Prince Albert National Park

Prince Albert National Park

August 22 &23, 2006

Prince Albert National Park (PANP) is not like any other national park I have ever seen. There are few roads, towns or people north of PANP. It preserves over a million acres of north woods forests, lakes and bogs. Most of the park can be reached only by foot or canoe. PANP was inspired by Gray Owl, a Brit who came to Canada looking for his father. He never found his father, but he lived with and became a blood brother of the Ojibwa Indians. He then devoted his life to the reestablishment of the beaver in the north woods of Canada. We saw a lot of beaver dams in PANP.

The Park is true wilderness. Yet on the south shore of Waskesiu Lake sets the village of Waskesiu, wholly owned by Parks Canada. Waskesiu is like a 1920’s resort dropped carefully into the 21^st century. Most visitors walk or bicycle, and all cars drive slowly and yield the right of way to pedestrians and cyclists. There are hundreds of rental units, most small cabins strung along narrow streets with canoes propped near by.

The village has a beautiful golf course, tennis courts, and a beach which was crowded with people enjoying the sun when we drove into town.

No one owns property here. All businesses lease from the government. Most streets nearer the water are lined with private summer houses, built by private individuals and leased for 45 years from the government. Many of the houses facing the lake are like “On Golden Pond” houses. One man I met built his house in 1954 and has already signed a new 45 year lease. He has spent ever summer here since he retired. His kids, one of whom now lives in northern Alabama, spent their summers here while growing up.

Another man who I met at the lawn bowling court and who was lawn bowling (I think I could get into that sport) with his wife and daughters said he had been coming here for as long as he could remember. Now his kids are coming. “The best part,” he said, “is that you don’t have to worry about where your kids are. This is still a safe community.”

Our camp was in deep woods on rolling hills just east of the village. We were isolated, yet within walking distance of the village. There was an extensive trail system in the woods around the village and along the lake. Some of the trails were for hikers only so Annie and Elmo could go places I couldn’t. But I could explore more trails in the time we had.

PANP is black bear country. The Park signs and officials warned us to be careful. I road alone because Steve wasn’t here to ride point. I did ride singing, whistling, or shouting out to father bear, except on one particularly difficult up hill section.

Life is definitely good.