by Brian Patton | Jun 2, 2015 | Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, hiking, Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country, Kootenay National Park, National Parks, Yoho National Park
June has always been the start of our hiking season in the Mountain Parks—the time when trails start opening up above the valley bottoms. But this year is well advanced as we enter the month. Thanks to dry, warm conditions and low snowpack in the southern sections of...
by Brian Patton | Mar 28, 2015 | Canadian Rockies, hiking, National Parks, Waterton Lakes National Park
Normally during the first week of spring, I would be talking about another long winter coming to an end and looking towards the first hike of the season. This year is different, particularly in the southern half of the Canadian Rockies. A month ago I was hiking up a...
by Brian Patton | Sep 11, 2014 | Banff National Park, hiking, National Parks
September snow used to be a regular event in Banff and the eastern valleys of the Canadian Rockies. Not so much during the past two decades. But conditions turned very “old school” this week when the Front Ranges experienced a major storm and freezing...
by Brian Patton | Aug 4, 2014 | Banff National Park, hiking, Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country, Kootenay National Park, National Parks, Waterton Lakes National Park, Wildflowers
Back in the early days, people had a choice for cooling off during the heat of summer—go to a movie theatre (the first air-conditioned venues) or travel to the mountains. Air conditioning may be universal today, but the alpine trails of the Canadian Rockies are...
by Brian Patton | Jul 22, 2014 | Banff National Park, hiking, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, National Parks, Waterton Lakes National Park, Yoho National Park
The first hot weather of summer has descended on the Rockies, and as snow and icefields start to melt, most of the waterfalls start to roar. Athabasca, Sunwapta, Takakkaw and Bow are all impressive cascades that are visited by roadside visitors every summer. But for...
by Brian Patton | Apr 21, 2014 | hiking, National Parks
An article in the March 24th Calgary Herald brought back long-ago memories of efforts to establish The Great Divide Trail from Waterton to Mount Robson and beyond. Entitled “Official Status sought for 1,200-km Great Divide hiking trail”, it detailed efforts by the...
