Sacred Trees of Alberta, Part 1

Over a year ago, when I took a few days off in the Crowsnest Pass to mull about my career, life, and everything, I posted a photo of the Burmis Tree (49°33'21.51"N, 114°17'56.92"W), the iconic (but dead) limber pine at the east entrance to the Pass on Hwy. 3, calling it one of the “sacred trees of Alberta”.  This raised the question of what other trees are out there. Unlike my list of glacial erratics, trees are ultimately transitory things; they suffer damage and die. So in a couple of cases, these “heritage trees” are no more.  In 2008 the Heritage Tree Foundation of Canada published a list of 73 heritage tree locations within Calgary, mainly in the inner city.  This list includes groups of trees, e.g. the Memorial Drive poplars, and I hope to publish a select few as Part 3.  Exploring these might make a good summer project, but a list can be found on the last page at http://ow.ly/iu7J30afNVW 

I recently found my copy of Alberta Trees of Renown: An Honour Roll of Alberta Trees (Alberta Forestry Association, 1986), and here’s the first part of a list of some of the oldest or locally iconic trees in Alberta. Oldest first:

1.     Whirlpool Point Limber Pine (approx. 52°00'04" N, 116°28'15").  Located on the North Saskatchewan River off Hwy. 11 just west of Abraham Lake, the 1986 estimate had the age of this ancient tree as 1000 years. More recent estimates have it closer to 3000.  http://gigapan.com/gigapans/186145

2.     The oldest known Engelmann Spruce in Alberta, located near the Columbia Icefields, is estimated to have begun life in 1265, making it over 750 years old. Cold conditions, isolation from other forest stands, frequent rainshowers, and low incidence of lightning, have led to its longevity.

3.     The oldest Douglas Fir in Alberta, nearly 700 years old, is located atop the Hoodoos northeast of the TransCanada Highway just inside Banff National Park. It is one of a number of similar trees over 500 years old. http://ow.ly/zP9V30a3hgl

4.     The oldest Lodgepole Pine (if it’s still standing) began life near the Upper Kananaskis Lake after a fire in 1586, making it over 400 years old. The area has since been taken over by spruce, and Forestry reported in 1986 that this tree was barely hanging in. Even then, they described it as “a dead-looking snag”.

5.     The oldest Black Spruce, nearly 400 years old, is located in the Cache Percotte forest just south of Hinton. It’s located on a cool, wet, north-facing slope, with a high water table. Higher surrounding trees have also prevented its growth.

6.     Dunvegan Maple. Located behind the Catholic church in historic Dunvegan on the Peace River (approx. 55°55'24.37"N, 118°35'54.03"W) this tree (like other maples on this list) was brought to Alberta, here planted by James McDougall in 1883. The original trunk has long-since lain down on the ground, and newer trees are growing from it. http://gigapan.com/gigapans/88468

7.     Garneau’s Tree, a Manitoba maple planted in Edmonton in 1874 by Laurent and Eleanor Garneau, early settlers who had been part of the Riel Rebellion. Acknowledged with a plaque on the U. of A. Campus.  53°31'34.10"N, 113°31'4.65"W.

April Events:

Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me. All times MDT.

Apr 1:  All Fools’ Day.

Apr 1, 7:00 pm:  Paranormal Investigation at Haunted Hotel, Bassano, hosted by Ghost Hunt Alberta. Tickets through Eventbrite.  https://www.facebook.com/ghosthuntalberta/

Apr 1, 7:30 pm:  COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. http://www.cogcoa.ab.ca

Apr 8, 10:00 am:  Calgary New Age Craft Market at Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Hall.

Apr 9, 5:14 pm:  Mercury Retrograde (to May 3).

Apr 9, 7:00 pm:  Paranormal Pub Night at Cat ‘n Fiddle Pub, hosted by Ghost Hunt Alberta. Tickets through Eventbrite.

Apr 11, 12:08 am:  Full (Pink or Wind) Moon.

Apr 15:  Saille/Willow Tree Month begins, according to Robert Graves. (Four days after FULL Moon, showing the problem with this “lunar” system.)

Apr 16:  Easter Sunday.

Apr 16, 2:00 pm:  Dances with Witches. Info: Calgary Pagan Network on Facebook.

Apr 22:  Earth Day.

Apr 22, 8:00 am:  Alberta Wilderness Association “Climb for Wilderness” at the Bow Building. http://www.climbforwilderness.ca

Apr 22:  Green Calgary Composter and Rain Barrel Sales begin (to June 24).  http://www.greencalgary.org

Apr 23, 6:00 pm:  Ghost Hunting 101 at The Bank and Baron Pub, hosted by Calgary and Banff Ghost Tours.  Tickets through Ticketor.

Apr 26, 6:16 am:  New Moon. Saille/Willow Lunar Month begins.

Apr 27-30:  Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo. http://calgaryexpo.com

Apr 29, 12:00 pm:  The Original Red Deer Witches Market, at Witches Ink. http://www.witchesink.ca/

Apr 29, 7:00 pm:  Heathen Meet and Greet. Info: Calgary Heathens on Facebook.

May 1:  Beltane.

May 1, 11:00 am: First Annual Lethbridge Pagan Cultural Festival, at Galt Gardens (Stafford Drive Exit on Hwy 3).  https://www.facebook.com/LethPaganCulturalFest/