About 1,500 people are stranded in Kananaskis Country and the Canadian military has been called in to build temporary bridges on the remains of Highway 40 to assist with the effort.
District conservation officer Glenn Naylor said conditions in the region have gotten worse in the past 24 hours, and the priority now is to get those stranded to safety.
“We’re estimating in K-country, we have close to 1,500 stranded. Some are flying out, some are happy to stay there,” Naylor said.
Of the 1,500, 700 are in Evan Thomas Provincial Park, which includes staff at Kananaskis Village, while another 250 are campers. The village is still under a boil water advisory and Kananaskis Improvement District has declared a state of emergency.
William Watson Lodge, which offers camping and outdoor activities for those with mobility issues, also has between 50 and 90 campers. Medication was flown in to campers at the lodge on Thursday (June 20), and the conservation officers haven’t had to respond to any medical emergencies.
Rock slides and mudslides litter Highway 40, and five bridges have been completely washed out. The military is constructing temporary bridges in order to evacuate the small village, and have set up base camp at Willow Rock.
Conservation officers have been busy flying supplies to the stranded campers, ensuring they are safe, warm and well-nourished. Some campers and workers were flown out on Thursday.
“We have between three and four choppers going non-stop right now,” Naylor said, stating that conservation officers from other districts have been brought in to help with the rescue.
A handful of backcountry campers have been located at Carnavon Campground and Three Isle Lake. Naylor said they will also be evacuated out of the backcountry.
Most of the roadways are in terrible shape, littered with mudslides and rock slides. The Smith-Dorrien Road is impassible past Grassi Lakes, highways 66 and 68 remained closed, as does Highway 40. There is no estimated time for re-opening the roadways.
Naylor also warns the public to stay out of the area. Several mountain bikers were turned back on Highway 40 on Thursday, as RCMP and conservation officers can’t risk using resources on potential accidents.
“We appreciate people love outdoor activities, but this is not the time. We don’t need any more accidents,” Naylor said.
Most Alberta Parks campgrounds remain closed, and several are submerged, however Bow Valley Provincial Park is still open.
