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...
by Brian Patton | Jun 14, 2021 | Banff National Park, Home page News, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, Mt Robson Provincial Park, Waterfalls, Yoho National Park
June and early-July is the unofficial start of the hiking season in the Mountain National Parks. With streams flowing high with spring runoff, It’s a prime time to visit some of the parks’ most spectacular and sublime waterfalls. Most of the trails to...
by Brian Patton | May 1, 2021 | Banff National Park, COVID-19, Home page News, Lake Louise
Update September 3, 2021: Parks Canada reopened the eastern 17 kms of the Bow Valley Parkway between Fireside and Johnston Canyon to vehicles on September 1st. This section of the Parkway was closed to vehicles and used primarily by cyclists from June 1st. Banff...
by Brian Patton | Dec 26, 2020 | Banff National Park, canadian rockies trail guide, hiking, Home page News
The original Guide to Hiking Trails in the vicinity of Storm Mountain Lodge was published in 1978. The text and design was created by then lodge co-owner Jim Thorsell. After the lodge changed ownership, the book was out of print for three decades. Many things changed...
by Brian Patton | Nov 4, 2020 | banff, Banff National Park, Home page News
Stoney Squaw, Tunnel Mountain, Mount Eisenhower, Chinaman’s Peak. Some of the most popular short-hike destinations in the Bow Valley that experienced name changes over the past 40 years or may do so soon. I can’t remember the first time I hiked the 2-km...