Day 22 - Tuesday, October 8

This, our final day at the Wolf's Den, was wonderful because we were here. That's the main reason we stayed an extra day. There's always something to do but our plans for the day were somewhat unstructured to say the least. There's a hiking trail nearby called the Miner's Path, the route the miners took to get to work each day. A small waterfall lies at the end of the trail which leads me to question exactly what did the miners want to go to a waterfall for?

The trail traverses a path riddled with gravel and small rocks, though there are some pretty large boulders along the side of the path. There is also a gate midway with clear instructions to close it once you pass through. Why is it here? To keep something in or out? Like the wildlife we have seen no sign of since our arrival three days ago? 

I'd be lying if I didn't say the waterfall was a disappointment. However, given the trickling brook leading up to it, it was no surprise. Did I mention it was small?

Coleman is an old mining town, as is every other town within a day's drive of Crowsnest Pass. It was indeed a stroll into the past walking down both streets. 

This photograph made me laugh. 

About ten minutes later I had the crap scared out of me as we walked past a concealing fence to be greeted by loud barking and menacing growls. I was caught by surprise and peered over the fence expecting to see some horrific, ferocious hound. At first I saw nothing then gazed downward and just fell apart laughing. It was a tiny chihuahua-like yappy dog protecting his owner's territory as if his life depended on it.

As you know, Karen enjoys visiting graveyards to learn what she can about who lived there in the past. The one we saw two days ago on the edge of the Frank Slide has nothing to do with that disaster. It is a local Catholic cemetery resplendent in the remains of the fall colour. 

The Hillcrest Mine Disaster Memorial Park is very close by. How despairing so many reminders of the tragic past are so close to one another...and that all these were connected to or a result of a flourishing mining industry of the time. 

We returned to the Wolf's Den one last time along the Heritage Drive. 

What a fabulous place is Crowsnest Pass and the Wolf's Den is one of the most perfect places we have ever stayed if not the best...and that's saying something after more than 50 years of travel at various spots around the world. It's going to be difficult tomorrow to leave this behind. 

But Medicine Hat awaits.    

😎