Banff National Park

Hi there again with another blog entry!

As I already told ya, we (Stephanie, Bernadette, Natascha & Rabin) went to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies this weekend. Robin, our Swedish friend got the car already on Thursday evening so we could leave from Kamloops on Friday early in the morning. Rabin picked us up one after the other and we finally left the city around 5 a.m. We had our first break on the road at a Tim Hortons for “the transporter” (as we called Robin during our trip) to get some coffee. The weather unfortunately was a bit rainy that day, but we got forward quite fast and arrived in Banff around 11 a.m. after a 500 km drive (you actually lose 1 hour because it’s a different time zone already (GMT -7).

We checked in at our hostel (HI hostel Alpine Lodge in Banff) which is really the kind of hostel you think about when talking about Canada, made up by a lot of wood. We had breakfast there (really huge with ham & eggs, french toast, bacon, coffee, …) and then Rabin went for a nap, while Stephanie, Berni, Natascha and I were playing cards (UNO) in the lobby. In the afternoon we then just went down to Banff to have a look at the souvenir shops, because the weather was quite bad all the afternoon.

In the evening we prepared some burgers for dinner and had some of the beer we brought along from Kamloops. We then went to the lobby for playing cards again, where we got to know some Irish guys (Darragh & Fergal) and a quite strange guy from Quebec (Steve), who joined us. After some time, you can imagine, drinking games started Later on we went down to the pub in the basement of the hostel, where a karaoke night was held and the Australians (who are also studying at TRU and went there for the weekend) almost made a “one-nation show”. We went to bed quite late (can’t remember exactly) and had some nice hours of sleep.

Saturday I got up around 8 a.m. while the others still were sleeping and had some toast with jam for breakfast. I waited for the others to get up and we sang happy birthday to Robin who celebrated his 32rd that day. As we were ready we left to Johnston Canyon (about 25 km north of Banff) for a short hiking trip. We parked the car there, which costs 20 C$ a day (actually the ticket is valid until the next day 4 p.m. in the whole national park). The trail – which was recommended by an employee of the Banff visitors centre – leads up through the canyon along the waterfalls and is asphalted (!!!!) It takes about 1 hour to get to the upper falls from where we hiked on to the “ink pots”. Stephanie & I were walking a bit faster, while Natascha and Berni accompanied Rabin on his first hiking tour ever.

The “ink pots” are mineral springs, like little ponds, in the valley up from the canyon. The water bubbles out from below the pots and fills them without any creek flowing into them. They also got that amazing blue-green colour, just like the water in all the lakes and rivers in Banff National Park. Of course we took dozens of pictures and had lunch up there. After some nice sandwiches, apples, bananas & granola bars we went back down again and got back towards Banff where we had a short stop at lake Minnewanka. We then went back to the hostel for having dinner. The girls prepared a huge amount of Spaghetti Bolognese which would have been enough for 2 days

In the evening we went played cards again – this time without drinking games we went to the pub again and played some matches of table soccer, where Berni beat all of us guys – congratulations! There were quite view people at the pub this day and so I also had a chance to perform a song (The Unforgiven by Metallica). Berni & I played some games of 8-ball at the pool table and then we went to bed.

The next day I again got up at 8 and had a coffee in the morning. I waited for the others and we had breakfast together. After checking out we first went downtown Banff for getting some souvenirs. Then we went on to Lake Moraine in the Valley of the Ten Peaks near Lake Louise, which is probably the most beautiful site I’ve seen so far. We took dozens of pictures again and paddled across the lake by canoe (30 C$ per hour for a canoe). We then went on to Lake Louise to the Fairmont Chateau at the lake, where we met the Irish guys again and had a coffee.

We left there at 4 p.m. towards Kamloops and had some good discussions on the way back home concerning general issues of interest, but also good talks about what’s our attitude to life. We had a snack at a McDonald’s drive thru and finally arrived back in Kamloops around 8.30 p.m. (GMT -8 again).

It was a great trip and I definitly want to go there again (we already have plans to go there for the alpine ski world cup end of November). I hope you enjoy the pics in the gallery and leave some comments as well.

Greez & blessings,
Gergi