March 1 - 3, 2022 In this second phase of our trip, we did three day hikes in Banff National Park.
A small selection of shops were just a few minutes walk from our hostel. The bakery was our go-to place for packed lunches for the day.
March 1 - Johnston Canyon in Banff NP: Stats: 11.2 km / 543m gain / 1742m high
A prospector named Johnston is said to have discovered this creek in the 1880s.
View from the tunnel at the lower falls.
We dropped down to the ground here to explore. It was right beside the steel walkway that leads to the upper falls.
A huge playground for ice-climbers.
Once past the upper falls, the trail narrowed and became more remote. 5.6 km from the trailhead we were at the ink pots.
Water percolates from the sandy bottoms of the 5 ponds, marking the outlets of underground springs where water and air bubble upwards.
The shallow depth of the underground springs keep the water temperature at about 4 C year round.
The milky green pools fill more slowly then the deep blue pools (or "inkpots), causing a heavier suspension of fine materials and hence a different color.
Starting back.
Group shot.
On the drive back to the hostel we stopped to take this pic of Castle Mt.
Detailed ice carvings.
At the visitor centre.
In the evening we were supposed to go ice-skating on Lake Louise and have a drink at the ice bar. But it being mid-week, the ice was not cleared of snow and the bar was not open.
So we decided to check out the Fairmount Chateau in Lake Louise. It was first opened by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1882.
Photos or paintings lined the walls, telling a story of the history of this region.
The ballroom.
March 2 - Stats: 1.4 km / 55m gain
Marble Canyon was a half an hour walk with six short bridges zigzagging over the narrow canyon.
The 2003 forest fired burned 170 square acres of Kootenay National Park for 40 days!
Long ago carbonate sediments caused by a shallow tropical sea, resulted in the limestone and dolomite rock seen in the canyon today.
Dave and Val taking a cautious peek over the edge.
Pic 2) at the end of the trail.
In 2003 & 2012, new Burgess Shale fossils were found in Kootenay NP that contained soft-bodied organisms that lived in the Cambrian sea.
There used to be over a km of ice from the meeting of two glaciers on this area. Melt water formed these cracks and canyons.
Freezing and thawing chip steadily away at the canyon walls. Running water with its abrasive load of pebbles and silt have smoothed and carved out potholes in the rock.
Stats to Sulfur Mt. gondola: 5.5 km / 700m gain / 1:30 hours MT / 2281m high
After that we went to Sulfur Mt. in Banff and hiked up the slope under the gondola.
Nearing the top and coming pretty close to the slopes.
West.
Overlooking the Bow Valley and the town of Banff -- northeast.
East.
We continued on the boardwalk, beyond the top of the gondola. Looking at the Sundance mountain range.
South.
Carol, Anne, Arie, Cal & Ingrid.
Northwest.
North.
From west to north.
Mt. Rundle -- southeast.
This was a steady climb but thanks to the many switchbacks, it was not particularily steep.
March 3 -- Mistaya Canyon: stats: 1/2 km / 35m gain
I was not comfortable driving the Icefield Parkway. I felt like I was going snow blind and I couldn't distinguish the compact tire strips from the powder inbetween those strips. And the snow kept falling. The short trail down to this canyon was packed below about 6 inches of fresh snow.
Mistaya River flows from the higher Peyto Lake.
Then we drove back 12 km to Bow Lake and parked right by the highway. We snowshoed across Bow Lake with very limited visibility. Stats: 3.8 km / 1:10 hours MT / 1961m high
The old lodge has been closed since Covid.
This was our turnback point. It was also the last snowshoe of the trip. We were all getting rather done and tired and ready to head home.
Driving behind Denise.
We did head home as planned the next day, with many wonderful memories, a feeling of accomplishment and stronger bonds with our COC family. Thanks to Dave & Cal who organized these trips.
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