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10/06/2003 11:33:46 AM · #1 |
Hi All,
I am off to the Rockies for ten days later this week.
Starting in Edmonton I will be making my way to Jasper and from there down to Banff, via Lake Louise of course, and finally to Calgary to return home. Does anyone have any suggestions on particular hikes, must-see locations, waterfalls, lakes etc. that I should visit which may not be particularly obvious to the average tourist.
Any local knowledge would appreciate too.... (Pedro?)
Cheers,
Todd.
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10/06/2003 11:42:25 AM · #2 |
That Trip will be the BEST!
I lived in Edmonton last year for 4 months and took a trip from Edmonton to Jasper on to Banff, and Calgary then home to Edmonton again!
I took like 200 Photos digital and like 12 with a 35mm camera, got back to Edmonton.....Downloaded all the photos Deleted them off the camera and then the next day got a virus and lost them ALL! ....Oh I could cry!
Hope you have a great trip, the Mountains are very nice!
Melissa |
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10/06/2003 12:25:44 PM · #3 |
Where to begin? There are about a billion places you need to see, but I'll list my favourites in no particular order:
Canmore - what Banff used to be; a quaint little mountain town. it's starting to go more commercial, but nowhere near what has happened to Banff. I'd head straight up to Three Sisters (the 3 obvious mountain peaks sount of the town, and hike as high as your legs will carry you. The View of the foothills from there is stunning, and you'll find several waterfalls and springs. The Nordic Centre is there, and you're allowed to hike the X-country ski trails which can be awesome - that's your sunrise spot.
Banff - forget the town (which is mostly a bunch of gift shops and restaurants now) and head up the gondola to the observation tower. i'd do it at sunset for some spectacular views of the town and everything else.
Kananaskis - one of my favourite spots in the rockies. Just on the drive in to K-country from the transcanada highway you'll see a hundred photo ops. There are several lakes along the way, all of which are really plainly marked. You can see some from the highway, others you need to hike in a bit. You can Trek up Mt Allen, which is where they held the GS at the olympics in '88. From the Kananaskis Lodge, there are about 10 trails, my favourite being Ribbon Creek. It's about a 15km hike, with tons of elevation.
If you've got some time, I'd actually go to the south part of Kananaskis as well, which you access through Turner Valley/Black Diamond. It's about an hour south of calgary, but the drive out is surreal (rolling hills and farms, with the mountains as a backdrop) and once you're there you'll get lonely after about a five minute hike either down to the river or up to one of the many falls. Few people know about it. Do that one on friday so you can go to Longview for dinner - all you can eat ribs at Memories cafe; you can sit at the table Clint eastwood sat at when he ate there during the filming of Unforgiven - hey not much goes on there, take what excitement you can get ;)
Lake Louise - I trust you know to take the Bow Valley Parkway from Banff to Lake Louise - the transcanada is more efficient, but the BVP is beautiful, and you won't have to worry too much about the weather just yet. Just past Louise is a little town called Field, and in field you'll find emerald Lake, and the Emerald Lake Lodge. If you need a place to stay, and don't mind spending a few bucks it's worth it. A weekend package will run you about $250Cdn and you get a breakfast and dinner included (a good deal, when all is said and done). the rooms have wood burning fireplaces and no phones or TVs...brilliant. The lodge itself is very nice - world class chef, 30' beam ceilings, a 50" plasma TV and satellite dish, a 6x12' snooker table...you name it. still feels like you're a million miles from anywhere. In the winter they take you up in an arctic cat, but i'd think you can still drive up there unless you're in a 911 or something.
From Longview come back to Calgary via highway 22, and you'll see theother part of Alberta - prairies, farmland, more rolling hills - beautiful, really. nice time of year to see it too, right after fall harvest. Lots of horses and cows to talk to as well.
Bring your mittens, since the mountains start getting cold this time of year. Expect to see snow once you get to altitude.
Watch for Deer/Moose when you drive. I see the remnants of at least one major wildlife accident on every trip. Usually they happen at dusk, since that's when they tend to move and your visibility isn't so good. There are no minor accidents with 300-500lb animals. Be careful. I've hit 2 myself, one of them coincidentally in a 911 with the top down...nothing like a 300lb prop tackling you at 120km/h.
Take care, my friend - I'll PM you my cell number if you need anything while you're around.
Peace,
Pedro |
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10/06/2003 08:41:55 PM · #4 |
and I forgot to mention - West Bragg Creek has some great hikes as well, and it's only 25 mins from Calgary. Great little town actually, with what is apparently a great ice cream store.
P |
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10/06/2003 09:09:53 PM · #5 |
As a Calgary native I would have to agree with everything Pedro has said, those are all great place to go! A couple he forgot:
Waterton Lakes National Park - An awesome spot for pictures, the lake is beautiful, and this place is base for about a million different hikes. Crypt Lake was voted the best hike in North America a couple years back, so I would recommend that one. There is also a great boat tour you can go on!
Angel Falls - Over near Sundrie, these falls are great and you can get right up close to them!
The Chain Lakes - A great group of lakes not too far from Calgary, tons of birds, flowers and other wildlife, along with some beautiful landscapes, definetly worth a quite look at.
Drumheller - Near Drumheller is a spot to view a canyon type place, I don't remember what it's called, which has some great photo oppurtunities. Drumheller itself is actually a pretty cool place too, the Dinosaur museum is there, as well as alot of Dino land!
That's all I got for now, by the way, if you want good ice cream go to Cochrane and find Mckay's Ice Cream, it's the best place in Alberta for Ice Cream!
Lee
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10/07/2003 01:32:29 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Spanish_Grease:
As a Calgary native I would have to agree with everything Pedro has said, those are all great place to go! A couple he forgot:
Waterton Lakes National Park - An awesome spot for pictures, the lake is beautiful, and this place is base for about a million different hikes. Crypt Lake was voted the best hike in North America a couple years back, so I would recommend that one. There is also a great boat tour you can go on!
Angel Falls - Over near Sundrie, these falls are great and you can get right up close to them!
The Chain Lakes - A great group of lakes not too far from Calgary, tons of birds, flowers and other wildlife, along with some beautiful landscapes, definetly worth a quite look at.
Drumheller - Near Drumheller is a spot to view a canyon type place, I don't remember what it's called, which has some great photo oppurtunities. Drumheller itself is actually a pretty cool place too, the Dinosaur museum is there, as well as alot of Dino land!
That's all I got for now, by the way, if you want good ice cream go to Cochrane and find Mckay's Ice Cream, it's the best place in Alberta for Ice Cream!
Lee |
I've heard the same about the ice cream in cochrane, and I can obsolutely concur with Drumheller. a bit out of the way, but magic in it's own right. GREAT golf course.
P |
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10/07/2003 06:27:57 PM · #7 |
Thanks Pedro and Lee,
I have noted all these places and will endevour to fit some, if not all, of these into my plans. I shall post some pics when I return.
Cheers,
Todd.
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