothing  to do but run. Once again, the dog showed good manners and did not laugh at my lack of grace. Not even a snicker. Later on, she rubbed her snout in the dew-moistened grass to stop the itch from what must have been at least a few bites.

The ravine was cool(ish) and still very wet. There’s been no reprieve from the rain. We get at least a little something every day, and some days it’s a deluge. Very unusual, but I suppose not unwelcome. I’d rather have too much rain than not enough.

1:00PM (two hours in the woods…and gardens), 24C

Whitemud Ravine Bridge…washed out

A packed trail today. Why? Because an extremely well-used entrance into Whitemud Ravine has been closed ‘until further notice.’ The erosion of the bank below the powerline in the last two weeks finally resulted in a safety issue…and by safety issue I mean the bridge is half into the creek. There’s a big chunk missing, and the southern side of the bank (next to the storm drain) has collapsed. It will be a big job to fix this, and I hope it’s a priority for the city. Unless I use a car, the only other entrance into Whitemud is through the Westbrook neighbourhood, and once I’m in, I have to loop over to Aspen Gardens to get out, or come up by the ski hill. It’s an annoyance for me, but for Maggie, this diversion is a pretty long walk for a middle-aged doggie.

Nevertheless, she was up for a big walk today. We in fact did get a ride to the trail head in Westbrook, which saved us about 10 (boring) blocks on white-hot cement. Once we were in the woods, the temperature dropped immediately. It was lovely and cool. With 100mm+ of rain over the last few weeks, the creek is so high and fast, the sound of the rushing water is very audible all the way up on the trail. And the people~holy sweat socks. Tons of walkers, runners, and dogs. Everyone from the ‘hood is taking this path now. Maggie didn’t get to spend much time off-leash, but she did find some choice pools of bog water just to the side of the trail to cool her hairy body, the creek being too high for her usual dips near the bridges.

It’s frustrating not to know what the city has planned for Whitemud. Will it be fixed soon? Can they fix it? Does anyone care? It’s already been shored up once, apparently. Flat earth walks are boring. Give me hills. And creeks. And nearby entrances. And maybe…a long stretch of sunny days.

Last day of holidays, by the way. Sad face.

25C/11:30AM

The hoodoos of Whitemud

Everywhere we went. Started out on the path below the ski hill, north Whitemud Creek, I guess. Very beautiful. Denser, and more undulating than south Whitemud. Reminds me a bit of Mill Creek. We were on our way to the trail that winds around Fort Edmonton Park so that we could pick saskatoons.

The Talus ball thing

However, a lost cell phone took us briefly back home, where the cell phone lay nestled amongst the morning newspapers on the kitchen table, and not drowning in a puddle somewhere along the path, as we’d feared. So, back to the trail, but this time we drove over to the staircase that leads to path under the Quesnell Bridge. First time I’ve been up close and personal with the Talus Dome, the $60,000 collection of silver balls just to the side of the freeway. I have no problem with the balls, just the location. It’s tough to see from the road. I can imagine it on Rice Howard Way, or in another more pedestrian area of the city, and I think it would be kinda cool, but here it looks like a truck spilled it’s load.

Blinky of the North Saskatchewan

The trail by Fort Edmonton runs along the river. We chatted with a nice fisherman, who came up empty-handed fish-wise, but was carrying a fair amount of gear. He told us about all the different types of fish in the river. “Oh, you wouldn’t want to eat them, of course. Or at least not often. Lots of mercury. They look good, though.” I said, “No three-eyed fish then?” He laughed. “Nope. No Blinky’s.” Heh.

The Saskatoon bushes (trees?) were all over, but many still had green berries. However, we did find ripe berries in the higher branches. Sharon and I took turns pulling down branches so that we could pick the fruit, as we were not in possession of Coppernickel’s tool for picking high-hanging elderberries.

Maggie is a champion berry-picker. She cleans the lower branches as if she was born to it, although rather rudely, she did not add to our bag, keeping all of them to herself. After about half an hour, we had a bag full of berries, and our fingers were running purple with juice. They are very tasty. Like blueberries, only purple…

Another great, very humid walk.

12:30PM/23C

Mill Creek flooding the ravine

Intense weather is fantastic. After last week’s hail/rain storm, and yesterday’s deluge, I had to get myself down to Mill Creek to have a look, and I was not disappointed. In fact, I was gobsmacked. The section of the ravine after 82nd Ave but before 76th was almost entirely immersed in water. From the upper path, I could see, and especially hear a niagara-like waterfall created by the overflowing banks of the mighty Mill Creek. I’ve seen it flood many times, especially in spring, but this is the first time I’ve witnessed the waterfall effect.

Mill Creek Runneth Over not

Must be some sort of gully or drainage ditch down in the field for this very purpose, because the water wasn’t pooling ahead of the waterfall, just behind it. Not having walked through this field before, I’m not even sure it’s accessible on foot, so it’s hard to say if there are any man-made structures that would account for this rather impressive sight. Once I got to the end of the upper path, I was a little surprised to find that the ravine was still open for business, but the bridges were fine, as were the paths. Just a little wet. Encountered a lot of fellow looky-loo’s doing the same thing I was doing: enjoying the carnage. The dogs, too. Nothing like a little white-water paddling, doggy-style.

Flood plants

The rest of Mill Creek was cool and wet. Perhaps not quite so sodden, but like the entire ravine, christly humid. It’s nice to know that this otherwise modest creek can turn into a ferocious river after one soggy week, and a particularly wet Sunday. Very often in summer it is nothing more than a dirty trickle in the dirt.

2:30PM/24C (180% humidity)

I should’ve written this yesterday, but my sizzling, burnt skin was too much of a distraction. The dog had a minor procedure done at the vet on Friday, and wasn’t quite up to a walk on Saturday, so I took the opportunity to head off in the middle of a hot day, something I wouldn’t normally do with a fur-covered creature. I’ve never walked in Whitemud Creek without Maggie, so it was exceptionally weird to have a continuous, fast stride, unbroken by calls from nature, or the ever present need to read the latest peemail and/or bother unsuspecting bugs. Nevertheless, I kept spotting choice sticks to throw, and carried on with my usual dog-human banter. Mostly in my head. It’s tough to go dogless.

1:30 PM/26C (Saturday’s temp. Today it’s pouring rain)

Rock meet water

Hellacious storm last night. Got up at 3:30 to watch the hail pummel my sister’s garden. I’ve never seen that much rain, at least not in recent memory. Some areas of the city got 100mm, and I’m pretty sure that area was southeast Edmonton. Even my poor pepper plant looks like it was deadheaded within an inch of its life. And, I’m sad to report, I lost a baby pepper.

Ah well, I have to admit I love intense weather, even if I have to sacrifice a beloved vegetable to get it. Beth and I took the dog for a walk this morning, and the power line field was completely saturated. Maggie had a great time in the mini-lakes. My feet were soaked within two minutes. Most spectacularly, the bank on the south end of Whitemud Creek has caved in near the water intake thing. Two giant holes, and then it’s just gone, sheared way by the volume of water. As  a result, the creek was running very fast. Too fast. Had to keep the dog on the leash. Took a few photos, but the eroded bank was in dark contrast to the bright sun. I’ll try later. This afternoon, it is incredibly humid. And hot. Like every other day this week.

2:34PM/26C

The forest less travelled

Holy humidity. Maggie and I left this morning at 8:45, to beat the heat. Nevertheless…it was humid, and warm. It also rained on us, but it was refreshing rather than wetting, especially as I was already wet. Supposed to be stinkin’ hot this week, so all my walks will be before noon. Everything will be before noon. Good thing I’m off this week…and next.

An unremarkable walk, other than an unfriendly poodle with giant balls. Must be a show dog. If not, there’s just no excuse for that.

10:39AM/25C (will be 32C)

The grey, caterpillared Ash trees in the river valley

Absolutely gorgeous day. Spent the morning at work (not so gorgeous), followed by a walk down Saskatchewan Drive into Mill Creek Ravine. Almost too hot, but a nice breeze kept me from swooning (but not sweating.) The trees north of 98th Ave have been devastated by the LEAF ROLLER CATERPILLARS. An entire canopy of leaves sucked dry of colour and life. It’s so weird because these trees (mostly ash) are surrounded by trees (mostly poplars) that are completely unaffected by the worms. The be-wormed trees look dead, although they do come back to life by August. On ONE branch alone I counted 24 worms hanging from the leaves in tangled strings of varying lengths. Very ugly. Saw a guy trying to console his son near Henrietta Muir Park after what I can only imagine was a nasty encounter with the caterpillars. Bikers have it the worst. I only walk in this corridor between the Muttart and Louise McKinney because the affected trees are easy to avoid…if you know where they are. Other parts of the river valley, particularly Rossdale, are out of bounds until mid-July. I know a lot of people loved the dry, mild winter that we had, but all I could think about…other than the black ice everywhere, was the leaf-roller caterpillar eggs NOT dying in the balmy temperatures. I’d take a couple of weeks of -30 weather to have a spring and summer without the green menace.

But…the other side of the bridge, in Louise McKinney, the view was bucolic. Green and lush and so, so, summery. Popped up to downtown for a Very Berry Booster Juice and a ride home on the train.

Today, Canada Day, it’s raining, but the sky is lightening up. Maybe a walk in the afternoon.

Addendum: 45 minute jaunt in Whitemud Creek with the dog. Humid, but sunny. Hmmm. We got Juned on the first day of July.

11:03AM/15C (now) 26C (yesterday)