CANADIANS: Need hiking suggestions, Alberta

[markgoodrich]

Hi, my wife and I are flying to the Banff area in about ten days.
We'll have about that many days for hiking in the area, and could use some suggestions for "best day hikes." We'll be staying in Canmore for about half the time, and the other half we haven't decided on, with a break in the middle of the trip to attend part of the Edmonton Blues Festival.

All-day hikes are ideal, but many times we've gone from one trail to another, combining two or more shorter hikes in a day.

We've got a good book, but it doesn't say "MAN DON'T MISS THIS TRAIL!!!" The book is Canadian Rockies Trail Guide by Patton and Robinson.

Thanks in advance.

[rinty]

Hi Mark:

I've hiked and backpacked in this area for most of my life, and there are dozens and dozens of fantastic trails, so the challenge is picking the ones which you would like the best.

What kind of a daily vertical footage / distance limit do you want to impose on yourselves? And did you want any recommendations for Kananaskis Country?

Your Patton book is the bible of Canadian Rockies hiking, but a better one, I think, for you for this trip is "Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies" by Kathy and Craig Copeland. You can get it at almost any bookstore in the Calgary/Banff area, but admittedly you won't have as much time to study it. The standard book for the Kananskis area, which is just down the road from Canmore, is Gillean Daffern's "Kananskis Country Trail Guide."

By the way, you should be aware that there is daily bus service into Sunshine Village, from its parking lot.

http://www.skibanff.com/

It's spectacular up there; like the roof of the world. I'll post a bus link for you later, when I'm off work.

[rinty]

Here are some of the Banff area day hikes that the Couplands rank as outstanding. I have done all of these except Wilcox, and agree:

Bourgeau Lake/Harvey Pass
Valley of the Ten Peaks/Sentinal Pass
Lake Annette/Paradise Valley
Helen Lake/Dolomite Pass
Wilcox Pass
Citadel Pass (this is above Sunshine Village)

For the shuttle bus to Sunshine, contact these guys:

http://www.sunshinemeadowsbanff.com/

In Kananaskis Country I would recommend:

Picklejar Lakes
Buller Pass [from the (gravel) Smith-Dorien Highway side]
Lillian Lake

I would pick up a Coupland as soon as you get to Calgary: it's $29. You can get them in any bookstore, and there are Chapters all over the place, and Mountain Equipment Co-op is on the corner of 8th street and 10th avenue SW. The airport bookstore might even have one.

Have fun, and don't miss the Rose and Crown pub in Banff, the Rundle Lounge in the Banff Springs Hotel, or the Grizzly Paw in Canmore.

You can buy your bear spray at the outfitter on main street in Canmore.

Have fun!

[markgoodrich]

Rin, thanks again for going to all the trouble to provide the lists. I'm in the process of marking your suggestions in the "bible."

[rinty]

Yer welcum.

A couple of things I should add:

1. There is construction between Castle Junction and the B.C. border.

2. When transiting from Canmore to Edmonton, you can go north from the Trans Canada Highway on Highway 22, and then east to Highway 2 via 567 to Airdrie. That will keep you out of Calgary and save you about 20 to 30 minutes of time. If you have time, the scenic route is Canmore-Lake Louise Junction-Saskatchewan River Crossing-Rocky Mountain House-Highway 2.

Enjoy the hikes and the blues festival. You must have read that article on Edmonton in one of the magazines, recently.

Here's a pic at Picklejar from last summer, with my daughter Bri:

http://rinty.smugmug.com/photos/387486177_BiwyP-M.jpg

And on the trail going in; Lantern Creek drainage in the background;

http://rinty.smugmug.com/photos/387497032_KcQ4h-M.jpg

[Montana]

Be prepared for some cold weather. There is a storm over the area now that is bringing in snow. So, it begins already: so long, summer. Hello, fall.

[markgoodrich]

Be prepared for some cold weather. There is a storm over the area now that is bringing in snow. So, it begins already: so long, summer. Hello, fall.

What is this "snow" of which you speak? Fall is arriving here in Texas, too. High today is only forecast to be 94 F.

[rinty]

Not to worry; weather is changing tomorrow. Here's the 14 day outlook:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/fourteenday/caab0016

But it's as changeable here as it is in Montana, eh Michelle?

Do carry gloves, hat, and fleece though, Mark.

[Montana]

It can snow any time in the high country. I've often been at Two Medicine Lake (Glacier National Park) on July 4th and had snow. I nearly turned on the furnace two nights ago and I live relatively low, at just over 3500 ft elevation. The worm has turned, we are having cold nights. The mountain ash has turned, it's full of orange berries and leaves.

[rinty]

The leaves usually start to turn here, starting around the middle of August. We're at 3,500 feet as well.

I just got an update, and Mark's looking at a pretty good forecast into next week, for hiking.