Big Knife in April

We had the opportunity to visit Big Knife Provincial Park last week for another hike, this time on the Highland Trail. During our previous visit, we hiked the Lowland Trail. Downloadable trail maps are available from the Alberta Parks website, if you’re interested.

Thanks to Wander Woman Travel Magazine (check out the publication – it’s excellent) for the following story about how Big Knife park got its name:

Big Knife Provincial Park is named after Big Knife Creek, which flows through the park. The park and the creek are in Blackfoot Nation territory. According to legend, a fight to the death happened near the creek. A Cree warrior named “Big Man” fought a Blackfoot warrior named “Knife.” The creek was thereafter known as Big Knife.

Debbie Olsen

Nothing like a fight-to-the-death story to keep us visiting our provincial parks, am I right? Another draw this particular visit were the bright yellow signs posted around the park and at every trailhead: Warning – Bear in the Area. “How relaxing!” I exclaimed. I didn’t. Instead, my husband and I held loud conversations when we’d remember. Occasionally, we’d lapse into comfortable silence as we walked along until we remembered that our silence could potentially startle a very large, faster-than-you’d-think, bear and end in one of our deaths. Probably mine as I have much shorter legs than my husband.

During our last visit during which we hiked the Lowland Trail, we found a narrow path leading up to this hoodoo. Against my better judgment, I stepped on its clay side at the base of the hoodoo where its incline just begins. The earth gave way as soon as all my weight was on it. Under the dry surface, the clay was wet and slick. I slid and fell down, clay all over my one shoe and covering my right pant leg. I didn’t get hurt, but my pride was a little bruised.

To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from.

Terry Tempest Williams

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.

E. B. White