July 7th saw us at Wood Mountain Stampede, this was definitely not on our original travel plans. Delayed for a medical procedure in Saskatoon, we had spent the month of June in Prince Albert National Park. We then travelled north to La Ronge for a short trip and to pick up the best wild rice grown anywhere. So far our trip has taken us from La Ronge to Prince Albert, Smeaton, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Wood Mountain Regional Park. It was here at Wood Mountain the longest running continuous rodeo in Canada was held, it’s been 134 years of traditional rodeo.
One of the best rodeos anywhere and we have been to a few, in our earlier years we followed the CCA rodeo circuit as rodeo photographers and were at one every weekend across the province of Saskatchewan. This is the account as recorded in my daily journal:
Friday July7th
Stayed over in Moose Jaw last night had rear tire balanced one more time with no change in the shaking at 100 kms. Thinking it must be the tires. Drove to Wood Mountain Rodeo $70 for two nights on the rodeo grounds and $15 each for rodeo passes. Visited Wood Mountain Post established by the NWMP in 1874. The post established just north of the newly established international border with the US made it a strategic point in stopping illegal trade including whiskey traders, horse thieves and cattle rustlers. When Fort Walsh was built the post was closed.
In 1887 when Sitting Bull and thousands of Sioux fled the USA the post was re-opened to monitor their activity. The Sioux lived comfortably in the area until food supplies ran short and returned to the USA. The Wood Mountain Post was once again closed in 1883.
The North West conflict prompted the NWMP to re-open the post in 1886 to do border patrols and stop supplies coming from the US. Following the conflict the post was used as a police station until the Provincial Police Force was established in 1918 and the Post was closed for the last time. Today it still stands partly reconstructed a reminder of by gone years in our history.
Another day in Wood Mountain Regional Park. Today we took in a team roping competition in the rodeo arena, a Ranch Rodeo and the Canadian Cowboys rodeo. We talked to and met some very interesting people that love the western lifestyle. Also a different breed of RVers who travel all summer long going from rodeo to rodeo pulling their horse trailer which also includes RV living quarters. Some of these units would be right up there with the top RVs on the market today and are dual purpose. It has been 26 years since we were at this rodeo and enjoy the laid back, very traditional western feel to the event. This includes placing willow and poplar branches over the grand stands and bucking chutes. This practice dates back to the beginning of the rodeos here. The popular rodeo draws a large number of contestants, featuring the beer gardens and cabaret dance on the Friday and Saturday evenings after the performances. The CCA Rodeo is Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday night was one of the noisest nights we have had so far, When there is a rodeo dance on you can expect the music to play into the early morning and it did. That was expected, what was not expected was a generator parked right out front ran all night long, and not a quiet generator. Sleep was very sporatic to say the least, we hope it was for a sleep apnea machine or something.
That’s about it for this blog, so much one just has to experience it for themselves and take the time to explore the rich history of the area. We’re off to Grasslands National Park next blog and would like to take you along for the trip. We were impressed by this park if you want to subscribe leave your email address and you will be notified by email when I actually get a post up or get cell service. We are working our way north now that we have travelled from the north of the province to the far south.
The best part of this travel is meeting some very interesting people who we will also share with you.
Safe travels and make every day the best day of your life…..Cheers
Gerry (RVcowboy)
Charlotte (Editor in chief)
Those are some nice photos!
Thanks for sharing.
Stay safe 🙂