Mountains and Lakes and COUGARS!?! Oh My!

This is where I sat... I don't think we could have fit one more thing in that vehicle!

As promised, my summer has come to an eventful end! Colin, his sister Sarena and her boyfriend Ryan, and I all made the four hour trek from Hillview Farms (Colin's family's ranch) to Jasper with one vehicle, packed and then packed some more! We made it to Pocahontas campground, where we spilled out of the vehicle... along with a few things! We set up the tents and hung out for the evening. A warden came around that night and told us there was a cougar spotted in the area that evening (what she didn't tell us and we found out later was it had actually killed a dog in the campground earlier that evening). 

Colin has a range!

The first full day we drove to Maligne Lake where we saw bighorn sheep and a black bear, as well as "Colin Range". We then ventured into Jasper for some shopping. In the evening we made our first stop at the Miette Hot Springs which were just up the mountain from our campground. The next day was a bit cloudy so we just hung around Jasper and stopped at a really cool super wide river that was so shallow you could walk across it! We made another trip to the hot springs that night as well. On the way to the hot springs we saw two Parks Canada trucks and a truck with dog boxes so we figured they were out tracking the cougar. When we got back to the campground there were wardens with guns and dogs walking around! Ryan said we should have taken the hint then haha! 

Kinney Lake on Mount Robson.

Our last full day in Jasper we drove to British Columbia and hiked to Kinney Lake on Mount Robson. We stopped in Jasper for supper at Earls and then went to the hot springs for the last time. When we got back to the campground around 10:30 we were told that they had evacuated the entire campground because they couldn't locate the cougar after tracking it 16 km one day and 18 km the next. Since we had been gone all day and they started evacuating people just after noon we were the last people left in the campground! We literally threw our tents, bags, and things into the vehicle, which seemed even more crowded since we didn't organize anything! Nothing like being the only people on the edge of a campground when it's pitch black and a cougar is cruising the area... so we cranked up the tunes in the vehicle and some nice wardens came to hang out with us while we packed up! We actually found the whole situation quite hilarious thankfully and made the best of it! I felt bad the wardens had to stay so late since we didn't get back to our campsite until 10:30 but I think they got a real kick out of watching us attempt to throw all of our stuff and ourselves into Ryan's SUV! After driving the half hour to Whistlers campground we unpacked, reorganized, and set up camp once again. 

Top of Whistler Mountain.

The next morning we woke up to elk bugling and laying right near our tents! We got everything shoved back into Ryan's vehicle and drove to the tramway. We took the tram ride up Whistlers Mountain and Colin and I climbed all the way up to the summit! All too soon the trip was over and we headed back to Colin's. I have spent the last few days at home for a change... celebrating my Mom's birthday and helping Colin move into his new place in Olds! Colin and I also upset a clam of wasps when we were out in the field with the horses at my place and ended up getting stung a few times! Not to my surprise I am still ridiculously allergic!! As summer comes to a close now I guess it's time to get back to my "typical" schedule (what is typical anyways!)... not sure if it will be any slower than this summer, but I'll be home a bit more since I should probably finish my last year of that thing called school! Lots of big adventures and changes to come! Stay tuned into the fall for my next update! 

Bringing It in Bashaw

I have returned home from four days competing in All Breeds, National Young Cattleman, and Western Canadian Team Judging at the Bashaw Agricultural Society Grounds. We kicked off the four days with the "Perfect Pitch" Wednesday night where participants were given two minutes to deliver a pitch to a panel of judges which they had prepared ahead of time stating their business idea and what sets them apart from the rest. Thursday began with the show team judging preliminary rounds and showmanship. Travis Hunter and I were one of five teams that advanced to the final round on Friday, while I also won Reserve Champion Senior Showman. Special thanks have to go to the Dietrich's of Redrich Farms for letting me borrow Ty's heifer and equipment after my animals were unable to be at the show due to an accident hauling them on Wednesday night. Also big thanks to everyone for the well wishes following my parent's accident! Although we are down two trucks my parents and cattle are fine which is by far most important =) 

In the afternoon we competed in the Business 101 competition where we had an hour to come up with a business plan and budget. Following that competition, we recited our own slam poetry, and then spent an hour mentoring the "Cow Camp" youth. Friday began with hands on competitions which saw tractors, tire air pressure, carpentry, plant identification, animal drug administration, rope halter making, tattooing, and a timed lawn tractor and trailer obstacle course. Travis and I then competed in the show team judging finals along with teams of Chad Lorenz & Ryan Hunter, Tyler & Katelyn Dietrich, Luke Marshall & Nicole Jones, and Sawyer Daley & Terra Chalack. Rounding out the day was the "We Are What We Do Challenge" where we had to describe to a judge what a million people could do that would change the world. That evening the results of the Western Canadian Team Judging Finals were announced... and Travis and I were the senior winners! Congrats to Brandon Hertz and Cassidy Matthews for also being the champion junior team!

Saturday was dedicated to the All Breeds purebred and commercial cattle show as well as the UFA Supreme Quest which Travis and I helped to judge/ring. The day finished off with the announcement of the National Young Cattleman junior and senior of the Year. Congratulations to junior Kyle Dodgson and senior Dakota Wilson for being the 2011 winners!


It was a great four days spent with the best cattle kids around! I'm already looking forward to next year!


With the last two weeks of August upon us I have lots of plans to finish off the summer right. Getting to spend some time with my friend Kyra after being busy all summer, going camping with Colin, celebrating my Mom's birthday, clipping and picturing cattle, and much more will keep me very busy until school starts September 1st already! 


Have a fantastic rest of your summer everyone!

Summer Adventures

I have had a very busy July and start to August! For a week in July we took a road trip across Saskatchewan to Moose Range Lodge, near the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border. My Dad's sister and her family used to manage the lodge many years ago and so my Dad's siblings, children, and grandchildren all made the trek out to the lodge for a week of nostalgia and fun on the lake! When we came back home we took a great day trip out to Ya Ha Tinda to see the most beautiful part of the world (in my eyes anyways!) and then Colin and I headed up north back to his place. 

On Wednesday we're heading to Bashaw for the All Breeds Junior Show, National Young Cattleman Competition, and Western Canadian Team Judging Competition. Many competitions will fill the four day event including pitching a business idea, mentoring a younger competitor, showmanship, business competition, slam poetry, show team judging, hands on ranch all-star competitions, speech about what a million people could do that would change the world, as well as conformation classes with cattle. I am taking my heifer and cow/calf pair to show and have qualified for the National Young Cattleman Competition as well as the Western Canadian Team Judging Competition with Travis. Stay posted for updates after the show!