Elk Island

And now for something COMPLETELY different from yesterday!

Today we took a day trip (45 minute drive) to Elk Island National Park.  We're not sure why it is called that, because it is neither an island NOR did we see elk!

Elk Island National Park is 194 square km.  It is a refuge for bison and elk.  It is home to the smallest and largest land mammals in North America (the pygmy shrew and the wood bison). There is a nice scenic drive and 11 trails to choose from.  It is Canada's only fully fenced national park.

It did not take long for us to see some bison:

The seasons seems to be mixed up here:

Frankie got to wear her new boots today!

We walked parts of most of the trails and did the entire Amisk Wuche Trail (Cree for "beaver hills).

The great thing about the weather was that we were the ONLY ones on the trails today:

Parts of the lakes were already frozen over:

Frankie decided NOT to have a seat!

Some animals have been very busy at this crossing:

Could it be whoever lives in this den?

We saw a lone bison grazing at the picnic area:

We wondered if this path was made by him?

Yup!

More hiking:

 

Frankie sat on the same bench that Pope John Paul II sat on in 1984:

Someone else was wearing much more stylish footwear than Frankie:

For one of the trails, Anton decided to nap while Frankie hiked alone.

So she had to try to take her own selfies.  Oops!

Oh, that's better!

Anton woke up from his nap and followed Frankie's boot prints to find her:

This was the closest thing to a snow angel that Anton wanted to make:

One last bison herd before we headed back to the bnb: