Prairie Storms - Big Muddy Valley Traditional Cache

The Big Muddy Valley can be found in southern Saskatchewan. The valley is a cleft of erosion and sandstone along Big Muddy Creek. The valley is 55 kilometres long, 3.2 kilometres wide and 160 metres deep. The valley was formed when it was part of an ancient glacial meltwater channel that carried great quantities of water southeastward during the last ice age.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth century the Badlands formed the northern end of the "Outlaw Trail". This is a series of trails and stopping areas used by outlaws in the American West spanning from Canada to Mexico. Outlaws such as Dutch Henry and his brother Coyote Pete, Sam Kelly, the Pigeon Toed Kid, and the notorious Sundance Kid turned up in the area. Today ranching and tourism are important in the sparsely populated area.

The cache is located by Castle Butte which is a high outcrop of sandstone and compressed clay which protrudes from the flat prairie. As one drives along the valley, one is able to see odd structures that have been created through erosion of wind and water. Take the time to experience the other 2 caches in the area.

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