Flight over the Rocky Mountains Part 4.
We came to realise that our view of this Rocky Mountain Creek and its catchment area was somewhat limited from the ground. Through a good friend of ours, Wendy Ryan, we were introduced to Jim Cameron, who was a dedicated pilot of his 1948 Cessna 170 plane, who flew Kathleen and me the entire length of Rocky Mountain Creek and back again. The sight of the Rocky Mountains extending to three horizons from the air was a sight never to be forgotten, plus the data and photos that would not have been possible from the ground.
This was an excellent opportunity, and his offer greatly enhanced our book. Excited, we both presented ourselves at his hangar armed with four cameras between us. Shortly after lift-off, we were amazed by the extensive ‘snaking’ of the creek in both the past and present. Many ancient dry oxbows could be seen stretching widely across the valley floor. And some of the recent arching bends had formed a complete circle, strange indeed. Heading towards the mountains, we left the cultivated Prairies and flew over the rangelands mainly used for grazing cattle.
As we flew towards the mountains, cultivated fields merged into grazing pasture beneath us. Then, below us, the foothills appeared, first the golden yellow of the aspen trees of the lower foothills, then the dark green of the conifers of the upper foothills. Beauvais Lake is a unique feature, as it appears to sit between the two types of foothill regions. It is fed in part by Beaver Creek, which drains the foothills above. Yet most of its water supply comes from the groundwater. On a late Autumn Day, one can often see ‘steam’ rising from the south bank, just one sight where groundwater is entering the lake.
The Montane is a refuge for the altitude migration of many life forms that inhabit the higher regions, such as Elk, White-Tail Deer, and Moose. It features a mixed woodland of deciduous and coniferous trees, but the coniferous trees often prevail. Deciduous trees, such as Aspen, are frequently used as food by large deer species. Cutting into the bark in great chunks is a significant food supply in deep snow conditions.
Jim lifted his plane to a higher level so that we might get a grand view of the Rocky Mountains. Oh, boy, what a sight – mountains extended to the far horizon. Ben Gadd, in his book, suggests that the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains extend for approximately 85 km towards the Pacific Ocean, with no main ranges in between.
The front ranges run the intire lenght of the rocky mountains and here with the Canadian section they arise like a mastive wall.
Directly below us was the wonderful landscape of colourful ridges and peaks that make this area so beautiful. These rocks were mud carried into an inland sea, which became hardened into Argillite rocks rich in iron. The iron content gives the rocks their rich colours of red, yellow, and green.
After giving us a bird’s-eye view of the mountains, Jim turned his craft around, and we headed back towards the prairies. Leaving the Eastern slopes of the Rockies behind, we once again crossed the foothills and then out above the grasslands of the prairies. Looking down, I could not help marvelling at the creeks meandering as they carved their way through the deep clay deposits. We could also appreciate the many coulees that drained the landscape of surface water. Our next destination was the central river system, which in this study encompasses the Oldman River and the Castle River. The Castle River is a gem and a place where Kathleen and I love to hike and camp. The Oldman River and its tributaries carve out the main watershed in this region, and it has a braided system of channels, some of which were created as storm channels before the Dam was built.
You will also note the deep layers of clay deposited by the last glacial period. Unfortunately, the Oldman River was dammed, creating a large reservoir. This has not been helpful as a study area for a natural river system, but it is where our creek merges with the main river.
Having returned home with all the photos from the air, it took many hours to catalogue them for research and prepare some for the book. Thank you, Jim, we will forever be thankful for this spectacular view of the Rocky Mountains, the Creek, and its Watersheds.
You may like to visit our information in Part 5. Larger Mammals of the Rocky Mountains.
