Talk to me about Waterton

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

That's an amazing hike. The water in Crypt lake is so clean you can almost see the bottom of the middle of the lake from the shore. Bring a bear bell or some noise maker though, lots of bears.

I find whenever I go up there, there are so many HORSE flys that I can't stand being near the lake to long.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by To_be_Quite_Honest

the town is empty most of the winter through spring... it is so windy people board up their cabins while they are out of town as huge rocks end up whipping right through town.

Ah....no.

It is windy....but there aren't 'huge rocks' blowing through town.

It does tend to blow snow in the winter though.

i guess this time of the year (march/april) is unique as lots of the animals are in town wandering around looking to mate. can be dangerous but it is cool to see rams and elk and whatever strolling in a small residental setting.

Waterton animals tend to actually be quite friendly.

If you ever have the chance to climb Bear's Hump....there are numerous critters up there that you can hand feed.

[dionfan]

If you do go up then make sure you make lots of noise and possibly go in a bigger group. There have been problems in the past with bears. I've never had problems nor have ever seen em, but apparently they're still out there.

[automaton 3]

The Crypt Lake and Carthew hikes are spectacular, but would be pretty challenging with a newborn in tow.

I've heard good things about the Kilmorey Lodge, but have never stayed there (we're close enough we usually just drive home!).

The golf course is also quite scenic, with lots of wildlife. I've seen deer, elk and black bears on or nearby the course just about every time I've been there.

I've never found it to be too windy there, but of course living in Lethbridge I suppose its relative.

There is lots to see and do around the townsite itself as well. Cameron falls is quite pretty and very easily accessible. Ditto Red Rock Canyon.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by dionfan

If you do go up then make sure you make lots of noise and possibly go in a bigger group. There have been problems in the past with bears. I've never had problems nor have ever seen em, but apparently they're still out there.

Good advice, and there are bears around quite often. Singing, talking loudly and clapping are the way to go, I've been told that bear bells are often not loud enough to provide enough warning to the bears, cougars, ect.

[Buff]

Yes. There is plenty of bears around Waterton. I've never come across one during a hike but I've seen plenty from the road. I did hear a suspicious noise once when I was biking. I didn't bother to investigate the "grunting". Instead I just kept going downhill.

I don't know how many times I've seen a bear on the golf course (from afar), I've lost count. The wardens are really good at reacting to bear sightings and relocating the bears to a safer spot. I haven't seen any bears in the town site, but I've heard of people who have seen them there (usually during the off season).

My friend was a part of a group of 10 that was taking a hike (can't remember which one). They stumbled across a bear and decided to turn around. The bear stalked them all the way back down the trail and lost interest when they got to the trail head where there was a lot more people around.

The bears aren't the scariest part of Waterton though. Twice we had to stay at Waterton Springs Campground due to the campgrounds in Waterton being full, and both times my wife discovered people having sex in a stall in the women's washroom (late at night).

[disco_inferno]

great place,

my buddy lives just outside the gate, he loves the golf course there

it IS a very nice course

some nice short hikes, the ferry ride (seasonal), and some long hikes too, definitally more outdoors-ey than banff, and less touristy too.

very nice place to spend a day, or a weekend.

[icarus]

Go to the beach there. It isn't much of a beach, it is rocky as hell, but it is fun to go for a dip in such a beautiful setting and pretend you are at a normal beach.

Hire a surrey and take it for a spin around town.

If you stay at the Prince of Wales, and want it to be interesting, talk to an employee who is willing to go against hotel policy and tell you which rooms are haunted. There are some spooky tales.

The bison paddock is like a very minor safari drive, but it's alright.

[To_be_Quite_Honest]

Originally Posted by Azure

Ah....no.

It is windy....but there aren't 'huge rocks' blowing through town.

So you must be some sort of wind expert who can vouch that a rock has never been picked up by the wind in waterton? Interesting, please fill me in on any other phenomenons I may be missing out on.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by To_be_Quite_Honest

So you must be some sort of wind expert who can vouch that a rock has never been picked up by the wind in waterton? Interesting, please fill me in on any other phenomenons I may be missing out on.

Hah.

Yes, its true.....'huge' rocks have never been picked up by the wind in Waterton.

Trust me.

[To_be_Quite_Honest]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

We've had a family cabin there for three generations and I have never seen large rocks blowing through town. The reason people board up their cabins is because the snow drifts in the winter go right up to the roof. If they collapse it would end up shattering your windows. Also because they don't plan on going to their cabin for six months and put it on lock down for the winter.

So basically during those three generations, its safe to say you weren't a part of all three right?

You couldn't have seen EVERYTHING that the wind did during those three generations and to be quite honest I highly doubt that you have documentation of anything NOT happening? The funny thing is I said this happened in the winter, while the town was empty... except for you i guess, watching what the wind does.

I dated a girl who's grandmother has a cabin in waterton. In the spring I would go out there and take the boards off the windows and help get it ready for cabin season. When asking about the boards, that was the answer i got... I am truly sorry... my info must be dead wrong, maybe grandma was only a one or two generation resident.

I thought this was a thread about sharing simple tidbits and anecdotes about waterton, not discrediting simple comments.

on another note

The RCMP barracks is a cool rustic building. I was lucky to party with some off duty guys who had an after thirsty bear party inside the RC barracks. Their kitchen cupboards were full of booze, 60 pounders of every type of alcohol. those guys could drink...

[To_be_Quite_Honest]

Originally Posted by Azure

Hah.

Yes, its true.....'huge' rocks have never been picked up by the wind in Waterton.

Trust me.

Sounds like you have some issues, picking apart a simple adjective like that, not to mention your problems figuring out highway driving times.

[Circa89]

Whatever you do please promise me, DO NOT DRINK THE WATER!


Oh, sorry... I thought you asked about Walkerton.

[icarus]

You know how in deserted mining towns the tumbleweed blows down the main street? Well that's what is like in Waterton, except instead of tumbleweed it's boulders ferried along by the breeze.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by To_be_Quite_Honest

So basically during those three generations, its safe to say you weren't a part of all three right?

You couldn't have seen EVERYTHING that the wind did during those three generations and to be quite honest I highly doubt that you have documentation of anything NOT happening? The funny thing is I said this happened in the winter, while the town was empty... except for you i guess, watching what the wind does.

I dated a girl who's grandmother has a cabin in waterton. In the spring I would go out there and take the boards off the windows and help get it ready for cabin season. When asking about the boards, that was the answer i got... I am truly sorry... my info must be dead wrong, maybe grandma was only a one or two generation resident.

I thought this was a thread about sharing simple tidbits and anecdotes about waterton, not discrediting simple comments.

on another note

The RCMP barracks is a cool rustic building. I was lucky to party with some off duty guys who had an after thirsty bear party inside the RC barracks. Their kitchen cupboards were full of booze, 60 pounders of every type of alcohol. those guys could drink...

Claiming that "huge rocks end up whipping right through town" is not a simple comment, it's a completely false statement that is misleading. We go there in the winter all the time and the rocks are covered in about four feet of snow. So unless the wind is picking up huge rocks covered in four feet of snow and whipping them through town and I'm not seeing any reciprocal damage then I guess you could be right.

Originally Posted by icarus

You know how in deserted mining towns the tumbleweed blows down the main street? Well that's what is like in Waterton, except instead of tumbleweed it's boulders ferried along by the breeze.

LOL

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by Azure

Waterton animals tend to actually be quite friendly.

If you ever have the chance to climb Bear's Hump....there are numerous critters up there that you can hand feed.

I hope it didn't get it's name based on the friendly nature of the animals.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Jayems

I hope it didn't get it's name based on the friendly nature of the animals.

It's because it looks like the hump on a bears back... or does that sound worse?

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

It's because it looks like the hump on a bears back... or does that sound worse?

[Rhettzky]

^^^
HAHAHA, too funny!!

[Azure]

Originally Posted by To_be_Quite_Honest

Sounds like you have some issues, picking apart a simple adjective like that, not to mention your problems figuring out highway driving times.

Actually....its sounds like you've never really been to Waterton.

I have.....many times...I grew up with friends who had cabins out there....and yes they did board them up in the winter, and yes the wind always blew....but NO, no 'huge rocks' were ever blown through town by the breeze.

You're either really off you rocker...or just full of it.

I can't figure out which.

And no, I don't have a problem figuring out driving times.....not everyone drives 130-140km/h on the #2. I do....thus it doesn't take me too long to get to Calgary. Not to mention, some people stop on the way....so it takes them longer.

I said 3 to 3-1/2 hours for the normal person.

The official whatever said 3 hours and 1 min.