JB & Brenda Take Us to Their Special Place

Sunday morning found us waking up to a typical Louisiana winter morning. Which is 41 degrees and wet. John and Brenda were taking us to their special place today. It's called the Ya Ha Tinda Ranch which means mountain prairie in Stoney. The Stoney named this unique place in the mountains when small bands of Aboriginal people migrated here from the central prairies int he 17th and 18th centuries. Today it is one of the last unspoiled areas of natural grass and scrubland in Alberta. It's also special to them because this is where they chose to get married.

Due to the weather we got a late start and were on the road heading west around noon.

Those snow covered mountains is our destination today


Red Deer River


Welcome sign to Ya Ha Tinda Ranch

We arrived at the Ya Ha Tinda Ranch around two o'clock and stopped at the Red Deer river. From there they took us down a trail to view the Bighorn Falls.

Walking along side the creek


Brenda, John and myself posing for Gina


Our first view of the Bighorn Falls


Gina and I in front of the falls


I decided to climb up the side for a little adventure


This is on top of the ridge looking down at the falls


This is the view on top of the falls looking down the creek


Right here is where John & Brenda were married


Still on top of the ridge just facing a different direction

We were all getting hungry so we set out to find John's cousin Mike and his friends campsite. We found it. However, they were all out horseback riding. We just kind of took over their campsite and made ourselves comfortable while John built a campfire.

John splitting some kindling for the fire


John & me grilling hot dogs / wieners for our dinner

Just as we finished eating John's cousin and friends rode in to camp. They were very thankful for the nice campfire.

Big view of their Campsite

We met Mike, Harold & Diane, and Roy & Peggy. What a great bunch of people. Roy & Peggy spend their winters down in Arizona like John & Brenda do. We sat around talking with them for quite awhile. While we were sitting around Harold spotted a big herd of Elk up on the mountain side along with a big bull elk.

John said there were about 100 head of elk in this herd


Here is that big bull

We said goodbye to our new friends since it was getting late. We made it back home around nine o'clock and we just cannot thank John & Brenda enough for showing us their special place. It is so beautiful. Gina and I would just say that we have found another "Little Piece of Heaven". If you are ever coming up to Canada it's worth your time to stop and take in the beauty of the Ya Ha Tinda Ranch.

That was our day and we hope you all enjoyed our adventure today at the Ya Ha Tinda Ranch. Stay tuned as John and Brenda have a lot more to show us.

If you want to see more photo's click this link to our Online photo album
You can click this link to read John & Brenda's blog

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.