A Trip Down the Steeprock River
With near complete silence and my mind somewhat on auto pilot, I coast my way down rolling highways back to the city on a dark Sunday night. I look over to the passenger’s side and check on the wild flowers I picked for my girlfriend at the Steeprock River earlier in the day. A mix of horsetail, wild rose and a few plants I can’t quite figure out—I hadn’t caught a fish all weekend, but I wasn’t about to return empty handed either.
As much as I enjoy fishing, this nil catch disappoints me for only a second. I remember my friends hopping from stone to stone across the stream or standing on fallen trees over coursing water. I can still hear our laughter breaking the night’s silence. I can still feel the way my heart pounded after the sound of crackling thunder on our mid-day hike. Like all of our trips, this one had been tiring, but exhilarating—with or without fish.
I feel incredibly lucky that all of my friends share the same fascination and attraction to the outdoors—particularly, the forests surrounding either side of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border. The Steeprock River is just one of the magnificently beautiful places we’ve been lucky to visit in this region. Living up to its name, the dramatic crumbling hillsides and massive boulders make for some breathtaking adventure at a risk.
The elements had been sporadic to say the least, alternating from thunderstorm to beach-weather on the hour. We had spent one full day hiking upstream to find new canyon country, but the storms seemed to angrily hold us back. We had returned to camp only to find our tents basking in the sun under clear skies. I still believe we made the right decision, but I’m left with insatiable curiosity. What could have been around that next river bend?
This trip had been our second visit to Steeprock and our first time with the fresh leaves and wild flowers in bloom. We had come across a luna moth—rarely seen as they only survive for a week after metamorphosis.
In the same day that I had woke up to the crashing noise of rushing water, I find myself driving into the orange glow of the city. It’s oddly comforting. I’ve lived in the prairies my entire life, but I’ve never felt the same boredom that many people use to denounce my home. It is part of a vast and diverse land that goes beyond any imaginary border. I can only recommend that those people take up the challenge and explore.
It’s 11 p.m. by the time I pull into my driveway. Sun-scorched, beaten and bruised, I drag myself into my room, set my alarm for work and collapse face down on my bed. In a moment, the darkness takes the shape of towering spruce as the sound of running water reverberates in my head. Three tired breaths expend my last ounce of energy before I plunge into a deep sleep. Weekends never leave me well-rested—and that suits me just fine.
About The Saskatchewan Border
In the search for new fishing opportunities, Andy Goodson and his friends explore a variety of forests and streams all within driving distance of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border. Andy writes for a photoblog named The Saskatchewan Border that serves to promote the natural beauty and recreational value of protected wilderness areas between the two provinces. These travels are documented online through story, video and photography with a focus on landscapes, natural points of interest and bushcraft. To check out where Andy and his friends have been, visit saskborder.com.