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An Outdoor Life story published in December 1954 recounts a hunting expedition by two couples and guide Bert Dalglish in Alberta. The five-day approach to Stinky Creek began with horses that bucked, broke loose and struggled under the packs; the account says the party later encountered grizzly bears, moose and mountain goats. The supplied excerpt ends before describing those hunts, so their outcomes and the trip’s full chronology are not confirmed here.

Outdoor Life’s December 1954 story “Stinky Creek” recounts how two couples and an Alberta outfitter began a big-game hunt with a five-day pack trip that turned into a struggle to control horses and haul supplies. The account’s introduction says the expedition ultimately brought the hunters to grizzly bears, moose and mountain goats, though the excerpt provided stops before detailing the encounters or their results.

The party included narrator and wife Ethie, and Mac and Ede McCormick. They hired Bert Dalglish, an outfitter from Hazelmere, Alberta, after he offered a chance to hunt grizzly, moose and mountain goat. Dalglish cautioned that he could not guarantee trophies, according to the story. Ede was preparing for her first hunt, while the account describes the couples practicing with rifles before leaving Redlands, California.

After driving north through Banff, Jasper and Edmonton to Grande Prairie, the hunters met Dalglish and his guides. The outfitter had assembled supplies for a 28-horse pack trip, including tents, stoves, food, bedrolls and camp equipment. The party set out in late August. Its first day ended at a grove of aspen, where the narrator said his legs felt numb after riding.

The next morning, horses that had not been saddled for a year bucked, pulled against halters and escaped. Dalglish and the guides had to rope some of them again, and the account says Dalglish blindfolded and hog-tied animals that resisted. By about noon, the loaded horses were heading down toward the Wapiti River. Dalglish warned the narrator that crossing could be difficult because some of the rented horses had not traveled together before.

At a glance
reportWhen: Originally published in the December 19…
The developmentA 1954 Outdoor Life hunting narrative describes a chaotic five-day horse-pack journey toward Stinky Creek, Alberta, before a reported hunt for grizzly, moose and mountain goats.
How The Worst Hunt I’ve Ever Been On Turned Into The Best Of My Life
Outdoor Life · Alberta · 1954

How The Worst Hunt I’ve Ever Been On Turned Into The Best Of My Life

A five-day horse-pack approach to Stinky Creek began with bucking horses, runaway mounts and a difficult river ahead. The supplied excerpt captures the rough start of a big-game expedition—and stops before confirming how the hunt ended.

Original issue Dec. 1954 Outdoor Life story: “Stinky Creek”
Approach 5 days Pack trip toward Stinky Creek
Pack train 28 horses Supplies, camp gear and provisions
Party 2 couples With outfitter Bert Dalglish and guides
The expedition

Before the hunt came the hard part

The group had to move people, horses and a large camp load through remote country before reaching its intended hunting area.

01 · The party

Four hunters, one outfitter

The narrator and his wife Ethie traveled with Mac and Ede McCormick. Ede was preparing for her first hunt.

02 · The outfitter

Bert Dalglish

An outfitter from Hazelmere, Alberta, he offered a chance at three kinds of big game while making no promise of trophies.

03 · The preparation

Rifles and riding

Before leaving Redlands, California, the hunters practiced on 200- and 300-yard targets and a running-deer target.

The approach to Stinky Creek

A pack train under pressure

The excerpt presents the journey as a test of control, endurance and logistics from the first camp onward.

After driving north through Banff, Jasper and Edmonton to Grande Prairie, the party met Dalglish and his guides. Supplies for a 28-horse pack trip included tents, stoves, food, bedrolls and camp equipment.

The first day ended in an aspen grove. The narrator said his legs felt numb after riding. The next morning, horses that had not been saddled for a year bucked, strained at their halters and escaped.

Dalglish and the guides roped some animals again. The account says Dalglish blindfolded and hog-tied the horses that resisted. By about noon, the loaded train was moving down toward the Wapiti River.

Journey trace

From California to the river

The supplied passage follows the preparations and the difficult opening stretch of the expedition.

01 Prepare

Redlands

Rifle practice before the northbound drive.

02 Meet

Grande Prairie

Join Dalglish, his guides and the assembled supplies.

03 Ride

Aspen camp

The first day ends with sore, numb legs.

04 Regain control

Runaway horses

Bucking mounts and escaped animals delay departure.

05 Approach

Wapiti River

The excerpt ends as the loaded horses head toward a difficult crossing.

What the source supports

Opportunity is not an outcome

The story’s opening summary points to wildlife encounters, but the supplied excerpt does not show what happened on the hunt.

The promised opportunity

Grizzly, moose and mountain goat

Dalglish offered the chance to hunt these animals. He cautioned that he could not guarantee trophies.

Confirmed in excerpt

The group set out with a large horse pack train and supplies.

Confirmed in excerpt

The horses bucked, escaped and needed to be brought under control.

Not shown here

Whether the party crossed the Wapiti River safely or kept to schedule.

Not shown here

Sightings, shots, harvests, injuries or the hunt’s final outcome.

Reader’s guide

Key questions, answered carefully

What is “Stinky Creek” about?

A 1954 Outdoor Life story about two couples traveling with outfitter Bert Dalglish and guides toward a big-game hunt in Alberta.

Why did the approach take five days?

The account describes a remote horse-pack journey with tents, food, stoves and other supplies. The excerpt does not give the full route or explain every travel day.

Did the hunters harvest any animals?

The supplied excerpt does not say. Its introduction mentions encounters with the named animals but gives no details about sightings, shots or harvests.

What does the later listing date mean?

The source identifies the original issue as December 1954 and also shows October 17, 2026. It does not explain the later date.

The Cost of Reaching Stinky Creek

The episode shows that the hunt depended on more than locating game: the group first had to move people, horses and a large load of provisions through remote country. The excerpt presents the five-day journey as a central part of the expedition, with unruly horses and a potentially difficult river crossing threatening to slow progress before the hunters reached their intended area.

For readers, the distinction between the trip’s promised opportunity and its confirmed result matters. Dalglish offered a chance at three kinds of big game, not a guaranteed kill, and the available passage does not state what any hunter harvested. The story’s opening summary says the group encountered grizzly, moose and goats, but without the full account it is not possible to establish where or when those encounters occurred, or how they ended.

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A 1954 Alberta Expedition

The source identifies “Stinky Creek” as a story in the December 1954 issue of Outdoor Life. Its supplied listing carries the date October 17, 2026, but does not explain whether that date refers to a new online publication, a republication or another update. The narrative itself places the preparations and departure in August, including a dated reference to the morning of August 28.

Before leaving California, the hunters practiced shooting at 200- and 300-yard targets and a running-deer target, the narrator writes. The account also contrasts the McCormicks’ familiarity with horses with Ethie’s limited riding experience. These details set up the practical challenge of a horse-supported trip, but they are descriptions from the original narrative rather than independently verified records of the expedition.

““Think I can put you up to grizzly, moose, and plenty of goat. After that, you take it. Can’t guarantee trophies, but most of my clients come out satisfied.””

— Bert Dalglish, as quoted in the story

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The Missing Hunt Details

The supplied material ends as the horses approach the Wapiti River. It does not show whether the party crossed safely, whether the five-day schedule held, or what happened during the hunt. Although the listing’s introductory summary says the trip led the couples to grizzly, moose and mountain goats, it provides no account of sightings, shots, harvests or injuries.

The source also does not clarify the relationship between the October 17, 2026 listing date and the story’s original December 1954 publication. No independent corroboration, full article text or current reporting about the people and expedition is included in the material provided.

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What the Full Story Could Confirm

The next useful step would be to consult the complete “Stinky Creek” article in the December 1954 issue of Outdoor Life. That text could establish how the group handled the river crossing, whether the approach took the full five days, and what the hunters actually encountered or harvested.

Until the remaining account is available, the confirmed development is the publication of a retrospective expedition narrative, not a newly reported hunt. The excerpt records the preparations and difficult start; it does not provide a verified outcome for the expedition.

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Key Questions

What is “Stinky Creek” about?

It is a 1954 Outdoor Life story about two couples traveling with outfitter Bert Dalglish and guides toward a big-game hunt in Alberta. The supplied excerpt focuses on preparations and the difficult horse-pack journey.

What animals were the hunters seeking?

Dalglish offered the party a chance to hunt grizzly, moose and mountain goat. He said he could not guarantee trophies.

Did the hunters harvest any animals?

The excerpt does not say. Its introduction says the party encountered the named animals, but provides no details about sightings, shots or harvests.

Why did the trip take five days?

The account describes a remote approach by horse pack train, with tents, food, stoves and other supplies. The excerpt identifies five days as the time to pack to Stinky Creek but does not give the full route or explain every day of travel.

When was the story published?

The source identifies its original appearance as the December 1954 issue of Outdoor Life. It also shows an October 17, 2026 listing date without explaining what that later date represents.

Source: rss

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