Introducing the Wild Questionnaire
12 questions, the same for everybody. We’ll post people’s responses regularly on our website and share them in our newsletter. To participate, get in touch at info.braggcreekwild@gmail.com
This month we asked Flora Giesbrecht, Coordinator for the Elbow River Watershed Partnership, Head Nordic Coach for XCBC and long time Bragg Creek resident.
Flora’s enthusiasm to celebrate and protect Bragg Creek inspires us.
1. What’s your connection with this area? What’s important to you about this place?
I am fortunate to live here. There are still wild, relatively untouched places. I love looking outside my window and seeing many shades and textures of green. Those plants are part of a unique network, a green strip of land we can see on Google Earth running NW to SE, a part of the East Slopes. Dropping out of that green strip is the Elbow River, which is also very important to me for sustenance, peace and connection.
As soon as our family moved here in 2010, it felt like home for us all. My family (father’s side) has lived in the area since the 1880s, so I feel deep connected roots here.
2. Can you give us three words you think describe the Bragg Creek/ Redwood Meadows area?
Beautiful, connected, unique.
3. Share a treasured memory of being out in nature around here.
One of my first treasured memories was driving to West Bragg day use area when my children were very small. We were planning to cross-country ski, but it was spring and the trails were icy. We didn’t put our skis on, instead we put rain pants on and the kids slid down one of the trails on their bottoms, they went up and down, like a little luge track and then when they were tired, we drank hot chocolate. I remember focusing on my son’s little dimply hands clamped around the hot chocolate cup. I remember rosy cheeks, my daughter’s bright eyes, the steam from the hot chocolate and a velvety green backdrop.
4. What’s your favourite view/body of water/high place in the area?
Rainy Summit, looking West, you can see the Elbow River, the mountain range rises ahead and it takes my breath away every time I see it.
5. If you have free time in the area, what’s your favourite thing to do?
In winter – definitely cross-country skiing in West Bragg.
6. Have you ever had a ‘close call’ wildlife encounter? Where?
Riding my bike at dusk along Mountain View Park Road and a cougar came out of the Trees. He/she ran towards me and my friend, and was maybe 8 feet away. Time stood still as he/she decided what to do next.
7. If you could come back as a local wild animal, what would you be?
A fox.
8. What’s your favourite season in Kananaskis?
Cliché, but I love all seasons in Kananaskis. I think my least favorite is late fall after the first snowfall: there is some snow but not enough to ski on.
9. Pick one: fat bike/Cross-country skis/snowshoes/cocoa by the fire.
Cross-country ski
10. What was a really cool thing you saw around here recently?
Lynx tracks in our yard.
11. Can you tell us of any good books or documentaries about nature in Alberta/Canada?
Any book by Kevin Van Tighem is a treasure.
12. Is there one place you’d recommend to visitors to the area? Why?
Forget-Me-Not pond with a hot drink in the early morning. It’s not busy yet, you can hear the Elbow River, and the view is spectacular.
