8/2/07 - Wateron-Glacier National Peace Park - Alberta, Canada

For some reason, I am unable to post new pictures. I'll keep trying.

Thursday, 8/2/07 I drove to the Canadian part of the park. Not really realizing I didn't have proper identification other than my driver's license, I decided to give a whirl. The worst they could do was not allow me into the country. You know, a middle-aged white woman of western European descent with a very suspicious looking female Beagle are pretty suspect. I approached the Canadian border. The officer asked for my ID. This guy didn't have much of a personality to say the least. I think if he would have smiled, his face would have cracked. I told him my driver's license was my only id, that my trip into the Canadian part of the park was a spur of the moment kinda thing. That didn't please him all that much. He then asked if I had a rabies certificate for Belle. I pulled my receipt from the vet indicating she had her rabies shot. He wanted to know where her certificate was. I told him that was all I had, but she did have her rabies tag on her collar. He then asked me what was travel plans were. I told him I was going to spend a few hours in the park hiking. He also asked if I had any alcohol, wood, or more than $10,000 in cash with me. I kinda of smiled and said I wish I had $10,000 in cash – he didn't find that funny at all. I told him there were a couple of beers in the cooler and I had a piece of firewood. He took my id and the receipt and told me to wait while he walked into the office. In a few minutes, he came out with another officer both wearing latex gloves (I didnt' know I had to go through a cavity search) and told me to pull into the secondary inspection bay. I immediately began sweating profusely. I was asked to get out of the car with Belle and stand in the front of the car while they searched my car. When I saw him open my glove compartment, I got a little concerned – I had baggies full of vitamins, ibuprofen, Prozac, and a tube of cream for a weird growth on my elbow. I thought, oh my god, he's going to think I'm carrying drugs. He didn't say a word, thank god. After rifling through all my crap, I was told to put Belle in the car and go into the office. At that point, I thought maybe Canadian jails aren't all the bad, plus I needed a shower and I was low on food anyway.

The woman in the office started questioning me about where I was from and what my intent was in Canada. She then asked me what I did for a living. As the words “I'm unemployed” came out of my mouth, I thought this would be the straw that broke the camel's back. She then asked me what I normally did for a living – I told her that I had worked as a Courtroom Deputy for a federal judge in Santa Fe. She raised her eyebrows and asked if I was a federal law enforcement officer. I then had to explain to her that I didn't carry a weapon, that it was an administrative position. Thank god she believed me. You know, I could be a terrorist being paid to come across into this national park to do something, god only knows what, but for pay since I was unemployed. She then asked me how much cash I had on hand, to which I replied $30-$40. That wasn't a good answer either. She wanted to know if I had money available in case I had a flat or something. Of course, I assured her that I had a Swiss bank account (just kidding). She then handed back my id and rabies receipt and said I was free to enter their beautiful country. My next concern was getting back into the States. I told her “you know, I love your country, but I really need to get back to the US to see my kids and look for a job. She laughed and said it wouldn't be a problem.

I got in my car and proceeded into Canada, a nervous wreck. I went into Waterton Lakes National Park. Glacier and Waterton were joined together to make a peace park to commemorate the two countries a peace. I then proceeded into the park. Up on top of a hill overlooking Waterton Lake is the Prince of Wales Hotel. Very beautiful. I drove into the townsite and took a walk around part of the lake with Belle. In Canada, pets are allows on all trails as long as they are on a lease. A quaint little town. I then drove up to Cameron Lake, which is a glacier carved basin. I began my hike around the lake and met up with a woman from the bay area who was also hiking alone. It was nice to chat with someone. She's a middle school science teacher on a camping trip. We then wen to Red Rock Parkway. We hiked for a few miles. She then went on her way. I hung around for a while admiring the beautiful canyon. I then returned to camp.