Sunset at 70 Mile Butte in the West Block of Grasslands National Park. I took this image on the last day of a week-long trip in mid June of 2013. Although the weather was very unstable, I did not get too many days with interesting skies or cloud formations. Most of the time it was gray and uniformly overcast. That evening, everything came together and I was awarded with a glorious sunset.
A composite HDR image made of 3 separate exposures. The location is just a short walk from the parking lot leading to the 70 Mile Butte hiking trail.
Back to the Grasslands National Park photo gallery.
Amazing photos! Inspires me to go back sometime.
Did you hear the bad news about the cut of federal funding for the park? Protecting priceless places like this is not a priority for the current federal government.
http://o.canada.com/news/protected-grassland-faces-uncertain-future/
Disregard the above comment, just saw your latest post on this subject. I’ll be writing my local federal representative to let them know Canadians want this park protected. I hope others are doing the same.
Hello Prairie Voyageur
Thank you for taking time to comment on the post. And for deciding to write to your federal representative and say that you are not happy with what is happening. Indeed, actions and dedication like you show are one thing that could slow down the path of destruction the current government is taking our country to.
Regarding the Grasslands NP, the latest federal budget is devoting some money for repairing the infrastructure (funds are going to Parks Canada). A move that is long overdue and will repair only a small fraction of the damage that was done to the operation of Canada’s national parks. Over the last few years, Grasslands NP lost majority of field biologists and outreach (education) staff. The capacity of Parks Canada to monitor ecological processes within the park is severely reduced, which will impact the ability to properly manage the park.
Thank you for the link to Canada.com article on the uncertain future for former PFRA pasture system. Last week I watched an excellent documentary on PBS about the mismanagement of agricultural lands in 1920s, and what kind of consequences it had on the society when a prolonged drought hit in early 1930s. The Community Pasture Program was established to mitigate the effects of bad agricultural policies, help with soil stabilization, and assist small to medium-sized mixed farm operations. All important measures that contributed to food security and long-term stability of our rural communities. All that went down the drain with the federal budget of 2012.
The provincial government is not much better, especially when you read what the Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart has to say (see the last paragraph in the article). Recent studies show that rangeland health is much worse on provincially managed pastures compared to the (former) PFRA pastures AND privately owned land. Also the statement that “most of the province’s farmers support the new way of operating the community pastures” is the usual politician’s BS, in line of what we heard before. Compare that to the statement by PFRA pasture patrons who say that “it will be very, very difficult under patron governance to replicate the environmental stewardship” (conducted under the former PFRA management model).