Some changes welcome May long Waskesiu campers

“The water is dangerously cold so make sure you’re sticking close to shore, especially if you’re in a canoe or kayak, and keep the little ones close by,” Bond said.

As things warm up outside, the wilderness area’s bears are also coming out of hibernation – some of them with cubs.

That comes with a warning to give bears their distance, keeping campsites clean, keeping food hidden “and anything that might attract them in and make them habituated or too familiar with people,” Bond said.

The anticipation of a beautiful weekend wasn’t limited to campers – park staff was just as excited.

“I think we live for this weekend, right? We dream about it all winter,” she said.

Things will look a little different on the roads this year.

Construction on the scenic route, Highway 263, starts “right from Christopher Lake” but there are no delays,” Bond said.

Cookson Road does have a detour, but other than that the drive should be good, according the Bond.

As well, there is some patchwork underway near the park that should wrap up by June.

The Nature Centre is opening for the year in good shape. Its hardwood floors have been redone and the windows opened up.

Another positive is that the flooding of year’s past has dried up.

“The hiking trails are really good this year so, you know, the trails seem to be drier than they have in the last few years at this time,” Bond said.

Red Deer Trailer Park and Beaver Glen campgrounds look to have similar bookings as last year.

While many in the province have strong opinions about liquor bans in provincial parks over May long, PANP doesn’t follow the same rules.

“We do have a liquor ban in all front country campgrounds except for Red Deer Trailer Park,” Bond said.

“We do that, we have the last few years, to encourage that family-friendly environment and it’s worked really well and people seem to like that so we’re doing that again this year.”

For those who want to head up to Waskesiu, they can reserve campsites online or by phone.

claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk

by Chelsea Laskowski

Some changes welcome May long Waskesiu campers

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