Minnewanka lake cruise, June 2009- July 2010

The first time I saw Minnewanka lake was on a beautiful day of July 2003 from the top of the Banff Gondola. That day, I never taught for a second I will be back in Banff.  The view of the lake nested between Mount Aylmer (tallest peak in Banff area) and Mont Ingrismaldie looked so gorgious and so remoted.  When I return to Banff four years later I was surprised to realize the company I was working for  was offering an hour boat cruise on that lake, free of charge for Brewster employees, friends and family.

The tour brings you to the Devil's gap (profil picture of this post). Devil's gap is the dead end of the Rockies and the beginning of the prairies.

I experienced the cruise twice, the first time when my mom came to visit me in June 2009 and the second time when two friends from Montreal came to visit me in July 2010.  The first time I took the cruise it was during the morning and the second time late afternoon.

Minnewanka is the largest lake in the park, but also and artificiel one: two times the lake have been expanded. The first time to protect a town nearby Banff and the second time to destroy that town. 

Yoho Valley, August 2010

Every thing start with the idea of going hiking somewhere but the weather wasn't suposse to be anything good in the Bow valley. After looking at the forecast troughtout the Rockies, I discover Yoho national park, just outside the British Columbia border (75 minutes from banff), was expecting a beautiful, warm and sunny day. So Megan, Justin, Monica, Amelia and I decide to hike the Yoho Valley from Takkakaw fall to Twin falls, a journey of over 14 km round trip.  Every time I go to Takkakaw fall, I'm impress with this powerful waterfall where the water seem to be ejected by solid rocks. Takkakaw fall is due to a melting glacier. Once the glacier will be gone, so will Canada's third highest waterfall and most impressive in the Rockies.

The trail start by following the Yoho river and several small waterfalls until we reach Laughing fall mid way to Twin falls. Laughing fall are a remote waterfall with no access by vehicle. Nontheless, it's a popular campground site for families willing to brings their kids in the middle of the nature with an easy hike.

Twin falls consisted of two waterfalls side by side like a big brother and his small sister. They are really impressives and uniques.

Once we reach twin falls viewpoint, I got separated from my group and I had to hike back down by myself wondering where my group was. My group had to hike back down wondering also where I was. It was an eventful day but a remarkable one.

Hoodoo trail, 2007+

Banff is granted of many hikes inside the city limits and one of the most compelling is the Hoodoo trail name after those giants pieces of stones shaped by natural hazards such as snow, rain and wind located at the end of the trail, at the heart of the Bow valley. The trail start at Surprise corner in front of Bow falls and the Banff's Spring hotel. The trail follow the Bow river and some arms of that river. Once we reach the Hoodoos, the view of the mountains is breaktaking. So many opens ranges and Mount Rundle look really impressive from that view point. Rundle is an uplift of 12 km and on one side the vertical drop is dropping dead into the Bow valley with such majesty to impress almost anyone on earth. Rundle Mountain is definetly one of the most dramatic mountain in the Canadian Rockies and a personnal favorite for many locals. Also, many ravens are flying troughtout the valley because the wind is really strong. A must to do hike for all nature lovers that dont want to get to crazy or too deep in the forest and Bear country. My last venture in that area was with Megan on July 2010 and we had such a good time.

Castle Lookout, Bow valley pwy, July 22th, 2010

Brian and I was suposse to go hiking all day long last Thursday, but some ''drunken madness'' made us seeking only a small hike: Castle Lookout. We left Banff at around 7 pm and we were back in the city by 11h00 pm. Kristi was also with us and she said she never been that high up of her life. Must admit the open view of the Bow valley was quite something. Brian took some shots with his awesome camera while Kristi and I chilled on the lookout. Just before hiking down the trail, Kristi and Brian made an Inukshuk. The question I'm asking right now is this: How long it will last? Maybe we should check it out sometimes... Night hikes are always fun and really different than day time hikes. I love both kind of hiking and it's a good way to feel the mountains outside the busy crowd that fill Banff avenue during the summer time. The best part of the hike was the drive back into Banff. Brian music was following the current of the highway.  What a peaceful drive it was...

Ha Ling peak, 2408m, June 23th, 2010

Wednesday are my day off but that day I had too work. When you need to work on your day off the most unexpecting think is to hike a mountain the same day, particullarly a higher peak than Sulphur. Justin invite me to come join him to hike Ha Ling Peak in Canmore, formerly called Chinaman's peak. Ha ling peak is part of the greater massif Mount Lawrence Grassi range. I couldnt resist doing a new mountain, a mountain once again I never heard before. We stop at the tourist info center to check out where the trail start and the lady at the info center basically told us to not hike this mountain because it's too late. After looking at the number of kilometers and elevation gain I know right away we could do it. I'm glad we didnt listen to her because we were back in town in less than 150 minutes. The hike was so steep, I coulnt believe how steep Ha ling peak is. However, the scramble was pretty easy. The view from the top worth the effort we put on. For the first time I could see the town of Canmore from up high. Many surrouding peaks still had snow on. Good times!

Yamnuska Mtn, Kananaskis, June 2010

Early June, Crystal, a former gondie member, came to Banff's for a nite out in Banff. Lucky me, she invite me to go out with her and some of her new friends she meet at the ice. The Icefields are located midway between Banff and Jasper. That day, I met Brian Van Tighem a guy who grow up in the Rockies and who loved hiking like I do, or at least appear to love hiking as much as I do. We exchanged our phone numbers and promise to do many hikes together this summer. The first hike we planned together was Mount Yamnuska in Kananaskis country. This mountain is amazing because once you reach the ridge on one side it's an open view of the Prairies and on the other side it's the Rockies Mountains. So Brian, his friend Matt and myself left Banff at around 11h30 ish all hung over from our crazy night the day before. We all drinks red bull and start hiking Yamuska. Since I never heard of this mountain before I had no expectation whatsoever.

After reaching the tree line the views start open up and I was again amaze with the views. I've been in so many places and saw so many georgious places in the rockies trought my hiking that I'm now lacking of new adjectives to qualifies the feeling I had when I reach the ridge with a vertical drop too insane to even try to explain it. The drop was insane and I cannot imagine many climbers actually do climb the wall. We continue the hike a bit further up until we reach a rope. In order to reach the summit you need to hold on the rope. For some reason, I couldnt do it! The wind was pushing my back down the gully and my hands could barely hold the grip. I dont know why I found that place sketchy and I'm dissapointed after doing Cascade, Rundle and Castle to give up on a mountain for the first time but since I wanted to hi

ke mountains for years to come, I decide it's good to know our limits. That day I had enough, that was my limit and I'm glad my two fellows hikers understood and didnt try to push me to pass that point. Hopefully, I will never give up again on a mountain, but I'm glad to notice I kn

ow my limits, not many peoples do and this is why so many peoples dies into the Canadian Rockies trying to be and hero, trying to accomplish something just to hard and  to fast because the temptation was too palpable and too unbearable. Hiking the Canadian Rockies is a privilege and that day I was happy to have done a first real hike of 2010. Since Brian is a photographer and because I loves photographs so much, and since he is a really cool guy I hope he will be my new best hiking buddy alongside with Dalton. So Yamuska you won that round, but the game isnt over yet.... not over yet....

                             

Mount Edith Cavell, Easy short walk, August'07 and August'10

Mount Edith Cavell his trully a remarkable place in the Rockies. With only a short 10 minutes walk from the parking lot's the views of Edith Cavell is outstanding. Located 29 km from Jasper town site, Mount Edith Cavell and Angel glacier are like no other place in the Rockies. Just the road to get there is impressive and the switchbacks are breathtaking. Mount Edith Cavell brings you to a desert scenery with barely any trees, a waterfall falling down, a lake of many icebergs and an icy cave unique in his kind. It's often possible to hear Angel glacier explode and that noise, if you witness it, will keep you shaking for long minutes afterwards. Trully and experience in itself. If I havent convince you yet to go and explore this area of Jasper, look at my pictures since they worth 1000 words.

I've been to Mount Edith Cavell twice and both times with friends from back home. The first time with Ben in mid August 2007 and the second time in early August 2010 with Sebastien Boileau and Jolene Boudreau during their visit in the Rockies.

Lake Agnes-Big Beehive, July 3th, 2009

Lake Louise is to the Rockies what Lake Agnes is to Lake Louise. If you want a compelling hiking trail and meet as many peoples as you can along the way,well this hike is for you. But if you want a quiet time, peaceful and a  romantic place please do yourself a favour and pick a different hike. Having said that, this hike is amazing any time of the year, particularly with good friends.

On August 9th, 2008, Jessica and I had an agreement that we will do this hike together but we had to wait July 2009 to make this agreement come true. With Jennifer and Dalton and Jessica, the fourth of us rent a car, but some music on and reach the shore of Lake Louise to start an impressive journey surround by mountains. It was a wonderful day under the nick name: Following the disco! We followed the disco of Banff National park and capture some amazing views of Lake Louise. We even jump up high! When you hike to the Big beehive you can trully understand what is making Lake Louise so famous around the world. The turquoise color is unreal! Mid way, Mirror lake can be a good stop to swim for a bit. Dalton did!