Conservation Officer Sawitsky

2006-08-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

See more photos of my backcountry trip!
http://athabascadunes.blogspot.com

This is George...eating a burnt pork skewer..

2006-08-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

The photo that appears blue/ grey is actually a colour setting I put on my camera. It kind of looks like snow!

The body of water here is being swollowed by the dunes. The sand is slowing eating up all the trees and laks in sight. This tiny lake is black its so deep. Only a foot off shore is a complete drop-off. It is filled with walleye and pike!

Here are some more photos. As I was saying, I'm glad the dunes are protected. Up until last year, quads could drive all over the dunes. Sad! They do have some dunes set aside for riding on. Ethiclly, I don't like quads because they are loud, and totally eat up everything in sight. But this is the only way to get into the area unless you go by plane or 'chopper. I don't know if you all can read the sign about the secrets in the sand, but there are actually carnivorous plants in the dunes.

2006-08-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

so....my trip into the Richardson River Wildland Provincial Park was amazing! I hate quadding, and it showed within the first two minutes of my riding. I crashed! Then I got my wits together and rode the rest of the 120 km sand road just fine. It was a heck of a looooong trip. I was with my supervisor, Bart, and our secretary, Jan. we also met up with a Fish and Wildlife guy and another from foresty up at the cabin. I got to see the Athabasca sand sunes the next day. I've been to a lot of places, and seen a lot, but nothing like this. Thank God its an Ecological reserve. Absolutely STUNNING! White sand for miles and miles and miles. And not a sinlge soul up there. Its virtually UNTOUCHED. Just wolf foot prints. Anyways...I have to go to a staff party, but I'll post more pics later!

2006-08-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

The top photo is of the campsite maintenance guy, Thomas. He is from Germany, and is hilarious. If he wasn't 37, I'd set him up with my mom! Hehehe. The doggy, Akira, was found on the highway, and he rescued her. She is so gentle, and funny. They make a great pair!
The other two photos are of me on our Boston Whaler. We did a late night anglers check on a few people, but it definately felt like autumn out there!

2006-07-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

It was a crazy-hot day at the beach. In the evening, it started to cloud over and a huge storm came through. I went down to the boat launch at midnight and tried to take pictures of the fork lightening. It wasn't easy. But this is what I ended up capturing. The bottom of the photo is the dock and beach. In the backgroung, is sheet lightning behind pouring rain...at least thats what I think it is? Any other guesses? Could it be an Alien ship from Mars beaming down on the oil riggers?

2006-07-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Ok...so I know I don't post very exciting photos, but really, if I'm dealing with "bad people", I can't take any pictures!.

2006-07-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

And yet another rainbow picture at the beach.

Moonlight reflection on Gregoire Lake....

And Aspens in the sunlight!

2006-06-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

And this is a tiger lily...they're everywhere!

Even though I really don't like the idea of ATV's tearing up the earth and creating a lot of noise, I had to take a course on how to drive them. Pretty fun I guess! Thats me ( again!)

And here are some nice juicy strawberries from just outside my yard. I decided not to pick them all, and leave some for the bears....
This is the smoke from the forest fires around here.

Can you see the bugs? Told you they were insane!

This is Gregoire Lake Provincial Park, just southeast of Fort McMurray.
This is Colleen standing by the "green and White" at Maqua Lake.
This is me ( Colleen) sitting by Engtrom lake, which is stalked with Rainbow Trout.