REGINA – It’s the day Saskatchewan campers have been waiting for.
“Alright, which one goes where?” asks Jason Klemenz, holding up a tent rod and staring at the pile of canvas on the ground.
He’s setting up camp in Echo Valley Campground until September. For him, this weekend marks the beginning of summer.
“I love the community feel down here,” he said. “It’s like a little community when you’re camping.”
Saskatchewan’s Provincial Parks opened Thursday, and many people like Klemenz couldn’t wait to get out the tent.
“It’s been a long winter that’s for sure,” he said. “After six months of winter, everybody’s ready to get out here.”
Get breaking National news
The delay has put most Provincial Parks behind on maintenance. Boat launch sites aren’t quite ready yet, and ice is still dotting some of the lakes.
Each park encourages you to check in at the gate so they can relay local restrictions.
“We will have a precautionary drinking water advisory because we couldn’t get our plant operating soon enough,” said Dallas Chorneyko, Echo Valley Provincial Park Supervisor.
The good news is flooding has ended just in time. All Saskatchewan lakes are seeing normal undertows and currents.
“We can play on them if you’re brave,” said Mary-Anne Wihak, Parks Service Director at the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. “The water is very, very cold. I would suspect if there is going to be any water-based activities it would be on a boat or angling from shore.”
These are small qualms for the hearty camper.
At Echo Lake, they’re 70 percent booked already.
“Just take a look at the scenery here,” said Chorneyko. “You can definitely see why people will get out here and camp. It’s all about enjoying the outdoors”
Saskatchewan camping hit an all time high last year.
Three and a half million campers spent time in our Provincial Parks, and that number is only expected to go up.
Back at Klemenz’s campsite the tent is pitched, and now they’re moving on to the next chore. It’s a lot of initial set-up, but they think it’s worth it. For the next three months it’s just a 45 minute drive to paradise.
“Come out here, and have a few beer. Have a good time, and away we go,” he said.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.