Sep 27, 2011 - Our Best Volunteer Experience

Back on June 2, we posted an entry about a volunteer training session that we did in Banff National Park. At that time we were completing our field certification of Environment Canada's "CABIN" protocol which assesses the water quality in rivers and streams by looking at the Benthic Invertibrate populations (bugs that live under rocks in the stream). We spent the last few days putting that training to use and getting out in the field with Paula, another 5 year volunteer and Charlie, the Park's Aquatic Specialist. We hiked all of our...

Aug 29, 2011 - Banff, AB & Lake Louise

August 27, 28, 29, 2011, Banff NP, BC Lake Louise Trailer Park The trip from Jasper to Lake Louise was along the Icefields Parkway, the most beautiful roadway we have seen on this entire trip. The scenery along the Icefields Parkway is as stunning as you will see anywhere. I will not try to describe all the beautiful snow topped mountains and the glaciers, it just has to be seen. So take a look at our photos! There is however no photo of our most exciting sightings, a full grown wolf. It was walking along the bank of a river that ran...

Jul 18, 2011 - 100 km and No Bears

Our butts survived a 100km ride today. We started at our place in Canmore, rode along the Legacy Trail to Banff (see June 22 entry), then out Vermilion Lakes Road and onto the 1A. A couple of km before Johnson Canyon we turned back and retraced our tire marks to Banff where we had lunch before heading home. A great ride with some elk sitings but unlike our last trip on the 1A when we saw 3 bears, there were no bears visible today. Except for the one we saw while having lunch in Banff.......

Jun 22, 2011 - A Bike's Eye View of Banff

What a concept! Something paid for by our Federal tax dollars that we can really enjoy! Last year, a paved pathway was built between Canmore and Banff. Called the "Legacy Trail", the path parallels the Transcanada Highway and allows riders to travel between the two towns without riding on the busy highway. There is still some traffic noise but no longer any worry about getting blown over by the wind gusts generated by speeding semis or being hit by a tourist gawking at the scenery instead of the road. On one of the first nice days of the...

Jun 21, 2011 - Summer Solstice - Vermilion Lakes

After a non-existent summer in 2010, followed by a long, cold winter, followed by a wet, cool spring, we're hoping that we might actually get a summer this year! As part of our volunteer work in Banff National Park, we are going to spend a couple of evenings monitoring Harlequin Ducks on Moraine Creek. Summer Solstice evening was training night and Pam headed to the Park to get the scoop on what we would be doing (basically, sitting in a chair looking for ducks). Following the training, she helped one of the Park's Staff set up cameras to...

Jun 15, 2011 - Banff National Park

der erste Nationalpark Kanadas, erreichbar ueber den wunderschoenen Parkfields Iceway Highway von Jasper via Lake Louise. Tuerkisschimmernde Gletcherseen, zugefrorene bergseen, viel Schnee, wieder mal Schwarzbaeren, waghalsige Kajaker, maechtige Canyons, unbeeindruckbare Hirsche soweit das Auge reicht, herzig piepsende Praerie-Hunde, schottisch anmutende Schloesser, glasklare Seen, und Wolle abwerfende Bergziegen praegten das Bild unseres Nationalparkbesuches.

Jun 5, 2011 - Banff National Park, Alberta

We stayed close to the park today. We drove up to Mount Norquay which is a Ski Resort. You get a beautiful view of the city of Banff. The slopes look like they are straight downhill. I don't ski so those who do would love it. A Mountain goat decided to stop us on our way back down the hill. Also drove by the Vermillion Lakes. It's a post card setting with the water, mountains and train going through the valley. The road around the lakes are full of bicyclist. We took a walk through the Cascade Gardens which are in the town of Banff. They...

Jun 3, 2011 - Banff National Park, Alberta

Today we left Radium Hot Springs and drove to Banff, Alberta. We are staying in Banff National Forest at Tunnel Mountain Trailer court. It's a large campground, we will be here for 5 nights. The further north we have have traveled the warmer the weather. We expected the opposite. The sun is out. People are in their summer tank tops. We are still wearing jackets. 65 degrees is not summer for us desert rats. Banff is a typical tourist town. We are here just a little before thier peak season. We are without phone or internet service. Sad how...

Aug 30, 2010 - Banff National Park, Canada

We drove from Jasper to Banff which took us through the mountains. Normally it would have been beautiful but we had rain again. Even snow through the pass. When we got to Banff we were disappointed in the campground. Not that it was so bad, but we have had so many beautiful ones this one did not compare. To compound the matter, their sign-age to find the park was lacking and it took us quite some time just to find where to check in. The first day we went to the visitors center, saw the movie and then went to a bar where I had water. Today I...

Aug 29, 2010 - Banff National Park, AB

Campground: Tunnel Mountain RV Park Once more we went down the Icefields Parkway heading for Banff. And this time it was a real winter wonderland. Sunwapta Pass at 6833 feet is the boundary between Jasper and Banff National Parks. On the south side of the pass the weather started to clear up. We passed under several large animal overpasses. Much of this part of the Icefields Parkway is fenced for the safety of both the wildlife and the motorists. The overpass in the photo, covered in sod and made to look like natural rock, was built to...

Aug 17, 2010 - Banff National Park

We drove down the Icefield Parkway to our next stop Banff, National Park. We camped at Lake Louise Campground which was wonderful. We took a walk around part of Lake Louise and Lake Moraine, both are beautiful turquoise colored lakes. Also saw a few waterfalls. Then we had some ice cream and went back to the campground where they had an 8:00pm gathering at their pavilion. While driving down the Icefields Parkway, Tom saw a Grizzly Bear with three cubs, and we both saw a black bear right near the side of the road. We are planning on...

Jul 13, 2010 - Banff National Park

We left Harolds and headed for Banff. It rained on and off all the way, and of course there was rain when we got there. It is a beautiful area, but we didn't get to see much. The only place we found to park the trailer was on top of the hill where the gondola was. We didn't take the ride for two reasons, one it was raining pretty good and two, the price was way too high, besides, we have all been to the top of ski lifts before! We did enjoy the view in the park. We settled in tonight in Golden, BC. It is real close to the border. We...