The Smiling Chipmunks of Riding Mountain~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life

Cheeky little chippers,

stand their ground when you come close!

Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba Canada has a ‘Red Chair Program,’ where two red Adirondack chairs are placed at random, often remote locations throughout the park, encouraging you sit for a spell and soak up the scenery.

The park consists of 1,146 mi² of mostly remote, scenic forest.

It is filled with pristine lakes,

and endless opportunities to soak up the solitary scenery.

Unfortunately we were a bit too early to see the birch leaves turn.

Cheers to you from Riding Mountain National Park~

Discover more from Cindy Knoke

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

260 thoughts on “The Smiling Chipmunks of Riding Mountain~”

    1. My son did and I have photos of him seemingly walking forever into the lake. The water is incredibly clear and he walked out for what seemed like a mile before the water started to get deep. It had extensive shallows but an incredibly deep center. Beautiful park.

      Reply

  4. Gorgeous! I love chipmunks and squirrels. We have both here in the pacific northwest, but mostly squirrels. A couple of years ago, a chipmunk climbed up the stairs to our second floor landing and stared at us just a few feet away. My lady friend thought it was so cute, and I was laughing at its audacity. We both thought it was begging for food, but now I’m not so sure after reading this post.

    Reply

  5. Thanks for those lovely photos, Cindy. I looked up the Riding Mountain National Park and was amazed by its rich history. Grey Owl, a white man adopting native dress and customs lived in this park, which also served as a camp for German POWs during World War II. It is a very beautiful place and offers the kind of recreation that other crowded parks don’t have. Greetings from Fauquier, BC!

    Reply

    1. I have seen these historical POW/internment camp markers in several places in Canada. It was a history I had never heard of until I came upon the markers. It wasn’t just WWII either. Check this out: https://cdnhistorybits.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/canadian-concentration-camps/
      I think we came upon a camp marker in BC and Alberta but I may be mistaken.
      Riding Mountain park is simply understated loveliness and one can get far away from the hustle and bustle there. Next year we head back to woods of Quebec! Canada is stunning. And now I am making my own poutine!

      Reply

      1. There were several internment camps in BC and Alberta, which were for Canadian citizens of Japenese descent. They were robbed of all their possessions and deported from the coast to the Interior out of fear they would join forces with the Japanese invasion forces. A very sad story!

        Reply

        1. Yes, this was similar to what the US did. The confiscation of property was particularly heinous. There were also internment camps in Canada during WWI for Eastern Europeans. “During Canada’s first national internment operations of 1914–20, 8,579 men, and some women and children, were interned by the Canadian government acting under the authority of the War Measures Act. While most were recent immigrants from the multinational Austro-Hungarian, German and Ottoman empires, some were Canadian-born or naturalized British subjects — most of the civilian internees came from the western Ukrainian regions of Galicia and Bukovyna. Held in 24 receiving stations and internment camps across the country — from Nanaimo, BC to Halifax, NS — these “second class” prisoners of war (POWs) were generally separated from “first class” German and Austrian POWs. Many were transported into the country’s frontier wildernesses and obliged to work for the profit of their jailers. Personal wealth and property was confiscated, not all of which was returned on parole or following the end of the internment operations.” (Canadian Encyclopedia)
          I knew nothing about this until I saw the markers in Canada. There were photos of the brutal winters.

          Reply

  15. As always, the photos are extraordinary. The Park is really cozy and has a very special history that keeps the memories of a part of the history. Everything is complemented to make your article an exciting story. Regards.

    Reply

    1. Amen! You just probably just summed up why I love nature and photograph,y with the added benefit that being in nature and taking photographs shuts down the most annoying thoughts of all, my own. Thank you for your perceptive comment.

      Reply

  17. I can’t imagine what it would be like to get to spend time in such splendor! I love chipmunks and squirrels and everything else. Nature has all the answers. How kind of them to offer chairs at random to sit a spell and enjoy the view. Just, WOW!!

    Reply

    1. Nature does have all the answers even if we don’t completely understand, it’s okay, because look around at all the beauty. Red Adirondack chairs supplied for just this purpose and chattering chipmunks tell me what I need to know. Love to you Marlene.

      Reply

  20. How amusing to hear The Chipmunks again – thank you for including that in one of your reponses. I think the Red Chair project sounds marvellous.

    Reply

  28. Hurrah to Canada for setting aside these square miles as a park. Thank you for sharing your lovely photos with all of us. I often encounter chipmunks during the summer months (both on Cape Cod and in upstate New York), but I don’t ever get the closeup view that your photos capture so well. And I enjoyed the comments following your post almost as much as he post itself. I agree that “Nature does have all the answers even if we don’t completely understand…” Now let’s sit down in one of those red chairs! Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

    Reply

    1. Exactly, those chairs are red so you’ll find them, set in serene and beautiful spots, and they definitely lower your blood pressure when you sit, and even nap, in them! Your comment was thoughtful, kind and most appreciated. Be well & thank you 🐿️

      Reply

  29. Gosh, Cindy, I had never even heard of this park in Manitoba, and it is now on my bucket list. We must go to Canada if at all possible. How wonderful for the red chairs – they must know how much I’ll need to stop and rest! Thank you as always for your awe-inspiring pictures.

    Reply

    1. The red chairs idea is clever isn’t it. They are so fun to find and they stand out and look lovely the the lush forests. I do hope you and Pretty go to Canada <3

      Reply

    1. Oh lucky you! We don’t have them at The Holler, but there are in the local mountains. It is always a treat to see them. They make me smile. Cheers to you Linda <3

      Reply

  31. Really enjoyed these crisp photos and learning about Riding Mountain NP, Cindy. This is a NP of which I am not familiar, so I looked it up and it sounds wonderful. Thanks so much.

    Reply

  33. Manitoba often gets overlooked in our country as a destination to visit. Love that you have highlighted a bit of this beautiful province!

    Reply

  41. I remember drinking water directly from the lake during my childhood living in Northern Manitoba. The lakes were pristine at that time! The water was very cold! I remember swimming when there was still ice on the lakes! We were brave souls! Couldn’t imagine doing that now! Yikes!

    Reply

    1. How wonderful those days must have been. My son swam in the lakes but it was warm and there was no ice. They still seem pristine to me compared to the lower 48, so crystal clear and beautiful.

      Reply

  43. Are those white birches in your last photo, Cindy? We had one when I was a kid, but it’s long gone (and I miss it). So much beauty here. The chipmunks are all over one of our golf courses — they’re fast little critters!!

    Reply

        1. Actually, I think you are the one who is right. I googled it. Apparently birch trunks peel and aspens don’t. These trunks look like are peeling so I think you are right and they are birch. Maybe someone who knows trees better will confirm this for us. Thank you pointing this out.

          Reply

Leave a Reply