Adventure for Wilderness – Into the Crowsnest: Whitebark Pine and Water Quality, July 19, 2026
July 19, 2026
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Text and photos by Lindsey Wallis
A rough road and short but steep hike led our group to the jewel-toned waters of Window Mountain Lake. Jodie Krakowski from the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada joined us to share her knowledge on this endangered species of five-needled pine. Her work involves looking for disease resistant trees and growing and planting seedlings to help the species weather the threat of a deadly introduced rust.
We also learned that Window Mountain Lake is contaminated with coal dust from mines in the Elk Valley in BC. AWA Conservation Specialist Kennedy Halvorson spoke about the threat proposed mining on the Alberta side of the border poses to our watersheds.
Text and photos by Lindsey Wallis