Previous entries... Students Filming the 1874 NWMP Trek West

The girls woke up first, along with the adults. Pictures were taken of the guys asleep. Mr. Martens woke them up by throwing water on top of the shelter.

We ate breakfast and "Doc", Inspector Hobbs and I went to find a phone to phone in with. The first house we went to had nobody home. The next house was the one we had asked directions at the previous night. (Moccasin Rock Ranch)

"Doc" phoned CHEC radio and Inspector Hobbs tried to get hold of the school. Mr. Smith wasn't in.

We went back to camp and gathered up the troops. Then off we went filming along the way. One place we stopped at along the way, which we got a horse and rider escort to, had tires on ropes across the Souris River (looked like a creek). Everybody had turns swinging on them, except me, "Doc", Quartermaster Stanford and the Commissioner.

After visiting the famous Roche Percée we drove to the rocks and found the names of Mounties carved in the rocks. Then we went back and the troops began swinging again. This was where the original Mounties had their Short Creek Camp.We left there and went on to another house where we phoned the school. Then we went and had lunch along the road.

When we were looking for Wood End we got a hold of the Mayor of Estevan and she showed us the way. Then we went to her office and she showed us the Council Chambers. The press arrived and we got our picture taken. Then off again, filming.

At one place where we stopped along the road and a RCMP officer from Torquay stopped and started asking us questions. When the Comissioner came over the officer asked him for his license. This resulted in a thorough search.

We got the Constable on film and got his autograph at least five times. We presented him with two souvenir newspapers and two buffalo chips (buttons with a buffalo on it)-- one for him and one for the other officer stationed with him.

Then we headed for camp. We saw Quartermaster Stanford ahead of us pulled off the road. He pulled out and we followed him to the camp. There we ate supper and after, the officers had a meeting. A decision was made for a curfew of 12:00 at which time everyone would be in their tents and there would be no more running around. Arguments were made but the curfew stuck. We stood around the fire for awhile and then went to bed. The guys slept in the bandstand. Chief Constable Michie was heading for the bandstand when he walked into our tent pole and knocked it down. Constable Lendrum joined he and I in the search for the stake but we couldn't find it so we just let the flap fall.

May 19

The girls woke up ahead of the guys again. Inspector Hobbs had a wood tick.

Visitors were there to show us the way to some places. Mr. Martens showed me a robin's nest sitting on a window ledge.

Autographs were gotten all around.

"Doc" went to phone CHEC radio and drove off with the back of the station wagon open. A little while later, Quartermaster Stanford and his group took off for Weyburn to get some supplies.

"Doc" came back later and we took off for a trail where the Mounties forded Long Creek. We found it and some of the troops walked along it and got filmed. From there we went to Torquay where we were provided with a guide who took us to an old Catholic church and graveyard. Sub Constables House and Niilo had ticks. From there we went on to the detachment buildings. Filmed. Then to a boundary marker. Then to Customs. Next to a guy's house. Ate lunch outside and then went to look at his collection. After he drove us to a trail. More trails were looked for. Then we attempted to look for Willow Bunch. On the way, Const. Lendrum, (we had changed cars that morning) bet Commissioner Haig as to the way the sign was pointing. The Constable won.

When we finally arrived at Willow Bunch we were shown a cairn and the museum. Then we went to camp, picking up one of our troops who had gone ahead to show us the way. We ate supper and after the guys lined up on a picnic table and sang some songs.

Then we talked quietly and went to bed. Mr. Martens played his harmonica after we were all in our tents. Some people drove up who were having quite a party but they soon drove off again.

May 20, 1973

Of the troops, the girls were first up again. The rest slowly straggled up. Quartermaster Stanford and a couple of the troops went off to find his trailer hitch (for the lights). Upon coming back they almost hit "Doc's" car. They hadn't found the hitch but we had another.

"Doc" left to phone CHEC radio. The leftover troops went in the remaining vehicles. Those in the Commissioner's van went into the golf course and attempted to climb a hill to the cairn. The van was too full of people. We got out and Commissioner Haig took the van back down the hill and walked up.

After, Constable Lendrum and the Commissioner again made a bet. This time the Constable bet the Commissioner his van couldn't make it up the hill. The Commissioner tried and made it, much to the surprise of all.

Then we drove back to where Quartermaster Stanford and "Doc" were waiting. We got into the proper cars and took off. Quartermaster Stanford went on to the border while the rest of us stopped to film a rebuilt Wood Mountain Detachment. A man came along after who was a quarter Indian and a relative of one of the Indians whose picture was inside.

We took off. Next stop-- Customs. Commissioner Haig, "Doc," Quartermaster Stanford, Mr. Martens and I went in. Then on to the next building.

Had lunch alongside the road just inside the States. For awhile the Commissioner's van was going 80 (mph).

While driving down the road "Doc" spotted 3 buffalo, so we stopped and took pictures. Started to rain. Drove on. At Chinook we split up. The group in the Commissioner's van went to Bear Paw Mountain. Those in "Doc's" car (Doc, Sub-Constable House, Mr. Martens and I) went to camp. We got to Fort Benton. Were passing a car when the Quartermaster jumped out of it. Quartermaster tried to fix things up for us. All we could come up with was a football field. We weren't very impressed and ended up taking a motel room. We took showers and then I went over to the guys' room for supper. "Doc" waited for the Commissioner to show up. They arrived quite late and had supper and showers. After we all met in "C" Troop's room (ours) but "Doc" was trying to get some sleep so we soon went back to the other room. We talked for awhile and then three members of "C" Troop went to bed.

May 21, 1973

Got everybody up. Had breakfast in the guy's room where we had supper the previous night. Packed up and moved out.

Went to get Mr. Overholtser, who had tried to arrange something for us last night, and he took us to the museum and let us in. Filmed.

Took off. Got gas. A while later Quartermaster Stanford stopped along the road to wire up the trailer. A couple of people traded cars and then we took off once more.

Stopped for lunch along the road. Put our vehicles in a circle in case of attack.

Went to Customs. "Doc" drove back to look for the Quartermaster, whom we had gotten ahead of, but we spotted him crossing the bridge and went back to Customs.

The Commissioner passed us and we took off after him. He was stopped in Milk River by an RCMP. He had thought the Commissioner was driving too fast. He said he'd radio "Doc's" husband and tell him we were on our way.

Got to school. Some phoning was done and the trailer was unhitched. Took off a while later stopping for gas.

On our way to Fort Macleod we rounded a bend in the road to find an RCMP escort and a group of people waiting for us. There were also some students on horses to lend atmosphere to our arrival.

We stopped for awhile there and then were lined up on the highway. We parked across from the old fort and went in. A councilman officially ended our trek.