Dozens of campers were still stranded or struggling to exit the heart of Kananaskis Country Tuesday following rain-driven flooding that badly damaged bridges. A main choke point had been the bridge over Evans Thomas Creek south of Kananaskis Village, which videos shot by visitors showed had partially collapsed, with what appeared to be a vehicle that had toppled into a washed-out section. No injuries have been reported.
Later on Tuesday, the bridge was passable following repair work. As of late Tuesday morning, amid a continued state of emergency, all campgrounds in the area remained shut to new arrivals, but Highway 40 from Kananaskis Village north to the TransCanada Highway was open both ways. Those south of the Eau Claire campground were being advised to travel south on Highway 40 towards Longview.
Ongoing Evacuations and Repairs
“We are actively working to establish road access for those currently unable to leave the area. Visitors in the area are asked to remain where they are if it is safe to do so,” Alberta Forestry and Parks said in a statement. “Crews are actively investigating damage and undertaking repairs where necessary. Backcountry campgrounds will be reopened as conditions allow.”
As they’d advised earlier, those seeking a warm, dry place to wait could go to William Watson Lodge or the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Discovery Centre. There’s been no official word on when travel and camping in the area, now entering its busiest season, will return to normal.
Campers Describe Scary Ordeal
Twylia Girdauckis said she and her family had been staying at the Mount Kidd campground when they were alerted by provincial officials Sunday night about the danger posed by fast-rising nearby creeks. “We were told to hook up our trailer and be ready to leave for higher ground at a moment’s notice,” she said. “Every once in a while we’d hear a big crack and boulders were moving…it was scary.”
After a mass evacuation Monday, the campground was unusually, eerily quiet, she said, though some who’d left on day trips weren’t able to return to their trailers. The family of six including their two dogs were able to stay put in their campsite but due to the washed-out bridge weren’t able to fully enjoy their trip. “Our plan was to do a bunch of hiking but we can’t get diesel,” said Girdauckis’ husband Jason Kenyon, adding their family had planned to stay at Mount Kidd until July 7. “But we were some of the lucky ones, we have supplies, others don’t.”
Rapid Evacuation and Road Closures
Amy Leigh said she began an outing in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park on Friday in a campground that was full until Saturday night. It was a trip that was soon upended by a major exodus sparked by fears of being stranded. “By Sunday afternoon we were one of the only sites still occupied,” she said. “We decided to join the masses and leave around 1 p.m. At that time there were no announcements/formal talk of evacuation by Parks staff.”
One video posted on Facebook showed a vehicle driving through rushing water overflowing Highway 40 and through rocky debris strewn over the pavement while evacuating on Monday. Heavy equipment was already working to mitigate or repair the damage. Damage after about 100 mm of rain had fallen in the Calgary area also closed the gravel Highway 742 between Chester Lake and Canmore, which remained shut Tuesday. The gravel Powderface Trail was also closed.
Long-Term Trail Rehabilitation Expected
Memories of the damage inflicted on the area were rekindled by last weekend’s torrential rains, said Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis which maintains trails in the region. Long-term trail rehabilitation is expected as crews assess the full extent of the damage.
