At the beginning of the 19th century, there were an estimated 1.5-2 million big horn sheep in North America.
By 1900 that estimate had dropped to several thousand.
Conservation efforts have brought current populations up to approximately 70,000.
We saw several groups in Waterton Lakes National Park.
Waterton is busy in July and August and essentially closes in late September. In the town of Waterton, most summer residents leave, with only around twenty or so souls remaining year round. The day we left the winds were blowing at 65km/h with gusts up to 90km/h! It gets COLD here fast and the locals tell me winter can be hard to take, with everything shrouded in mist. I would love to visit in winter and do a post about what life is like in a town where almost everyone has left!
The road to Waterton.
The iconic Prince of Wales Hotel brooding over the stark fall landscape. How would you like to stay here as the winter caretaker while the hotel is closed all winter long? I would love it, as long as Jack Nicholson doesn’t visit! No ‘Shining’ for me, thank you very much.
Cheers to you from gorgeous and uncrowded Waterton Lakes~
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cindyknoke.com 
Lovely bighorn sheep! 🙂
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It was such a treat to get so close to so many of them!
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I´m in for that job of winter caretaker, all that for me? If they had internet connection I could write “the best novel everrrr”
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Exactly!
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Cindy, great pictures. Thank you! Hugs! Veraiconica
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Thank you and haven’t been to your blog for awhile it seems. Heading over now……
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I actually visiting the hotel from the Shining in Estes Park, Colorado. Its far less menacing without all the creepy special effects…and Jack.
What a fascinating place. Do you think you’ll brave that winter and go back?
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It used to be called The Overlook Hotel. Is that correct? My husband and I have differing ideas about where it actually was.
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It’s the Stanley Hotel. Here is a link with a bit of the history: http://www.stanleyhotel.com/
It’s in Estes Park, Colorado
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Ahhhh, we were both wrong! Sending it to my hubby. Thank you~
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It would be an interesting experience to be the last one standing after all the “birds” have flown South. So deep and brooding. The hotel looks spectacular and must have so many stories to tell!
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Most of the birds had already left by late September which I found odd since I know some stay all year round. I only saw magpies and ravens.
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What a pity. I’ve just reblogged a great post with some beautiful Australian birds in it. think you’ll love it https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/bird-oclock/
xx Rowena
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Heading over to your link right now! Thanks!
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Lovely photos of big horn sheep, I particularly like the first one, you caught the expression on his face very well. What an incredible place to visit.
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Isn’t he adorable. He’s looking at me, like WHAT are you doing???? So cute!
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Ha, no joke about Jack Nicholson. But seriously the place is gorgeous beyond belief!! Exquisite pics sweety!! 😉
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Now, how about this for you two???? You could stay here all winter and write!! I could come visit……. 😉 😉
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Oh, we’re there. Mathair and I see lots of laughter and a whole lot of girl talk. 😉
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❤ ❤
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Beautiful photos, Cindy! Despite being retired now, I have done no blogging at all, and very little reading even! We have been enjoying ourselves, though. We’ve done a lot of traveling in the RV, and a motorcycle ride to Waterton from West Glacier was one of our adventures in early August. I guess the amount of tourists must have scared the big horn sheep into the high range, because we didn’t see any. Next trip to Glacier and Waterton will NOT be in season. 🙂
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Sounds perfectly wonderful! The biggest concentrations of big horns we saw were in Glacier. There were lots of them, but you are right, they run into high elevations when there are lots of tourists and come down low after the hordes leave. Many Glaciers Hotel was closing as we left. This is a great time to visit. So glad you are relishing your retirement. It sure beats working!!! 😉 😉
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It does indeed! I look forward to going back off season 🙂
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Can’t wait to see your pictures!
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Hey, no fair! I’m from Canada and I never heard of Waterton Lake! (OK, confession time. In truth I thought it was called Glacier National Park!)
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It is the Canadian extension and Canada’s uniqe take on their own national park. It’s charming beyond words with nicer infrastructure than poor underfunded US parks!
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That last picture is really nice 🙂
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So pleased you think so!
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no worries 🙂
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