Hiking, biking and other adventures (mostly) in the Canadian Rockies
What's it like to spend a day photographing Banff with like-minded Olympus enthusiasts? Tons of fun and lots of learning! Thanks to The Camera Store and Olympus Canada for organizing/sponsoring the "Discover Banff" event with Olympus Visionary Peter Baumgarten.
This is a big map, packed with tons of content: charts, timelines, planning and wildlife viewing tips, 80 sights and attractions and more than 100 hikes. The main attraction is the beautiful, shaded relief map of Banff, Yoho & Kootenay National Parks, along with Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park and a few bits of Kananaskis Country, all at a scale of 1:250,000. There are at least three reasons to buy this map: It's a great resource if you're planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies. It makes a great souvenir. It offers ideas to foster your exploration and appreciation of the Canadian Rockies.
This year, we cycled the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail from mid-May through mid-October, when the trail officially closed for the winter. Thanks to a wide range of extensions available on either end, our rides ranged from 53 to 86 km and included a good mix of destinations in both Canmore and Banff. Amazing scenery and minimal elevation change make this a "must ride" trail for those visiting Canmore/Banff during the riding season.
ILLUMINATIONS: human/nature was conceived for people like me! Billed as a participative art experience incorporating history and nature, I expected a mash-up of art and nature featuring tons of lights and projected images, triggered by walking or touching something while enjoying the great outdoors in Banff National Park. While most of those elements were part of the experience, for me, the participative aspect fell short. Our group focused primarily on doing what needed to be done to move on to the next way station and there wasn't much discussion or sharing of perspectives. I do really like the overall concept of a short-run, multi-media, site relevant art installation celebrating Canada's parks quite appealing and hope for they'll be another opportunity to experience art in nature before Canada 200 rolls around.
Construction of the High Rockies Trail is slated for completion prior to Canada's 150th celebration in 2017. Trail runners, hikers and mountain bikers are already exploring the completed section running from Goat Creek to Buller Creek in the Spray Valley. We rode from Driftwood Day Use Area to Buller Creek and rate the High Rockies Trail two thumbs up. With multiple access points, some great views and lots of ups and downs, this trail is sure to be popular with locals and visitors alike. We'll definitely ride it again (and again).
