Comments
No comments posted yet.
Page Type:
|
Album |
|---|---|
Image Type(s):
|
Hiking |
Canmore and Banff in 2011 & 2012
In September of 2011 my wife Dawn and I took a weeks vacation in Banff, NP. We experienced great weather to cold and snowy conditions. We were able to get in 5 peaks although one was a mere hill (Tunnel Mountain) and 2 others were very easy (Sulpher Mountain & St Piran). But Ha Ling (Chinaman's) and Rimwall were fun scrambles and the trip was great. After Rimwall we ventured over to Lougheed but couldn't locate an easy way up so we descended back to the car, we later found out Lougheed's easiest route was like a 5.7, much beyond our capabilities. We saw mountains unlike in California, views and scenery unlike no other and great beers at The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company after the hikes. Canmore and Banff are wonderful towns and so easily accessible from Calgary with more options for hikes/climbs than most areas. We saw the Columbia Ice fields, moose and heard of a grizzly scare on a trail we were slated to be on but because of rain we opted not to be at Lake Louise that day. A guide was with a client for a hike/climb on an approach trail that leads to Mount Fairview when a grizzly started to follow them. After some time the bear was very close and would not leave the area even after they dropped their packs. The two climbed a tree and the bear remained around the base for roughly 45 minutes until a fellow hiker came across the situation and ran for help. Park Rangers came upon the scene and because of a chip in the bear new this bear had been aggressive several time in the past and unfortunately the bear was put down. The time flew by and 7 days was not enough. We enjoyed the hiking so much we booked a 10 day trip for 2012.
In 2012 and again in September we were suppose to be accompanied with my life long friend and my best man Adam and his wife. Adam's wife decided she didn't want to go and my wife decided it could be a guys trip. Adam and his 22 year old son Ryan flew out from DC and we met at the airport and drove to Canmore. This trip I only got in 2 peaks (Adam wasn't in hiking shape), a hike back to Plain of 6 glaciers and we did a very lengthy mountain bike ride. We hiked the east end of Rundle (a must scramble) and Door Jam Mountain. Adam's son Ryan and I were planning on hiking Mount Lady Macdonald. We got to the point of the tea house ruins and were a bit worried about our turn around time. Looking up to the ridge we could make it but likely would not have the time to then make the summit and get back as we didn't have headlamps. So we started down. When we got back I looked up a youtube video of the ridge to get to the summit of Lady Macdonald and it looked a bit much for me, not sure I would have attempted. Now a few years later I would though........I think. The Palin of Six Glaciers was actually a pretty cool walk/hike. We heard the rumbling on the way in that I figured were avalanches. When we arrived I took video of calving of the ice/snow breaking away from the ridge and falling. It was a great site and that area was pretty incredible. Adam was staying only 7 days and I actually called the Kananaskis Climbing School to take a 2 day rock class. They didn't call back and when I was able to talk to a person that could actually make the reservation she said they needed more advanced notice. The weather was perfect each and every day. I hope to make it back