Head just a little east for a spring break

Desktop – Leaderboard

Home » Head just a little east for a spring break

Posted: March 6, 2019

Head just a little east for a spring break

By Joanne Elves for #BucketlistAB

The cold snap is in the rear-view mirror, so it’s time to make the most of the best part of the season by skipping east to Southern Alberta for a spring break full of adventures.

Drop your bags in Pincher Creek and make it a weekend of skiing, snowshoeing or visiting local attractions without those summertime crowds. Take a look at what the neighbours have to offer.

The mountain that moved

With all the snow drifted between the massive boulders at the bottom of Turtle Mountain, it makes for a different approach to learning about the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. Strap on the snowshoes and wander through the rubble. Signs along the way inform you of the fateful day the mountain rumbled across the valley. Inside the Interpretive Centre, learn more about the community and how the indigenous people predicted that the mountain could move.

Castle Mountain with or without skis

Some people like to go fast, while others rather hit the slow lane. At Castle Mountain Resort (lead image above), the slow lane is a giant red snow cat called the Powder Stagecoach and it will slowly take sightseers to the top of the mountain to do that “ahhhhh” moment, while sipping on a cup of hot chocolate. The scenery is spectacular in every direction. Look to the west and the summits of B.C. sparkle in the sunset. Turn around and the prairies start to show themselves beyond the last of the rolling hills. For those that like the fast lane, the Powder Stagecoach will take them to the backcountry to throw down lines on untracked snow.

Find out how you can take the Castle Mountain Scenic Snow Cat Tours here.

Use Pincher Creek as basecamp

Pincher Creek sits ideally in the centre of all the adventures in the area, so drop your bags at one of the local hotels and start exploring. Every day can have a different direction for fun. Go west for Castle Mountain Ski Resort and to explore the brand-new Castle Provincial Park. Go north to learn about the buffalo jumps and go southeast to Cardston. The town is home to some great dining choices and a locally-owned café where you can get freshly brewed go-mug of coffee that will last until you reach your destination.

Do you have what it takes to be a buffalo runner?

If you think winter is tough now, talk to the knowledge keepers at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and learn just how rough it was living on the prairies with only the fruits of the land and the buffalo to keep you alive through winter. A few hours at this world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site will give you a whole new appreciation for what it took to stay alive. Learn how these nomadic people returned for hundreds of years to the same site for the annual buffalo jump. Discover how the introduction of the gun impacted their way of life and the future of the buffalo. Five levels of displays and exhibits are presented in a way to weave the history into a memorable experience. Something you don’t want to miss.

Giddy-up to Cardston and the Remington Carriage Museum

How much horsepower does your vehicle have? 150? 300? How about moving across the prairies and through the mountain passes with just one or two horsepower? Whoa… that would be tough. At the Remington Carriage Museum in Cardston, you can see over 300 carriages, buggies, sleighs and wagons that were used before the horseless carriage and Henry Ford changed our mode of transportation. The displays are spectacular with many hands-on experiences to try. If you are travelling with children, let them sit in the horse-drawn school “bus” and see what it was like to be taken to school the “old fashion way.” Make sure you check out the restoration shop where craftsmen are using the tools of the day to restore wheels and carts that are probably over century old.