Medicine Hat AB to Yahk BC - In the mountains again!

We left even earlier this morning, eager to get started. Today was going to be a scenic day.

An early morning visitor to the campground:

 

It's dry country in parts out here. Major irrigation started right out of Medicine Hat, on to Lethbridge, often with the rotating circular sprayers. Apparently this area was the first in the world to develop and use the early versions of these for irrigation:

Lots of rail traffic out west of course. These engines were working hard to get their mile or so of cars moving:

We stopped to look at this specialized equipment to deliver railbed ties:

The main engine is on the right

This piece on the right rolls back along the tops of the cars to load and unload ties

 

Those large black pieces have rail wheels behind them

An arm like a backhoe or excavator to handle the ties

It runs along the top of these cars which carry the ties

Ties are piled beside the cars here, waiting to be loaded

 

As we moved west the mountains started to appear...:

 ... along with plenty of windmills:

Getting closer to Crowsnest Pass:

Moving through an area warning of elk, we saw a mom who was nice enough to give us a look at her new baby:

 Lots of turns today, even a tunnel:

We often saw cattle grazing. I wonder if they appreciate the scenery? (likely not)

And here's our woodsy campground at Yahk Provincial Park. No reservation hassles here, just a $21 parking fee with basic facilities, right on the Yahk River:

Oops, correction, the site was only $11, as the collector gave us the BC seniors rate. Nice!

Our route had a lot more twists and turns than yesterday's, a very scenic drive all the way along Hwy 3 from Medicine Hat: