The day started well, with high cloud and the promise of heat already being fulfilled as we coasted off the flat prairie east of Drumheller into the Horseshoe Canyon parking lot. The view into the canyon was spectacular; our first sight of Alberta’s badlands, and it was surprisingly green. With a high of 28.3C for the day, everyone took their headgear out shortly into the hike, and we now have a new subgroup: The Hideous Hat Club. New members welcome. Down in the canyon, wildflowers were flourishing after the recent rains (see some of the amazing pics Rhonda and Kevin took), wet conditions which made for some interesting hiking. As Marla noted, there were so many different types of mud to enjoy… hard, dusty, brown sugar, a little mucky, more mucky, REALLY mucky, and boot-sucking mucky. The hike held its challenges as we scrambled along soft, clay cliffs, and – when the heat intensified on the way back – along the shaded (mucky) creek. We were the only ones in the canyon the entire time, and when Kevin disappeared for a while, the rest of us realized what a great setting it was for a murder… Rhonda’s scheduled two more Horseshoe Canyon hikes for the fall, wonder if that means anything. Better keep on her good side!
-- Dina
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