by Brian Patton | Jun 1, 2023 | Banff National Park, canadian rockies trail guide, hiking, Home page News
As the coauthor of a venerable trail guide to the Canadian Rockies, people are always asking me: “What is your favourite trail?” My usual bemused response is: “The last time I hiked when the weather was good and the trail uncrowded.”But...
by Brian Patton | Sep 15, 2022 | Banff National Park, Home page News
Gavin Fitch, daughter Ellie, and companions Marco and Greg backpacked into what we consider one of the most spectacular areas of Banff National Park—the Dolomite Valley. The trip is a great way to sample the North Molar-Pipestone-Dolomite Circuit without arranging...
by Brian Patton | Aug 6, 2022 | backpacking, Banff National Park, Home page News
From a basecamp on Forty Mile Creek in the heart of Banff’s Sawback Range, backpackers can day hike to several, seldom-visited backcountry lakes. Once again, this trip falls under the category of “Why didn’t I think of that?” Canmore...
by Brian Patton | Jul 1, 2022 | Banff National Park, hiking, Home page News, Kootenay National Park
Updated July 12 Most hiking trails in the Sunshine Meadows are still snow-covered during the first two weeks of July. Near record snow still blanketed the meadows on the Canada Day weekend. So much that the resort reopened the mountain to skiers during the July 1st...
by Brian Patton | Mar 14, 2022 | backpacking, Banff National Park, Home page News
Every summer, faithful contributor Jim Shipley conjures up a different trip through the Front Ranges of the Rockies. Late last summer, Jim and his companions set off on a 200-km 11-day trek that would take them from Lake Minnewanka near Banff north to Lake Abraham on...
by Brian Patton | Sep 19, 2021 | backpacking, Banff National Park, Home page News
More and more backpackers are exploring Banff National Park’s Front Ranges every year. Mostly they enter the region on the Red Deer River, either from the headwaters at Red Deer Lakes or from the park’s eastern boundary at Ya Ha Tinda Ranch. But...