Trip Report: Lundbreck/Waterton area *PIC HEAVY*

Clgy_Dave2.0 · #1 06-03-2013, 07:47 AM

Had a few unexpected days off so we decided to head out for a short "RV Trip". We'll call it "RV'ing" so the "camping elitists" wont have to come in and tell us about what "real camping" is.

Headed down to Lundbreck Falls campground on Wednesday afternoon. Wanting one particular campsite, we thought a mid week arrival would give us that chance. Sure enough, we rolled in around 3:00 to a completely empty campground! (Gotta love Southern Alberta for the lack of crowds!)

Didn't get any fishing in on this trip, as that portion of the Crowsnest is closed. So we just explored and scouted different areas. Spent Saturday in Waterton and the Sun came out for the entire day. Saw lots of wildlife!!

As much as I do not want one.. we have been thinking of getting a generator for those non-powered sites we often use. So we rented a Honda 2000 just to see how it performed. Ran everything we needed (including a 32" TV and PS3) without even breathing hard. The microwave and toaster made it rev up for a few minutes. 30 feet away from our site and you couldn't even hear it.

Here's pics:

This was the spot we wanted!!

The view out our door

Checked out nearby Oldman Reservoir dam

Beautiful Cottonwood campground. Powered sites as well

Even has a stocked pond in the middle

Saw lots of wildlife

Cameron Falls, Waterton

Even saw a real live wild Pinto!!!!

Clgy_Dave2.0 · #2 06-03-2013, 07:51 AM

rhuntley12 · #3 06-03-2013, 07:59 AM

Nice pictures. Sadly never been to Waterton but it's on my list of places to camp at some day.

pgavey · #4 06-03-2013, 07:59 AM

Nice pics, We use to camp there often when the kids were young. Love the area.

JB_AOL · #5 06-03-2013, 08:00 AM

Looks like you had a great trip..

Makes me sad I won't be getting out much this year...

recce43 · #6 06-03-2013, 08:01 AM

Wow nice to see you get pics of that rare wild pinto . looks like it winter nicely. You are lucky to get that close to one

molly · #7 06-03-2013, 08:07 AM

Thanks, Dave! I just love that area...Waterton is my favorite spot. Where is that Cottonwood campground? Looks like you had it to yourselves!

Clgy_Dave2.0 · #8 06-03-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molly

Thanks, Dave! I just love that area...Waterton is my favorite spot. Where is that Cottonwood campground? Looks like you had it to yourselves!

Cottonwood is in the Oldman Dam recreation area. It's located downstream from the dam right on the river. We just checked it out, didn't stay there. But yes, there was not one person staying there. About 100 sites, half are powered.

just_dave · #9 06-03-2013, 11:48 AM

Great photos!

What an awesome spot to camp, right next to the water.

jcrayford · #10 06-03-2013, 12:58 PM

Ah the memories.....

Thanks Dave, I know each of those spots off by heart. Being born and raised in Lundbreck until I was out to college, I've visited each of those spots many times personally....

Yep, Cottonwood is one of my favorites. Used to camp at Lundbreck falls too, but haven't camped there in years. Spent a ton of time in Waterton too - lots of time up Red Rock Canyon.

Like recce says, those Pintos don't stand still very long, nice pic.

I've know the buy that owns the land directly across the Crowsnest river from the Falls campground all my life. I even stayed at his cabin just up the hill from the falls while down there for a wedding.

Great pictures!

J.

BTW, catch and release Bull Trout in the river beside Cottonwood.... Jr caught about a 20" Bull last summer that still had a 9" Whitefish in it's mouth....

Badback · #11 06-03-2013, 01:06 PM

Nice pics Dave...The colors of the Harlequin Duck and the rocks in the water is a great shot...

dollfin · #12 06-03-2013, 02:28 PM

Awesome pics! Looks like a lot of fun!

nof60 · #13 06-03-2013, 02:31 PM

Thanks for the pics. When we lived in Taber we used to spend almost every weekend at Waterton. I proposed to my wife at cameron falls and the silly girl accepted. Used to do a lot of diving on the gertrude there. Fanatastic. Thanks for the memories.

Fish along · #14 06-03-2013, 03:08 PM

Very nice camping area and nice pics.so was that a wood duck in one of your pics?

Fish along · #15 06-03-2013, 03:11 PM

I just went on Ibird it's harlequin like mentioned .thanks

harv3589 · #16 06-03-2013, 03:13 PM

Good to see some pics from down there....Waterton is my favourite place to go do pics. Love the wildflowers there...

flyguyd · #17 06-03-2013, 07:34 PM

Thanks for that Dave. Ive seen lots Harlequin hens and ducklings while fishing the mountains but never a drake. Maybe the only one is in Waterton......LOL

Clgy_Dave2.0 · #18 06-03-2013, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyguyd

Thanks for that Dave. Ive seen lots Harlequin hens and ducklings while fishing the mountains but never a drake. Maybe the only one is in Waterton......LOL

He was really interesting to watch. He'd sit there for about 15 minutes..then hop into the rapids and ride them down a few hundred yards, then fly back to the same spot and start all over again.

I couldn't get any closer than about 30 yards to him, otherwise I could've gotten a real nice shot.

But I'm interested in these two:

.

The mother would take her chics down the rapids, some riding on her back, some on the water. They go down over and over. Sometimes they'd all be on her back. It was so cool to watch as they did this right in front of our campsite.

Albertadiver · #19 06-03-2013, 08:21 PM

Great pics as always Dave. May have to try some spring camping down that way too.

Alberta Bigbore · #20 06-03-2013, 08:30 PM

Awesome pix.

drhu22 · #21 06-03-2013, 09:02 PM

Nice pics... thanks for bringing us there!

rocpilefsj · #22 06-03-2013, 09:23 PM

Caught my first brook trout at lundbreck falls campground about 16 years ago. Nice pics!

Wes_G · #23 06-03-2013, 09:59 PM

You had my attention right up untill the words Camping, 32" TV and PS3 were used in the same post. Nice pics though!

hayseed · #24 06-03-2013, 10:01 PM

Awesome pics thx for sharin!!

Clgy_Dave2.0 · #25 06-03-2013, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes_G

You had my attention right up untill the words Camping, 32" TV and PS3 were used in the same post.....

Why do you feel the need to make that comment? Is it to show you're a superior "camper"? That you're more "rugged" than me?

You obviously didn't have enough attention span to read the first part...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary Dave

...we decided to head out for a short "RV Trip". We'll call it "RV'ing" so the "camping elitists" wont have to come in and tell us about what "real camping" is.

kthxbye!!

CheeseBurger · #26 06-03-2013, 10:18 PM

Nice photos! It looks like you had a good trip. Thanks for sharing.

TreeGuy · #27 06-03-2013, 10:35 PM

I like you so much better now, Dave since you retired the 'Rick Ashley Bomb'!

Great pics man. Thanks for posting.

mcguiver55 · #28 06-03-2013, 10:44 PM

great pics and report calgary dave..dont let the one negative reply get you down....

BeeGuy · #29 06-03-2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary Dave

But I'm interested in these two:

.

common merganser.

the fella is the showy one.

BeeGuy · #30 06-03-2013, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgary Dave

The mother would take her chics down the rapids, some riding on her back, some on the water. They go down over and over. Sometimes they'd all be on her back. It was so cool to watch as they did this right in front of our campsite.

we watched some ducks doing this in OK Falls at the remains of the falls one spring during high water.

highly entertaining.

Stunt Duck!