DECOMPRESSING IN DECEMBER!

DECOMPRESSING IN DECEMBER!
December is a hectic season, with joy, stress, excitement and pressure all jumbled into our already busy schedules.   One of the most effective ways to decompress and be rejuvenated is to get out in nature. Fortunately for those of us living in Central Alberta, nature is literally at our doorstep. Walking trails thread through the City of Red Deer and surrounding smaller towns, the Great Trail links several communities, and there are many local rural protected properties that can be enjoyed.
There are a total of 169 protected properties within 100 km of Red Deer, all listed here on this website. We have chosen three that we feel will be especially interesting to explore in December. The Cliff and Mary Soper Natural area is readily accessible and has facilities (e.g., outhouses, walking trails, signage) while the other two are a bit more challenging.  
Three Rural Properties to Explore in December

1. Lockerby: This is a 319-acre parcel is 25 km southeast of Red Deer. The area consists of rolling hills of aspen and birch, interspersed with wetlands and grasslands.  There are unmarked trails throughout. The property is managed by the Alberta Conservation Association, Alberta Fish and Game Association, and Nature Conservancy of Canada. There is parking but there are no facilities. Directions: East of Red Deer of 595, south on 816, watch for sign on west side of road. Do not block gate. https://www.albertadiscoverguide.com/site.cfm?grid=E3&number=161
2. Medicine Lodge Hills Natural Area. This 160-acre parcel sits atop a high point of land within the Medicine Lodge Hills. An area frequented by elk and other ungulates, it is an old-grown forest dominated by large aspen and birch. Watch for grouse and snowshoe hares, both common inhabitants. Directions: Go west of Bentley on Highway 12 for 16 km, then north on RR 31. Park off the road at the southwest corner of  the natural area, then walk north along an unmaintained road and hike up on an old seismic trail. Follow game trails at the top. https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/central/medicine-lodge-hills-na/
3. Mary and Cliff Soper Natural Area. This 25-acre natural area, donated to Lacombe County by the Sopers, is east of Blackfalds (Twp Rd 394). The area has a parking lot, garbage cans and a washroom. There is a map, and well-marked pathways meander throughout an old-growth mixed forest. Directions: Go east of Lacombe on TWP 394, watch for sign and parking lot on south side of road. https://www.lacombecounty.com/index.php/parks-and-trails

 (Note: For Lockerby and Medicine Lodge Hill Natural Area, be sure to bring a GPS or have a mapping program on your phone, let others know of your plans, and follow relevant wilderness safety protocols. If possible, submit bird sightings to eBird. If you spot anything unusual or amiss, please email myrnapearman.nature@gmail.com)