Dinosaur Weekend

On our first days off from training at the ABMI, we embarked on a dino-packed weekend.  The trip back in time started off in the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park in search of fossils and hoodoos.  The badlands were thus named by the French explorers passing through the region on horseback, as the terrain was difficult to navigate.  The formations were created as glaciers receeded through the old river valley and the soft sandstone was eroded.  Nowadays, the comparitively small rivers occupy the massive valleys, and the resulting vast badland is an impressive landscape, and perhaps the most fascinating I've ever seen.

My first view of the badlands, entering Dinosaur Provincial Park

Dinosaur Provincial Park was a hotspot of fossil-finding activity in its heyday, and even still remains so, with new fossils being exposed and explored after a good rain.  While we only spotted one bone outside of the preserved displays, there were also some trace fossils and interesting plants and wildlife.

Rattlesnake, from a respectable distance

Dino at the visitor centre

Beware the tall grass!

Hours were spent running from hill to hill, climbing hoodoos, and exploring the wild terrain.  Every turn of the corner seemed to expose a stunning new perspective!

Our last hike of the day was through the seemingly only patch of trees in the park.   Although exhausted from jumping around the hoodoos, we were well rewarded with an unexpected moose sighting.  Mama and baby were cautiously curious about us, and stuck around long enough for a picture.

Gorgeous end to the day

In the evening, the scenery of the day came to life with a viewing of Jurassic Park projected onto the wall in our house, surround sound turned up loud.  The following day we took a trip to Drumheller, where the fossils unearthed in Dinosaur Park are on display at the Royal Tyrell Museum.  We spent hours pouring over the displays and learning about how none of the Jurassic Park dinos were from the Jurassic period, and many more relevant facts.  It was an excellent introductory weekend to Alberta, its history, and its love for the dinosaurs!

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