OFF LINE ENTRY

60th Parallel Territorial Campground

60th Parallel Visitor Center, Northwest Territories

Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 7:35 pm Mountain TIme

Sunny and cool;  temperature, 61F

Altitude:  295 meters 

A looooong day of driving--about 400 miles from Grande Prairie, Alberta, to the border of the Northwest Territories.  But it was mostly on good roads with little traffic and we could use the cruise control nearly the whole way.  We’ve found the cruise control really allieviates the stiffness and tension that bring on the back aches.  So, after driving for 8 and a half hours today, 90 percent on cruise, there’s no backache!

It was a very interesting and educational drive.  We spent most of the day in what is called the Peace River Country of northwestern Alberta.  Grande Prairie is on the southern rim of this vast north country fertile region, and this small city of 40,000 seems to be booming--new construction everywhere, a lot of industrial and agricultural support businesses, new homes going up, and all the latest stores and services.  This was the last major region in North America to be settled and was only homesteaded from the 1930’s to the 1950’s.  It is now a major grain growing region and the grain fields are also dotted with gas wells and a few oil pumpers.  It’s nice to see the farmers diversifying!

Hold the presses--I just saw a lynx eyeballing me from the edge of our campsite.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen one up close.  Of course, as soon as I stood up and moved to the door, he (or she) ran into the surrounding woods.  Our campsite is really in the wilds--on the shore of the Hay River just over the border into the Northwest Territories, with only a picnic table and a flat place to park.  No power, no water, just beautiful scenery.  Except for the artificial line of the 60th Parallel, which marks the border between Alberta and the NWT, this would be nowhere.

Where was I?  As far north as High Level, Alberta, the landscape is mostly in hardy grains, hay, and pasture, with bordering woods defining the fields.  High Level claims to have the farthest north grain elevator in North America.  From High Level north, the land becomes wetter and more wooded.  The woods were mostly mixed spruce and birch and a bit swampy, and the feeling of wilderness closes in.   By the time we got to the NWT border, we had been driving through an apparently endless forest for a couple of hours.

As soon as we got out of the car, we were attacked by swarming black flies.  A quick spray of Raid Backyard fogger seemed to keep them at bay long enough to set up and retreat to our screened camper.  We had dinner and listened to a bit of the Democratic convention on the satellite radio, then went to bed as soon as it was dark.