Saskatchewan is not a typical tourist destination and especially in the winter. In 2011, I was invited to spend a week up in the Prince Albert National Park to learn all about animal tracking. After a little research I discovered that one of my childhood heroes, Grey Owl, had lived in a cabin here. Grey Owl was a sham. Not the ‘Red Indian’ who went from trapper to animal conservationist. He was an Englishman born in Hastings. That is another story but one worth reading.
When I left the airport in Saskatoon, the cold took my breath away. After that I wore everything I possessed, ski pants, thermals, cashmere, fleece, the lot. I was worried about my camera freezing up but I kept it in a padded bag most of time and only whipped it out for shots.
Prince Albert National Park was a white wonderland and deserted except for wildlife. I spotted a wolf kill on the first day. After that a guide showed me how to follow and identify tracks by snowshoe and dog sled. I saw beaver lodges and otter dens, came across wolves and was shown Grey Owl’s original beaded ceremonial dress by a park ranger.
Saskatchewan is a place to explore. I learned that further north there were bison herds and ancient rock paintings. I saw just a tiny piece of a huge and interesting landscape.
