Residents of Southern Saskatchewan have faced unseasonably mild weather conditions thanks to El Niño, a recurring natural climate phenomenon that pushes colder weather conditions eastward to the Great Lakes and Atlantic Canada. The effects are not permanent, however, as the recent snowfall and onset of colder winter conditions have demonstrated.
The return to Saskatchewan’s typical winter weather isn’t all negative. To embrace the snowy conditions and make the most of it, SaskParks has announced that winter snowshoeing has returned to Buffalo Pound Provincial Park starting Saturday, Jan. 13.
Snowshoeing tours take place on Saturdays following the Jan. 13 start date, with one intake in the early afternoon followed by a second later in the day.
The Snowy Safari Snowshoe program is set to run from 1 – 2:30 p.m. In the program, participants strap on a pair of snowshoes and grab binoculars while a park interpreter leads a quest to find wildlife calling the park home. The program runs for 90 minutes and covers two kilometres at a moderate difficulty level.
Snowshoe Through the Past is the second guided tour offered at Buffalo Pound. In the program, participants step back in time as they follow a guided tour of the Nicolle Homestead located within the park boundaries. Led by an experienced park interpreter, the tour includes historical narration such as tales of past blizzards and insights into the life faced by settlers at the historical homestead.
The Snowshoe Through the Past tour runs for 90 minutes and covers 3.1 kilometres at an easy difficulty level. Participants are asked to account for the roughly 15-minute drive to the homestead site.
To register for the snowshoeing program, the cost is a flat rate of $11 per vehicle for the day. If you are the holder of a current and valid park pass, the program is offered free of charge.
Snowshoe equipment can then be picked up at the Buffalo Pound Visitor’s Centre located in the park.
It is recommended that anyone wishing to partake in the snowshoeing program register well in advance to ensure the availability of snowshoe equipment. To register, visit TourismSaskatchewan.com/places-to-go/provincial-parks.
Participants are welcome to bring their own set of snowshoes if they have a pair at home.
Before heading out, it is advisable to check current weather conditions. If the windchill falls below minus 26 Celsius, the snowshoeing program will not be held. If you find yourself in the park and the guided tour has been cancelled, contact the main office to inquire about possible alternative indoor activities held at the Visitor’s Centre.
To contact the park’s main office, Eugenie can be reached at 306-694-3229. Alternatively, the entry office can be reached at 306-694-3320.
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