Winter Travel from Alberta to Arizona with an RV
March 14, 2022
Travelling south to Arizona from Alberta in the winter with an RV
The Canada/USA land border was open. Christmas was over. We had booked our Mexican campground. All that was left was to decide the best day to leave from Alberta. What would winter travel with an RV be like as we travelled from Alberta to Arizona? We had done many road trips in the summer but we knew this would be different.
Packing the 5th Wheel
January 2022 began with very cold temperatures in the -20’s C which made it very difficult to pack the trailer for 3 months away from home. The trailer leg blocks were frozen to the ground. The closed slide blocked our pantry cupboard. Fresh food would freeze. It was just too cold to be outside long enough to take clothing and other necessities to their places.
January 10 predicted a change with temperatures forecast to be above zero. We started up the furnace the day before to warm the trailer. Friends were travelling with us as far as their home in Arizona. They drove a 32-foot motorhome and towed a covered trailer for their desert toys.
Day 1 Travelling in a Winter Chinook- Rocky Mountain House, Alberta to Conrad, Montana. AB 2-I-15 642 km
It was above freezing as we threw in the last of the items, filled the propane tanks and topped off the gas in the truck. The sun began to rise as we turned south and faced into the Chinook Winds. These winds begin in the Pacific and head east over the Rocky Mountains. Moisture is dropped as snow at the continental divide then the air gains energy as it drops down into Alberta. These winds are warm and very strong as they are forced through the mountain passes. They form an arch of clouds over the mountains in the west and really affect gas mileage when a truck towing a 5th wheel is driving straight into them. We were barely 2 hours from home and had to stop for gas.
Although the mountain views were spectacular, the snow blowing straight across the road created traction and visibility issues. We had to use 4 wheel drive to get back on the road after a coffee stop in Claresholm. We saw a trailer in the ditch and semis blown off the road. Winter travel from Alberta to Arizona was looking like a bad idea.
Montana
The border crossing was uneventful. Covid tests were not required at land crossings, and apparently, vaccine records were not necessary as we weren’t asked. The wind continued to buffet us from the SW, although the amount of snow blowing across the road diminished as we travelled further into Montana.
After filling with gas every 2 hours, we arrived in Conrad, Montana. It is a town just north of Great Falls off of the I-15. The Pondera RV Park was open. When we arrived, there was no one to be found. After calling them the owner said, “Are you a trailer and a motorhome? We saw you on the bridge and figured that was where you were headed.” January small town service! Although there was 10 cm of snow on the ground, the power, water and washrooms were available. We paid $42.30 each for the night.
Day 2- Conrad, Montana to Idaho Falls. I-15 to Boulder, MT 69 to Whitehall, MT55/41 to Dillon 658 km
Before leaving, we decided to empty the antifreeze from the lines and add some water to the tank. This allowed us to be self-contained if we had to stop somewhere along the way.
The wind was less and the blowing snow was mostly gone. To avoid the climb over the pass at Butte, we took an alternate route from Boulder to Dillon. We passed a Historical Old Spa at Boulder where we started on route 69. The road was only 2-lane, but passed through some beautiful ranching and fly fishing country. It was quiet and had a gentle elevation change. Monida Pass at the Montana/Idaho border was still a big climb to 6800 ft. but the views were impressive. Lots of snow at the top but the wind was less and the roads were clear.
Snake River RV Park in Idaho Falls is open year-round. It was -9 at night, but our furnace and a tap with a slow drip kept the water lines open. It was $35 with a Good Sam discount and included a spectacular sunrise the next morning.
Day 3 Idaho Falls, ID to Mesquite NV I-15 885 km
We finally were able to stop for some groceries that wouldn’t freeze and more gas then began to actually enjoy our journey. The skies were blue and the temperature ranged from -7 to +7, depending on the passes. Idaho had snow, but it wasn’t blowing. We experienced big elevation changes up and down into valleys and over the Malad pass into Utah.
Utah-Legacy Parkway (ring road Salt Lake City)
As we entered Utah on the I-15 it was a treat to see green fields in the lower areas. The mountains weren’t as clear due to the pollution and all the trucks on the road. We took the Legacy Parkway (215) which was a great option to get away from the traffic of the I-15 and miss half of the Salt Lake City crowds. Big trucks weren’t allowed.
We travelled uneventfully through Utah to St. George at the southern border. We gassed up at Costco. Although it is cheaper, as a Canadian, there are challenges. Costco in Canada only takes Mastercard. In the USA the pumps only take Visa. We have to buy a gift card inside with our Mastercard, then use it at the pumps outside.
We also discovered that just because a car wash says 11 ft clearance, and you can drive inside, it doesn’t mean that the sprayer hose will clear your air conditioner. After trying to remove some of the mud and slush from our first couple of days, the cover of our air conditioner caught on the sprayer. I was able to climb up on top and remove the broken pieces as well as extricate the sprayer. Backing up was the only way we could get out and I had to crawl back down after ensuring everything was clear. Lesson learned…Know exactly how tall everything is on your unit.
Mesquite, NV
The first place you come to in Nevada is Mesquite. As you leave Utah, you travel through the beautiful Virgin River Canyon. If we had arrived earlier in the day, it would have been a great place to camp. As we were delayed due to our trailer washing debacle, we continued to Mesquite and camped in the gravel lot behind the Virgin River Casino. It was free to stay and reminded us of the importance of having water on board. Our trailer also has a good solar system so we had lots of power as well. Twenty units parked there on that night.
The buffet was a good option after 885 km of driving.
Mesquite, NV to Parker, Arizona 418 km I-15, 167/169 95S
We travelled from Nevada to Arizona to California to Arizona. Each state had a time change.
The morning through the desert was spectacular with the early light glowing off the brilliant red and golden rocks. We took the cutoff on 167/169 to Lake Mead Recreation Area through the Valley of Fire. The road was very quiet and we didn’t have to travel through Las Vegas. And did I mention the views!
We stopped in Henderson for a new AC cover. It took some time but we got exactly what we needed. We headed back out on the 95S to Needles. It was a good 2 lane road and avoided most of the truck traffic heading to and from Los Angeles on I-40.
Lake Havasu, Arizona
Lake Havasu City is beside one of the reservoirs on the Colorado River. London Bridge is located there. It was located in London until 1971 when the masonry from the 1830 bridge was used to clad a concrete structure over a canal. Since we were hauling a trailer through the city, we decided to skip the view of the bridge.
We drove around Lake Havasu and enjoyed the beautiful peaks, following a large body of water and a surprising wetland area at the end of the lake. BLM camping was popular on both sides of the road.
Buckskin Mountain State Park was just before the town of Parker on the 95. We got the last 2 sites. The price was $35 for power and water. Our friends had suggested earlier in the day to get a spot at the state park. It turned out that there is more than one state park and this one didn’t have cel service. When you are accustomed to being connected, I wasn’t sure how to let her know which campground was our home for the night. I was receiving messages, but couldn’t send them. I finally found the wifi spot in the campground and we were able to connect.
The temperature was around 20 degrees C and we finally felt like we were camping. We ate supper around the propane fire ring outside with just a light jacket. We didn’t need the furnace.
Parker, Arizona to Maricopa, Arizona 333 km
Our final day was easy. After a walk along the Colorado River in the campground to stretch our legs, we took quiet backroads to Maricopa, where our friends have a home. We tried the Don’s Famous Cactus Bar in Salome for lunch. Plenty of patrons were in the bar at 1 pm but the restaurant was closed that day. We’ll have to try it another time.
We finished our winter travel from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta to Arizona in the early afternoon a distance of 2936 km (1824 miles) It was 20 degrees with blue skies and sunshine.
Advisability of winter RV Travel from Alberta to Arizona
My conclusion on the advisability of winter RV travel in January from Alberta to Arizona is that it would have been better to travel in the cold than in the wind. It was a dangerous situation for the first day and part of the second day as trucks were being blown off the road and slush and icy roads grabbed at our tires. We should have waited another 3 days, according to the forecast, until the winds died down. A couple from Edmonton, Alberta that we met in Buckskin Mountain State Park travelled in the cold and stayed in hotels for the first couple of nights until it warmed up. Although it was cold, the roads were clear. Luckily we arrived at our destination without incident.
Entering Mexico by land with an RV
March 22, 2022
Entering a new country by land with an RV
When travelling to any new country, there is always a lot of homework that needs to be done before you ever leave home. Travel from Canada into the USA is easy for us because we have more experience. This was our first time entering Mexico by land with an RV.
Air travel is much easier when entering Mexico. They give you the forms you need and you follow the crowd through the lines to the immigration and customs booths and soon you find yourself on the sidewalk outside.
I won’t go into all the details about entering Mexico by land with an RV because there are many websites that explain things quite well that will be up to date. I will highlight the essentials. The links I used will be included with a few tips we observed as we crossed the border into Mexico from Arizona at Nogales Mariposa Truck Crossing. We chose this crossing because the roads are more manageable with an RV.
Essential Documents when entering Mexico by land with an RV from (Canada) USA
- Passport
- FMM (Multiple Migratory Form)
- Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit (TIP)
- Mexican vehicle insurance
FMM
The FMM is a visitor permit for citizens from countries that don’t require a visa to enter Mexico. This includes Canada and the United States. You can complete it online and print it ahead of time. It is best if you know when you are crossing the border. I don’t know if the date of entry is essential but I didn’t want to have to pay twice if my online paperwork was not accurate. It cost about $40 CAD online.
You still have to stop at immigration and have the online document approved and stamped. They will keep half of it and give you the other half. Put it away somewhere safe as you have to return your half to Mexican immigration when you leave.
You can complete and pay for the FMM at the immigration office if you choose. It is generally good for 180 days but immigration officers can choose to make it for less time so check it before you leave.
TIP–If you leave Mexico by air after arriving by land, you have to get your FMM stamped at the immigration booth at the airport before surrendering it to the airline prior to boarding. In Guadalajara, this booth was downstairs before the security escalator. When you return by air, you will complete another FMM on the plane. The price of the ticket includes the FMM.
Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit (TIP)
If you are travelling in the Free Zone along the border, the TIP is not necessary. This permit discourages you from leaving your vehicle in Mexico or selling it without importing it into the country. The Import Permit for your vehicle can be completed online but can only be done 10-60 days before crossing the border. We didn’t plan more than 10 days ahead so we had to complete this permit at the border office. Use the information online to have everything you need, and copies of everything required. Many people in line had to leave to go make copies. We had everything we needed.
If your vehicle has a lien on it from a financial institution, the list of documents calls for permission from them to take your vehicle out of the country. I don’t know if this is just an American requirement, but I did not have that document and there were no issues at the border. I will look into this when we get home and update this information.
Be prepared to spend some time getting this paperwork ready and then more time at the border. You will have to pay for the document and also leave a deposit of $500 by cash or credit card. This permit is good for 6 months for vehicles and 10 years for RVs. You will receive the deposit back when you leave Mexico.
TIP– Only one person could present the TIP documents. ItThey have to have their name on the registration. A Canadian driver’s licence is acceptable. Mexico does not require an international licence.
Mexican Car Insurance
Insurance from Canada and the USA does not cover you in Mexico. Even if you are just visiting for a day, you must purchase Mexican insurance before entering the country. We used Lewis and Lewis who had an online application form and quotes from several companies. Check the prices and coverage carefully. Some policies were cheaper for 3 months than for 1. Insurance for our 2018 truck was $327 USD for 3 months. Our 5th wheel was too old and they would not insure it.
TIP– In Mexico, if you are involved in an accident, call the insurance company immediately. The adjuster comes to the scene. If there are injuries, then call the police as well.
Money
Pesos are the currency in Mexico. It is a country that functions primarily on cash. Some of the large grocery stores, Walmart, Auto Zone, etc will take credit cards. Some smaller businesses will take them but add a 3-7% fee for use. Many smaller places, including the toll roads, will only take pesos in cash. The resort areas may be different.
Our bank in Canada needed a week’s notice to order pesos. A bank in Arizona was the same so we took American dollars from the ATM and then used the money exchange at the immigration stop at km 23 south of Nogales. Apparently, there are ATMs you can access in Nogales, just over the border, but with a trailer, we were unsure of the accessibility for our unit.
TIP-When using the ATM, select English. It will ask if you want to use the conversion calculated on the screen or let your own bank do the currency conversion. DECLINE. We found it saved about $32 on a $300 withdrawal by using our bank’s conversion. Also, be aware that ATM machines often run out of money. Try withdrawing a smaller amount, or find a different machine. The machines have a daily withdrawal limit and the fee is the same to take out a small amount or a larger one. Different banks have different fees and allowable withdrawal limits.
There are currency converting apps for your phone that make the transition easier to learn. As the Canadian dollar is worth about 16 pesos, like a mile is 1.6 km, the conversion works much the same as km/hr to miles/hr. 100 pesos is about $6 CAD (like 100 km/hr is like 60 mi/hr). Just picture your speedometer.
Nogales Mariposa Truck Crossing to enter Mexico
Mexico Customs
When we cross from Canada into the United States, and vice versa, the Immigration and Customs departments are together. When entering Mexico, these two departments are many km apart.
We passed through some booths soon after crossing into Mexico. It was challenging to know which was the RV lane. We were waved through at the first set of booths. Stay to the left towards Hermisillo. The right lane goes into the town of Nogales. There is a toll booth that accepted American dollars soon after the border crossing. Sometimes this toll booth is not occupied.
At the next stop (customs) we followed the truck sign. Guards waved us over, although this was a random stop. They checked our truck and RV registration. They took a quick look inside our trailer and asked where we were going and for how long. Personal belongings are acceptable in an RV. They are really checking to see if you are importing items or extra people. We were on our way to Immigration.
Mexico Immigration KM 21
While this should be the easiest part of the trip, it is not. The challenge of signs in a new language, new terrain and a pile of paperwork made this part a little stressful. The address of the Immigration offices are vague. At least the distances and speeds are measured in km.
KM 21 is the address of the immigration office and also the location to get your TIP and dollars exchanged for pesos. We watched a YouTube video of a dashcam view of the trip. After the yellow overpass, the road curves to the right and there is a slight pull off into the the parking lot. The entrance is a dirt road and the buildings do not look like other official border crossing offices.
The man in the office carefully scrutinized our online FMM forms. He divided them in half and gave us our part to keep.
TIP– Print the copies double sided. Pay for each separately if you have more than one person in your group and keep the receipt accessible on your device.
Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit (TIP)
It took us about 20 minutes, which was faster than most of the other people who had to go to the copy office on site and pay for the requested copies. There are benches available as the other members of your group wait.
We also exchanged American dollars for pesos at the exchange booth on site. Pesos or American coins were acceptable for use in the bathroom if you needed toilet paper and paper towels.
We were at the Aduana-TIP for about 50 minutes after arriving at 11:30 on a Tuesday morning in January.
Our journey continues… Stay tuned.
Random Camping in David Thompson Country, Alberta
May 18, 2021
Random camping
Random camping is the experience of heading out to public or crown land and camping where you choose. You can find a spot that is exactly what you and your family are looking for. We enjoy listening to the silence away from the road and other campers. Being self-sufficient gives us pride. Dark skies for photographs are important to me. Appreciating unspoiled nature is good for our souls. If you are travelling and just need a quick spot to spend the night, random camping might be a good option.
Random Camp Site 
Random Camp Site
There are several rules on the Alberta Parks website. There are other expectations and camping limitations, however, that need to be considered before participating in this opportunity. I will try to include those here. This discussion will be specific to random camping in the Alberta Foothills known as David Thompson Country.
I live in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada. “Where Adventure Begins,” is our local motto as the land to the west of us is primarily foothills that become the Rocky Mountains as you head further west. The land belongs to the province of Alberta, so logging companies, oil and gas companies and ranchers are allowed to lease it for their commercial needs. There are also some summer camps, small rural communities, and outfitters who take people on horse trips.
Many of the campgrounds located along highway 11 are first come-first served, even during Covid challenges. Others require a reservation. Random camping is definitely in the first come-first served category.
How to Find a Spot to Random Camp
We spend a lot of time travelling the roads west of Rocky Mountain House. I enjoy photographing the beautiful waterfalls in the area, the winter bubbles at Lake Abraham and the changing seasons. We also have a wood permit and cut dead trees for firewood.
Each time we are out, we look for spots that are accessible for our 26 ft 5th wheel. Our hitch had some room to slide so we can manage a slight grade change to get onto an access road. A rock fire ring is a good sign that others have used this site.
The most popular sites are recognizable by the lack of deadfall in the forest near the site. The most frustrating sites are those with several fresh stumps from people cutting down live trees for firewood. Not only does this affect the long-term sustainability of this random spot, but live trees do not burn well at all.
Possible location Random camping site
OHV Trail access
There are often OHV trails close to random camping sites. This may be an advantage or disadvantage, depending on whether you plan to ride the trails yourself. What may look like a good place to camp in the peace and solitude of the great outdoors may turn out to be a staging area for quads and side by sides. The Bighorn Backcountry Map includes areas closed to OHV travel during certain times of the year. Be aware of these regulations as well.
What do you need?
The overall view is important to us. We look for views of water or mountains. We also depend on our solar energy system when we are random camping, so we want a site that allows the sun to reach our panels for a good part of the day. Water views need to be assessed in terms of where the water level might be during runoff or heavy rain. Is the ground stable enough to hold a trailer in the wet and can we easily tow the trailer out of the site?
Busy Saturdays are good for scouting sites by noticing where others have chosen to camp. As retirees, we prefer mid-week camping so can usually use one of these locations another time.
Mountain views Water views
How to keep track of random camping sites
Bighorn Backcountry Map
Cel service is accessible along highway 11 (David Thompson Highway). It is mostly non-existent south and north of this corridor. Google maps will show where you are as you travel without signal, but won’t let you pin a location. The best way I have found to keep track of possible random camping sites is to use Google maps and a paper map. The Bighorn Backcountry Map is available locally and in Nordegg. It shows the PLUZ-Public Land Use Zones which are primarily from Nordegg to the south and west. It is a large map to refold in your lap.
Backroads Mapbook for Central Alberta
My preferred map is the book Backroads Mapbook for Central Alberta. We keep this book in the vehicle all the time as it contains not only the highways but also all the secondary roads, logging roads, power cut lines, etc. Fishing, hiking, and ATV trails are in the adventure section.
Many of the backroads in David Thompson Country are industrial roads and a clear sign marks almost every km. By following the dot on Google maps and matching it with the km markings on the road and the curves on the paper map, I can put an X on the map when we discover a good random camping spot. We often stop and walk into the site to determine if our trailer can access it easily and take photos. I might circle an area that has multiple sites.
After we use a site, I save pictures from that site in an album and give a name to that X on the map for future reference.
Considerations for random camping
As of June 1, 2021, Alberta plans to require a permit for random camping. The bill has been proposed, but not passed at the time of writing.
Random camping spots may have a somewhat level space to camp, some deadfall for firewood and a great view, but there are many things you will need to provide for yourself.
Toilets/Water
You will not find toilets/outhouses, water, power or garbage cans. Tenting is possible, but you will need to find a way to manage your toilet issues that will not impact the next visitor or animals in the area. Trailers with toilets and water tanks are a good option, but you need to be aware of your capacity before deciding on the number of days you can stay in a place. Grey water is not to be dumped in a random site.
Power
Battery capacity is another consideration for random camping. Know how long you can stay, especially when the nights are cool and you use your furnace. If you plan to stay a few days, a generator may be required.
Our trailer has a solar system that can easily allow us to stay in one location for as long as our water lasts. This system is new to us this year, and although there is a price tag, we appreciate the flexibility of where we can stay without having to interrupt the peace and quiet with a generator. Professional help is important when setting up solar panels, batteries and inverter/chargers. Canadian Energy from Red Deer set us up with just what we needed. The best price for solar panels was with Amazon.
Firewood
We always bring some firewood from home. As I mentioned, the most popular spots have been cleared of all deadfall. There is lots of deadfall in the rest of David Thompson Country. A short trip with your kids should give you plenty of wood for your stay. Collecting deadfall does not require a wood permit, but cutting dead trees does.
Never cut live trees. It might seem like a fun activity but it impacts the site for years to come. The wood won’t burn and cutting trees can be very dangerous. Choose to clear out a space in the undergrowth nearby and enjoy a crackling fire with dry wood.
Check fire advisories for the area before you leave home and be sure to have enough water to completely wet your fire.
Safety
It is very dark at night once you leave the David Thompson highway corridor. This makes for wonderful night photos, but bears, deer, wild horses, cougars, wolves and coyotes live in this area. Large groups and people noise is usually enough to keep them from interacting with humans. If you are camping alone, be aware. Bear spray is essential. Stay alert. Keep your food safely stored in your vehicle or trailer. Don’t leave a cooler outside. Camp stoves and barbeques also have a strong smell for animals and should be safely stored when not in use.
Make sure to have a good first aid kit with you. It is a long way to the nearest hospital and there is no cell signal in many areas of David Thompson Country if you needed to call for help.
Be alert on the roads. Many are active logging roads with large, heavy vehicles. We have a small radio set to the company’s frequency to know where the trucks are. These frequencies are posted along the roads used by these vehicles.
Clean up
Staff are not in place to clean up your site for the next visitor. We find that a foldable leaf bag rack works well for collecting cans or other recyclables. Pick up any garbage that may have blown into your site or been left behind. Store your garbage inside at night or if you are away from your site.
Take all your garbage home. Don’t leave it in the firepit as it will attract animals. Don’t drop it at a viewpoint or day-use area. They are not designed for a weekend’s worth of garbage and also cause problems for animals.
Staking out your random camping spot
I have seen people take their trailer out to a spot very early in the week to get their favourite place for the weekend. Please keep in mind those of us who prefer to camp midweek but can’t use our favourite place even though no one else is using it. Your equipment is also at risk for damage or theft by animals or people. This land belongs to everyone and the random camping system works best when you keep others in mind.
Random camping benefits
If you love the peace and quiet of your own place in the wilderness, random camping might be for you. It is also a good choice for a large group, post-Covid who don’t want to disturb other campers. You can get away into areas that would not sustain a campground. If you are self-contained, it is fun to discover a new place and listen to the silence.
It is a bit more work to look after the site, but this is the price you pay for having a beautiful place to stay, away from the crowds.
Rocky Mountain House, AB; What to do in the winter.
March 7, 2020
I have written about events in many towns and cities around the world, but have not written about my home town of Rocky Mountain House, a town of about 7000 people in west-central Alberta, Canada. There is so much to do in the winter. I made a point to attend as many special events in and around the community held between November and February and had a great time!
November
The first part of November was surprisingly snow-free, but that didn’t last. Snow fell for several days and has remained piled up in the yard still now at the end of February. It makes for beautiful pictures and kids (and adults) in Canada know how to make the best of it. You will see lots of evidence of that.
Evergreen Coop Gala
The local grocery store holds an entertaining gala every year in November. Food and drink are available for sampling with an emphasis on how to entertain at home. Some local craft breweries and meaderies also shared samples. The deli manager was so excited to share all he had learned at a recent cheese course about setting up a delicious charcuterie board display.
The grocery store staff dress up for the occasion and they hold the event in the home center part of the store where all the Christmas decorations are on display. The $5 ticket draws in people from throughout the community.
Parade of Lights
The Parade of Lights kicks off the Festival of Trees, which concludes with Santa’s Workshop. The Rocky Kinsmen Club looks after organizing all the events.
The Parade of Lights is a unique parade that makes Rocky Mountain House special. While we also hold a Rodeo Parade in June, this parade occurs at night, near the end of November and occurs no matter what the temperature.
Families begin to park their vehicles along Main Street early in the afternoon. This year, one family set up their propane fire ring in the midst of their lawn chairs on the street. The back of their truck contained a generator to keep their inflatable upright and the lights sparkling. Memorial Presbyterian Church offers free hot chocolate and coffee to those who pass, as well as hosting Advent activities to anyone interested. As they also offer the use of public washrooms, it is a popular spot.
Hot chocolate station Advent activities Parade watching in comfort
The parade itself is about 40 minutes long and consists of vehicles and floats covered in Christmas lights and decorations. The Rocky Cinema handed out bags of popcorn and most businesses shared candy with the kids along the route.
The parade passes by two of the senior homes and has been held up a couple of times by ambulances needing access to these centres. The local Facebook page informs everyone along the route of any delays.
Rodeo theme Quinn Contracting Santa at the end
Festival of Trees
The Lou Soppit Community Centre becomes the hub for this festival. Businesses and individuals donate decorated trees and wreaths, sponsor Father/Daughter dinners, Seniors lunches, Mom/Son Brunch and Skate, teen dances and business mixers. Local choirs entertain at several of these gatherings. The final day is Santa’s Workshop where children can have their pictures taken with Santa, make Christmas crafts and even buy a gift for their parents. An auction of the trees and wreaths benefits community projects.
Wreaths 
Trees for sale Crafts opportunity Local business support
December
Nativity Display
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints hosts an annual Nativity Display of the community’s donated Nativity scenes. The church transforms its gym with cloth draped tables and twinkling lights surrounded by Nativity collections from around the world.
The variety is incredible with ceramic sets, wooden ones and even life-size characters made from cloth and paint. Hot drinks and Christmas music add to the festive atmosphere. It feels like walking through a Christmas art gallery. This is another free event to attend.
Handmade with cloth and paint Magical
Fur Trade Christmas
Rocky Mountain House was an active fur trading post from 1799 to 1876, which explains the “house” part of the name. In celebration of this history, a National Historic Site was created at the location of the original trading post and the park opened in 1979. (PDF link)
While Parks Canada manages the park during the summer, the Confluence Heritage Society organizes Fur Trade Christmas each December. This group of volunteers teach Metis finger weaving, and bird feeders with ice cream cones, peanut butter and seed. They create music, as well as feed visitors stew and bannock. Alberta Parks made snowshoes available for those who wanted to imagine being a fur trader from the past.
Bird seed stuck in peanut butter Metis finger weaving A kid and a hill… Live music Snowshoe opportunity
Several sleighs and horses with the requisite jingle bells were available for rides through the fields. Tobogganing hills were fun for kids of all ages. There were even some white camels in attendance, cared for by keepers in Hudson Bay blanket coats. Families bundled up for the cold and spent the afternoon along the North Saskatchewan River imagining what life would have been like around Christmas time in 1799.
Sleigh rides White camels
Other Christmas Events
Rocky Mountain House has another unique event at Christmas time. Santa flies over the town at 7 pm on Christmas Eve with lights blazing behind the sleigh. Evening church services are delayed so that children can see this spectacular hint of what is to come. Unfortunately, there were too many clouds this year for Santa (Ken Fowler in his stunt plane from the Rocky Airport) to be seen (or fly without visibility).
Christmas Markets occur almost every weekend in November and December at the Farmer’s Market and throughout the county in Community Halls. There are many talented craftspeople who create items during the year to sell during the Christmas Season.
Riverside Campground hosted a Riverview’s Country Christmas in November and December. Families could take sleigh rides, enjoy the thousands of lights and participate in several Christmas activities.
January and February
Winterfest
January is a quiet month. Musicians perform at local restaurants or in people’s homes. Boardgame nights happen in bars on Saturday nights. Cross country ski trails are groomed and snowshoe hikes on the lake are popular. Methane bubbles on Abraham Lake are visible once the lake freezes completely so tours are popular during January and February. Temperatures can get down to -40C so many people stay home and hibernate.
Family Day is an Alberta holiday on the third Monday in February. Alberta Parks and Pioneer Ranch Camp organize a Winterfest at Crimson Lake Provincial Park, a few km outside of town.
The Freezin’ for a Reason Polar Bear Dip is a highlight. Volunteers remove the surface ice and provide tents and emergency support. This year, twelve brave fundraising individuals jumped in. Local charities received $10 000. Fortunately, the temperature was a balmy -5C.
Alberta Parks made snowshoes available for visitors and a parking lot had been turned into a real skating rink. People tried out curling with painted r rings and stump “rocks”. Pioneer Ranch Camp hosted a sleigh ride and market. Hot dogs purchased hot dogs to munch around the fire. Many families spent their Saturday playing in the snow and ice.
Ice returned to the “dip” hole Hot dogs and a fire Stump curling Snowshoe on the lake Kids and a hill…
Oras Cutter Rally
The final winter event I attended was a Cutter Rally in the Oras Community, about ten minutes from Rocky Mountain House. A cutter is a light sleigh, although it is also a kind of ship. The way they move through snow or water is very similar, I imagine. A local farmer hosts this event in his fields and clears a large parking area for many horse trailers.
The afternoon began with Skijoring, which is a Norwegian sport that involves horses pulling skiers through a set track that included pylon gates and jumps. Children as young as 6 participated in this exciting event. There were 3 horses that did the pulling and about 12 children that raced in different age categories.
Curves Jumps included Straightaways
After the Skijoring races, everyone piled onto the 15 sleighs or onto horseback and headed out. A few children rode on their sleds behind a sleigh on a trail that passed through the trees and fields.
Sleigh drivers Beautiful teams All kinds of sleighs
Over 100 participants who braved the snowy, windy day gathered around the fires to warm up. Horses rested while their passengers roasted hot dogs. People visited with each other and with the horses. These rallies occur throughout Alberta in the winter and people travel long distances to attend.
Lunch by the fire
Other Winter Activities
People that I talk with who live in warmer places in the world find it hard to imagine how we survive in the winter cold. I tell them that winter is long and happens every year so we buy warm clothes, layer and make the best of it. The pictures below represent some of the ways we enjoy winter, both outdoors and in.
Impromptu driving range Indoor golf Night photography Managing snow Skating outside Skating inside Cross country skiing Dressing for the weather Snow soccer Playground Snowshoeing Toganning hill Live music Tea and a movie
I am blessed to live in a community that is beautiful but also enriched with so many activities in the winter and summer. There is no reason to complain about having nothing to do in Rocky Mountain House, AB. I’ll finish with a list of the scheduled events for the year and you will see how true this statement is.
