Alberta may not be very old as a province, but it already has its share of ghost towns and ghost stories. There are a number of towns that were home to families and businesses and, for one reason or another, didn’t make it. Fast Forward Weekly’s Summer Road Trip Guide featured a number of them.
For instance, Bankhead, a former railway stop in Banff National Park, was considered a modern town of 300 people with a prosperous mine in the early 1900s. Now there is only an interpretive trail which points out where the coal-mining buildings were – the Tipple, the Lamphouse, etc. The last standing structure is the Transformer Building. Follow the trail and feel the ghosts of former miners and townspeople around you.
Another place worth visiting is Rowley, a train town that died away when the railway station closed. According to the Summer Road Trip Guide, Rowley has six remaining residents and three grain elevators still standing. There are also a number of restored buildings to visit in this community located about 30 minutes north of Drumheller.
There are other intriguing ghost towns, such as Retlaw (Walter spelled backwards) and Whiskey Gap (host to the Days of Heaven, a 1978 film starring Richard Gere).
The library has some great books on Alberta ghost towns, such as:
Check out the books to read the fascinating stories behind some of these towns and then go on a road trip to visit the actual locations.
What a great way to spend a beautiful autumn afternoon!
I love libraries and my husband loves trains. When we travel, I can guarantee that we will return home with equal pictures of both. In fact, on a trip to England a few years ago, the train pictures far outnumbered the library pictures because York was also home to the National Railway Museum. Because we all have a fondness for the romance of the rails in our family, we often celebrate his birthday with train related activities, such as a recent three generation trip aboard Canadian Pacific Railway’s Empress 2816 Steam Train from Calgary to Winnipeg. Last summer’s family highlight was Canadian Pacific’s “Spiral Tunnels Centennial Special” with the Royal Canadian Pacific 4106.
It’s no surprise then, when we found out the Empress was venturing out again this summer to do a “125 Last Spike Community Rail Tour” , we’d be there somehow. The Empress had a busy weekend, travelling as far as Revelstoke for their Railway Days with stops along the way to open its Museum car. CP sold one way tickets which sold out very quickly for different portions of the trip, with all funds going to the Children’s Wish Foundation. We were fortunate to get tickets for the Lake Louise to Calgary portion of its return trip. For those of you interested in finding out about their tours, the best way to keep up to date is through the Empress’ Facebook page .
Enthused travellers of all ages boarded with us in Lake Louise in the two passenger cars reserved for us. Surprise guests included an IMAX crew documenting the train for the upcoming film “The Age of Steam”. As a result, the train did a couple of passes in front of the station so they could record it in action in all its glory, whistle and steam both going full blast. The baggage car was open for people to hang out the windows and enjoy the full experience. Passengers waved at the multitude of “foamers”, a term I have learned means the North American version of trainspotters along the way, particularly at such classic train watching locations as Morant’s Curve, off Highway 1A near Lake Louise. For a history fan like myself, it was exciting to think of those who travelled along this same route for over 100 years experiencing that wonderful sound of the whistle and viewing portions of the Rockies and foothills that few get to see now. We detrained in Calgary at the beautiful Canadian Pacific Plus Fifteen by the Palliser, had a quick look at some of their historical displays and beetled off to Inglewood to get a last close up picture of the train returning to its home.
If you, too, can’t get enough of trains, check out Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions which offers steam and diesel train rides from Stettler complete with a community buffet and perhaps a train robbery. To experience the Rockies in style, the Rocky Mountaineer is the way to go.
Before departing, bone up on your Western rail history by checking out Spiral Tunnels & the Big 
Hill: A Canadian Railway Adventure by Graeme Pole or Canadian Pacific in the Rockies from the library. History train buffs will want to explore our Community Heritage and Family History collection on the 4th floor of the Central Library for such gems as the 1906 Canadian Pacific Railway Annotated Timetable with Information as to the Transcontinental Routes (Pam File 385.220971 CAN – ask staff at 403-260-2785), or view the beautiful historical train postcards in our Community Heritage and Digital Library .
For more on this fascinating topic, type "steam trains" in the search box and click on "Search" or choose "steam trains" from the list of tags.
All aboard!
Calgarians are very fortunate to have many museums and historic sites within easy reach of the city. The Remington Carriage Museum in Cardston is one of those interesting places where you can see and experience the early days of Alberta. The Museum has more than 240 vehicles on display to give visitors a look at horse-drawn transportation. There is also a multimedia presentation called “The Wheels of Change.” You can even go for a carriage ride around the site. The Museum has recreational facilities such as camping and picnic grounds, tennis courts and a swimming pool.
A new statue outside the Museum honours home-grown hero, jockey George Woolf, mounted on the thoroughbred Seabiscuit. Woolfe rode Seabiscuit to victory in one of history’s most famous horse races. If you would like find out more about Seabiscuit, Calgary Public Library has the DVD, Seabiscuit. We also have the book on which the movie was based, Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hildrebrand, among others.
Of course, you can travel straight south down Highway 2 to Cardston, or you can take my favourite route, the more scenic Cowboy Trail. Other places that we have enjoyed visiting in the southern part of the province are Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Fort MacLeod, and the Crowsnest Pass, home to the Bellevue Mine Museum and the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. Don't forget that once in Cardston, you are not far from beautiful Waterton Lakes Park, a mere 40 kilometres away. You can find information on all of these destinations in past blogs on "Travel Talk" by using the Search Box.
Happy motoring!!
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Grandma, Mom and Simon, age 8, went to London, England in the springtime. Being a librarian’s child meant lots of reading beforehand for Simon! Here are some of our favourites which are all available at Calgary Public Library.
Frommer’s guides have sections for kids’ top attractions. In the case of London, they have a guidebook aimed at families, with attractions rated and suggested itineraries. Frommer’s London with Kids by Rhonda Carrier helped us find a good place to stay.
Daily Life in Ancient and Modern London by Betany Toht is a 60 page kids’ information book with excellent pictures. It gave us an historical timeline so Simon could understand the buildings he was seeing.
So many children’s’ books are set in London that it’s hard to pick a best novel. Perhaps you might reread a favourite from your childhood together. Simon picked Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. There are London walking tours for the most devoted Rowling fans.
In the picture book section, you can find Will’s Quill, or How a Goose Saved Shakespeare by Don Freeman. The watercolour paintings show London in the 1500’s, and would be a good introduction if you planned on touring the rebuilt Globe Theatre.
Adults may want to watch the recent Sherlock Holmes DVD with Robert Downey Jr. Even if you don’t like the action-filled story, the London sets are incredible. (Sherlock Holmes (DVD)] Warner Home Video, 2009)
Simon’s favourite London activities:
· Listening to the kids’ audio tour at the British Museum. Mummies, Greek statues, Easter Island heads, strange little chess pieces, gold hoards, and a fake crystal skull!
· Visiting Hamleys - an entire department store of toys! Simon’s reaction? “I need a little alone time with Grandma!”
· Taking the train to Windsor for the day to visit Legoland.
· The Imperial War Museum has displays geared to kids, and a great bookshop. Simon bought The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo, and devoured the novel about a cat evacuated from his home on the south coast of England as preparations were made for the D-Day invasion.
· We saved the London Eye observation wheel for last so we could point out all the places we had been. Take a peek in the Queen’s backyard!
The same urge to explore jungles and climb mountain tops sends men into the deep, dark places of the earth, trying to excel, to reach the furthest, climb the highest or descend the deepest. Blind Descent: the Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth by James M. Tabor is an "unforgettable addition to the classic literature of discovery and adventure. It is also a testament to human survival and endurance-and to two extraordinary men whose relentless pursuit of greatness led them to heights of triumph and depths of tragedy neither could have imagined...American Bill Stone is committed to the vast Cheve Cave, located in southern Mexico and deadly even by supercave standards. On the other side of the globe, legendary Ukrainian explorer Alexander Klimchouk---Stone's polar opposite in temperament and style, but every bit his equal in scientific expertise, physical bravery, and sheer determination---has targeted Krubera, a freezing nightmare of a supercave in the Republic of Georgia.” (distributed by Syndetic).
Although our local caves may not take you to the deepest places of the earth, there are some exciting caving adventures to be had within easy reach of Calgary. Rat’s Nest Cave near Canmore was named a Provincial Historic Site in 1986. It extends about four kilometers beneath Grotto Mountain. A new cave guide, Under Grotto Mountain: Rat’s Nest Cave by Charles J. Yonge, “not only examines the natural history of this fascinating system of subterranean passageways, but also explores 2000 – 3000 years of human occupation”. For a guided tour of the cave, you can contact Canmore Cave Tours.
If you would like to go a little further afield, Calgary Public Library has the guidebook; Caves of the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains by Jon Rollins, This first regional Canadian caving guide offers extensive information for each cave, including location, cave survey, history of exploration and access map.
If you would just like to visit 28 of the most interesting caves of the world from your armchair, check out a beautiful new book, Great Caves of the World by Tony Waltham.
Happy spelunking!!
Alberta's panoramic vistas of mountain and prairie provide the perfect backdrop for movies like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Brokeback Mountain. Movie makers have been coming to Alberta for many years to take advantage of the fantastic scenery. For example, more than 60 years ago, the backdrop to Spring Time in the Rockies was filmed in Banff and the TV hit Grizzly Adams was shot on Rafter 6 Ranch near Exshaw in the late seventies.
For a different twist on a summer drive, it might be a fun summer project to see the movies and then go driving to find where different scenes were filmed. Travel Alberta's website, Reel Adventures, offers three driving tours with directions and information on what movies were filmed where, and other interesting sights to see along the way.
Trip #1 takes you from Calgary to Morley to Canmore to Banff.
Trip #2 is a Circle Tour from Calgary to Bragg Creek to Longview to Canmore and back to Calgary.
Trip #3, Cowboy Country is from Calgary-Black Diamond-High River-Blackie-Mossleigh-Calgary.
Trips #2 and #3 take you along the beautiful Cowboy Trail. For more things to see and do, see our previous blog on the Cowboy Trail.
Most of the movies mentioned on the Travel Alberta site can be borrowed through Calgary Public Library, movies like Brokeback Mountain and Legends of the Fall. Just go to our catalogue and type in the name of the movie.
In some cases, we also have the books and book CDs. For instance, for Brokeback Mountain, we have the book, the Book CD, and a downloadable electronic version . You can listen to the book as you drive through the country where the movie was filmed!
With some of the wonderful weather that is forecast, it will be a perfect time to explore some of Alberta's beautiful landscapes!
Every year, the Stampede celebrates the cultures of the First Nations as part of our Western Heritage. For me, one of the highlights of the Stampede Parade is the presence of the Indians from the various tribes. If you want to find out more about our First Nations, you can visit some of the following venues.
The Calgary Stampede's Indian Village showcases the traditions and culture of five tribes, the Siksika, T'suu Tina, Nakoda (Stoney), Piikani (Peigan) and Kainai (Blood) of Treaty 7. The Indian Village has been part of the Stampede since 1912. Mosey along to the Indian Village to try some bannock, visit the tipis, and watch the dancing and powwows. One of my favourite Stampede memories is sitting on a gentle slope on a beautiful summer evening watching the dancing and listening to the drums.
During the summer you can experience an authentic Blackfoot cultural experience at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park. You can take guided or self-guided tours and try a buffalo burger or bannock at the Blackfoot Crossing Cafeteria. You can experience a traditional powwow with dancing and songs, the next one being July 31 and August 1. There is also a gift shop with everything from toys for kids to fine sculptures and moccasins. You can even spend a night sleeping in a tipi. Best of all, it is just an hour east of Calgary.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre depicts the "ecology, mythology, lifestyle and technology of the Blackfoot peoples" (From their webpage). See where a buffalo jump actually took place and find out how it worked. The interpretive centre is built into the hillside and, level by level, lets you discover the past. See live Blackfoot drumming and spectacular dance performances which take place July 7 - August 25 at 11 am and 1:30 pm. Head-Smashed-In is 160 kilometers south of the city on Highway 2 and makes a great daytrip.
Calgary Public Library has a great collection of books on the local tribes. Come on in and check them out!
The Blackfoot Papers by Adolf Hungry Wolf are a beautiful four-volume set that detail the Pikunni history and culture, Pikunni ceremonial life, Pikunni dancing and North America Indian days; and, biographies of some of the significant people.
The Blackfoot by Barbara A. Gray-Kanatiiosh
To find more titles, enter the name of the tribe in the
Search Box in our catalogue.
Looking for something to do on the upcoming long weekend? Banff is always a great place to spend some time. Whether you are going just for a day or have longer to spend, there is always lots to see and do. My kids used to love stopping to see the hoodoos, riding up the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain and, of course, spending time on Banff Avenue visiting the candy store.
This Saturday, July 3, you can add to your visit by taking in Banff Music Festival's Performance in the Park. This year the event features many Canadian artists, including Matthew Barber, Hawksley Workman and the Spirit of the West. The music will be enhanced by your surroundings in the Cascade Gardens of the Administration Centre in the midst of the towering Rockies. See the details at www.banffcentre.ca.
You can make the most of your visit by checking out some of these great books at Calgary Public Libray before you go.
Banff National Park 2010 by Andrew Hempstead
This Moon Spotlight guide is a compact book packed with recommendations on sights, entertainment, shopping, recreation, accommodations, food and transportation. (Distributed by Syndetic Solutions)
My Favourite Restaurants: Calgary, Banff and Beyond (2009) by John Gilchrist
Calgary’s very own John Gilchrist has again shared his opinions on the best places to dine.
Frommer’s Banff & the Canadian Rockies Day by Day (2010): 25 Smart Ways to See the Region by Christie Pashby.
This book has 25 self-guided tours and 32 maps to allow you to see the best that Banff and the Rockies have to offer in various amounts of time: three days, one week or two weeks.
50 Walks and Hikes in Banff National Park by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson
The authors share their favourite easy walks, short hikes and day trips, complete with beautiful photography and maps.
Historic Hikes in Eastern Banff National Park by Emerson C. Sanford
Ever wonder who has trod a particular trail before you? This book will guide hikers and armchair travellers through the stories of historic routes.
Banff: the 10 Premier Hikes by Kathy and Craig Copeland
The Opinionated Hikers, Kathy & Craig Copeland, have created the new Done in a Day series to show hikers how to make the most of limited time.
The Town of Banff has a comprehensive website with information on things to see and do.
As well, Banff National Park has a website with information on activities, natural wonders and public safety.
There is also a Banff Lake Louise website with more information on things to see and do.
THE OTTAWA JAIL HOSTEL
The general perception used to be that hostelling was just for the young. Not so anymore. While the majority of hostellers may still be from the younger set, these days older travellers as well as families are discovering the joys of staying at hostels. Hostels offer a very communal experience with a chance to meet other travellers that you don't experience staying in hotels.
Hostels also come in many different shapes and sizes. You could be staying in anything from a castle to a downtown building to an old jail. We visited the Ottawa Jail Hostel as part of a Haunted Walks tour. The upper floors are reserved for the ghosts! Guide for Europe.com lists unusual hostels, such as castles, on its website.
Hostels also offer many different options in terms of accommodation, everything from larger dormitories to private rooms. If you are travelling in a popular time or you want a specific kind of accommodation, it is a good idea to book in advance. Some young backpackers I know spent a lot of their holiday time trying to find places to stay, a waste of valuable site seeing time. Another thing that you should keep in mind is location. Proximity to transit and the central part of a city can make a big difference to your travel time.
Whether you are going travelling yourself or watching your children head off for the Grand Tour of Europe (or Asia, wherever), it is really nice to be able to check the hostels out before you go. As my daughter travelled around Europe last year, I always checked her hostels out online. Many of the hostels had pictures and descriptions posted on their websites.
Now there is a new website where you can see videos of hostels in the U.S., Asia, Europe and the Pacific. Hostelvideoguide.com gives video tours of various parts of each hostel with commentaries. It also provides online booking for some locations with links for booking others. I would have loved this site when my daughter was travelling! How nice it would have been to see more of the common areas, bedrooms, etc.
Calgary Public Library has a great video on hostelling, "A Map for Saturday".
"On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday, A MAP FOR SATURDAY reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers in 20 countries on four continents." (back cover)
This video will give you a great sense of the joys of staying in hostels - the camarderie and the chance to meet people from other countries and cultures - as well as some of the inconveniences. You don't have to be a long-term backpacker to enjoy it.
For more information about hostels, check out these books from Calgary Public Library.
Hostels USA (2009) by Paul Karr bills itself as the only comprehensive, unofficial, opinionated guide. It offers information on everything from cleanliness to party potential.
Paul Karr has also produced a guide for hostels across the pond. Hostels European Cities (2008) describes more than 200 hostels in Europe!
One of my early childhood memories was my first ride on a train. I think that trains hold a special spot in the hearts of many Canadians. The lonesome whistle sounding across the prairie, the roar as the train thunders by, the hiss of the brakes as it comes to a stop.
The railway played a key role in the development of the Canadian West and trains are an essential part of our Alberta heritage. Steam trains are particularly fascinating. There are a number of operating trains and museums in Alberta.
You can hitch a ride on a steam train without ever leaving the city. Heritage Park has a steam train which used to terrify my daughter when she was young as it thundered its way around the park. Of course, that was one of the highlights of the day for the boys.
Or you can go a little further afield and board the Stettler Steam Train. Joan, one of our dedicated library staff members enthuses: "For a day trip out of Calgary, the whole family can enjoy the Stettler Steam Train. The train runs from Stettler to Big Valley and back and frequently gets robbed on the way by a ruthless band of outlaws on horseback. There is quite often entertainment on the train and you can book excursions that include meals. Getting a group of 20 together gets special 
rates and adds to the fun."
The Alberta Railway Museum in Edmonton houses a collection of locomotives and railway cars. The museum has limited hours of opening so be sure to check their webpage for their hours. Also, train rides are only offered on long weekends, although the speeder cars run on weekends through the summer.
If you are travelling into British Columbia this summer, take a ride on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. You will travel 10 miles on a 90-minute tour through the Okanagan. Special events include the Great Train Robbery and BBQs.
If you are thinking of going even further afield, check out this great book at Calgary Public Library:
Tourist Trains Guidebook[2009] : [discover hundreds of fascinating train sites across the U.S. & Canada]
There is also a very interesting webpage, Surviving Steam Locomotives with which you can locate existing steam locomotives in the United States and Canada.
The season of summer festivals is upon us and there will be many great festivals to attend in Alberta. One of the first for 2010 is the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Pincher Creek. This festival, from June 17th to 20th, showcases Alberta’s great western heritage. There will be three days full of poetry, songs, stories and “tall tales of cowboy life past and present”. You can also take horse-drawn wagon rides and watch the rodeo and ranch horse competitions. The festival includes old-fashioned dancing and a cowboy church. For more information, go to their website, http://www.pcgathering.com/index.html.
To get in the mood, why not read some cowboy poetry before you go? Calgary Public Library has some great books of cowboy poetry with titles like Rhyming Wranglers: Cowboy Poets of the Canadian West and Lingo and Lines: From a Cowboy's Life and a Cowboy's Wife. You can find more titles by using the search terms "cowboys" and "poetry" in our catalogue.
There are some scenic routes for travelling south to Pincher Creek that are much more interesting than taking Highway 2. In a past blog, we talked about things to see and do along the Cowboy Trail, which is a spectacular drive. And, if you are staying long enough, you can visit the many attractions of the Crowsnest Pass, including the awe-inspiring Frank Slide with its newly renovated interpretive centre.
Come to Memorial Park Library and join Team Canada Too on their fascinating car rally through 26 countries from London, England to Mongolia. The Mongol Rally is a gruelling car rally which is about having an adventure at the same time as raising money for a charity.
Thursday, Jun 10
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Basement - Meeting Room 2, Memorial Park Library
If you would like to read more about some of the countries along the route or are planning to visit some of these countries, check out the books and DVDs at Calgary Public Library. For instance, enter "Mongolia" as a search term in the catalogue and find some fascinating reading. You'll find information on everything from Mongul queens and snow leopards to guidebooks.
Try searching "Uzbekistan" and find books such as "Inside Central Aisa: a political and cultural history of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Krygystan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Iran" and "The Dancer From Kiva: One Muslim Woman's Quest for Freedom".
You can travel the world through Calgary Public Library!!
D-DAY – JUNE 6, 1944! This was a major turning point in World War II. As the date approaches, many people are thinking of the Canadian soldiers who fought on the beaches of Normandy.
Calgary Public Library will be hosting a program "The Battle of Normandy", presented by Stephane Guevremont from the University of Calgary. Please join us to relive Canada's critical contribution to the success of D-Day in this eye-opening multimedia presentation. The program will take place on Thursday, June 3 in the John Dutton Theatre at the Central Library.
The library has some great books for those who might be thinking of visiting the actual sites where Canadians fought in the world wars.
Canadian Battlefields in Normandy: A Visitor's Guide
By Terry Copp
A Traveller's Guide to D-Day and the Battle for Normandy
By Carl Shilletoe
A Traveller's Guide to the Battle for the German Frontier
By Charles Whiting
The 25 Essential World War II Sites, European Theatre (2007): the Ultimate Traveler's Guide to Battlefields, Monuments and Museums
The Great Canadian War Memorial Tour, through Globus Journeys, takes place September 14 - 24, 2010. This is a Canadian tour, designed by Canadians, for Canadians, to pay tribute to all who served their country in battle and particularly to those who gave their lives.
From Paris to London, visit the many museums, memorials and special sites that commemorate Canada’s contribution in the Great War including Canada’s most impressive tribute, the majestic and inspiring Canadian National Vimy Memorial which overlooks the Douai Plain from Hill 145, the highest point of Vimy Ridge.
Looking for things to do with the family this May long weekend? Why not try some of the old, always popular standbys.
Heritage Park is celebrating their opening weekend from May 22nd to 24th. My kids used to love the horse-drawn wagon rides, riding on the old-fashioned midway or going on the steam train. Of course, getting an ice cream and visiting the candy store were always high on their to do list as well. The park's hours will be from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Hurray, the streetcars have returned to Heritage Park! According to an article in the Calgary Herald, Streetcars No. 14 and 15 will be shuttling park patrons to and from the main gates and the parking lot. If you are a Calgary Public Library member, you can read the article through the Calgary Public Library homepage. Go to E-Library/Newspapers and Magazines/Newspaper Direct Press Display and search the Calgary Herald for May 20, 2010, p. B3.
Of course, there is always something new to see at the Calgary Zoo. My kids would have loved Dinosaurs Alive, an exciting animatronic display that is at the Zoo until October 31st.
According to the Zoo website, Tenga, the baby giraffe, can be viewed between 11:00 and 3:00 pm, mom permitting! They also have an elephant encounter on Sunday, May 23 from 12:15 – 1:30 pm.
The Telus World of Science has a great exhibit which LEGO lovers will particularly enjoy – LEGO Wheels, Wings, and Waves. Kids can explore the history of ground, air and water transportation through the wonderful world of LEGO.
The more controversial exhibit, BODY WORLDS & The Brain, is also now on display at the Telus World of Science. This display has 200 authentic human specimens, including whole-body Plastinates, organs and transclucent body slices. A great way to see the anatomy of the body!! Tickets are best purchased in advance for this very popular exhibit. Take a look at the World of Science site to make sure that this display will not offend or upset anyone in your family!!
We have just received the newest "Daytrips From Calgary" by Bill Corbett which has lots of great ideas for local places to visit.
We shared of some of the great places to visit around Calgary in this blog at the end of last summer. You can find by these by clicking on the tag "Staycations".
Don't forget to visit the library on Saturday to stock up on great books, music and DVDs. Someone told me the weather might not be great this weekend. We are closed on Sunday and Monday.
An earlier blog talked about places to visit around the globe that would appeal to your inner scientist, or perhaps to your partner who is of a scientific mind. (See the blog "Travel for Geeks - The Geek Atlas") Calgary Public Library also has some great books for travelling Alberta that will appeal to the scientists among us.
Ben Gadd, author of Handbook of the Canadian Rockies, has written Canadian Rockies Geology Road Tours, a guide to the geology you see along all the major highways of the Canadian Rockies from Waterton northwards. As he says on his webpage:
"The Trans-Canada Highway, Icefields Parkway, Crowsnest
and Yellowhead routes, the Rockies portion of the Alaska Highway and more are all covered in loving detail, with minimal geo-jargon.
Over 500 illustrations, including many annotated photos with the various
rock units, folds and faults marked. GPS waypoints, too!"
Identification guide to the fossil plants of the Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Drumheller, Alberta
Aulenback, Kevin R., 1960-
Aulenback, former technician with the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta, and an expert in prehistoric plants, offers an easy-to-use identification guide for both amateurs and professionals on the cretaceous fossil plants found in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation and similar formations around the world. It includes more than 800 photographs and drawings and contains many previously unpublished fossil finds catalogued by the author...(Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.)
Exploring the Castle : discovering the backbone of the world in southern Alberta
Kershaw, Robert, 1957-
In 1901, naturalist George Bird Grinnell took note of an extensive network of mountains, ridges, valleys, lakes and rivers on both sides of the Continental Divide from northern Montana into southern British Columbia and Alberta. Disregarding political boundaries, he named it "The Crown of the Continent."... At the heart of this complex landscape lies the Castle Wilderness. The book is divided into two main sections. The Meaning of Place: Why the Castle Matters gives an overview of the area's culture, natural history, climate, flora and fauna, as well as explanations of present day uses and developments. The Trail Guide part of the book presents maps, photos and descriptions of the trails, explaining where, when and how to enjoy the Castle with insight and care. (Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.)
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