If the weather stinks and the campsites are full, it must be May long weekend
If it's the May long weekend, two things are pretty much guaranteed in Alberta.
One, campers will be filling highways and flocking to parks around the province.
Two, the weather will stink.
In Bow Valley Provincial Park Friday, both were true – and the lousy weather did not seem to diminish anyone's excitement at the prospect of spending a few days outdoors.
It's never one of the warmest weekends of the year, but it's still one of the busiest.
"We always prepare and always plan for snow," said camper Jordan Bewernick, who said his family goes camping over the May long weekend every year, no matter what the forecast looks like.
"This is something we've been doing for 15 years," he said.
Even his kids love it outdoors.
"I like sitting by the fire roasting marshmallows," said Wesley Bewernick.
Those sentiments were shared by family friend Maya Castonguay.
"I'm excited because all my friends are here and I just like to play with them," Castonguay said.
"I just like listening to the peace," said Georgia Bewernick.
BUSY SEASON ANTICIPATED
A Parks Canada spokesperson said they're expecting a busy season ahead.
"Early indications on our reservation systems and talking to our hospitality partners, it does seem to indicate that we'll see a rebound in visitation this summer," said Jed Cochrane, who added that while the forecast looks reasonable for the weekend, "there's still lots of snow, especially up high."
Lingering snowpack didn't bother camper Craig Milne.
"You just assume it's going to be awful," he said. "You gotta dress right."
Milne and his buddy Rick Rampaul were at the park ahead of their families, setting up campers before everyone arrived.
"Seven or eight years since I got my camper, we've been coming out," said Milne. "(And) our families come out later."
The one potential fly in the frying pan?
That would be how to watch the Battle of Alberta sitting in a campground.
"The playoffs are always May long weekend," Rampaul said, before revealing his camping hack. "My son Joshua is 15-years-old. He came up with the idea of hot spotting the laptop into the TV set, which was just genius."
"The playoffs are always May long weekend," Rampaul said, before revealing his camping hack. "My son Joshua is 15 years old. He came up with the idea of hot spotting the laptop into the TV set, which was just genius."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, pleads guilty in sports betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud Wednesday in a sports betting case where prosecutors allege he stole US$16 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.