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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 2:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by omegarun
Jasper may be a three hour drive. I guarantee its one she will love, the ice fields parkway is spectacular. The skyline trail is a great choice its demanding enough without any real nasty sections. You may see other people, but crowded that's a stretch. My wife who is very fit and active would shoot me if I took her on a trail like Northover, exposure, fatigue and a large pack and a mutiny would be in the works. As for bears, park bears don't know hunting season. So they might not run from humans as readily.
Jasper is more than a 3-hour drive from the Calgary airport, and even as awesome as the drive is, I wouldn't want to fly into Calgary, drive all the way to Jasper, and then hike in to Snowbowl in one day. That's a long day before you start the hike.
If he has more time available and could spend a day driving to Jasper and enjoying the parkway along the drive, then stay overnight in Jasper and start the hike the next day, that would be great, but I can see why he doesn't want to drive so far if all they have is the three days.
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 4:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
quote:
Originally posted by omegarun
Jasper may be a three hour drive. I guarantee its one she will love, the ice fields parkway is spectacular. The skyline trail is a great choice its demanding enough without any real nasty sections. You may see other people, but crowded that's a stretch. My wife who is very fit and active would shoot me if I took her on a trail like Northover, exposure, fatigue and a large pack and a mutiny would be in the works. As for bears, park bears don't know hunting season. So they might not run from humans as readily.
Jasper is more than a 3-hour drive from the Calgary airport, and even as awesome as the drive is, I wouldn't want to fly into Calgary, drive all the way to Jasper, and then hike in to Snowbowl in one day. That's a long day before you start the hike.
If he has more time available and could spend a day driving to Jasper and enjoying the parkway along the drive, then stay overnight in Jasper and start the hike the next day, that would be great, but I can see why he doesn't want to drive so far if all they have is the three days.
Yes....having said that, it's worth the drive and skip the hike! For anyone who hasn't been there, the drive alone is nearly as good as a scramble or the most scenic of hikes for those who love mountains!
I'd recommend even just the drive empireforest (may entice her to want to go back as well to all the places up there), at the very least, maybe use it as a back-up plan in case the hiking doesn't work out.
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 4:23 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
quote:
Originally posted by omegarun
Jasper may be a three hour drive. I guarantee its one she will love, the ice fields parkway is spectacular.
It is also a very fine cycle touring route (and might be easier on your marriage than a surprise-mountaineering epic). The picnic sites along the highway make excellent (albeit illegal) camping sites. Most of the hills are low grade. And there is lots of water. I doubt you would have any company apart from vehicle traffic.
Geez dude! I would not recommend an unplanned cycle trip to Jasper for people new to the area, who may or may not be cyclists, and on their honeymoon.
You're all a bunch of nuts ;-) eg. Hey, I'd recommend an ascent of Mount Alberta...it's pretty steep in areas, but the view is exceptional, and it can easily be done in a few days. You aren't likely to see to many people up on the summit either! Bears can be a problem at the summit though....
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 4:45 PM
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OP asked for suggestions; they might not have considered cycle touring. I didn't think the trip was that difficult when I did it. The nice thing about cycle touring is the worst that can happen is quite mild compared to climbing or mountaineering.
edit: The parkway has wide shoulders and was designed for cycling.
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Edited by - weedWhacker on 07/14/2012 5:32 PM |
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Kamloops, B.C.
Canada
157 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 6:50 PM
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| I was thinking Banff with the 3 hrs. I agree the drive is worth the trip alone, however the route is riddled with day hike possibilities. Loads of 3-5 hr trails with amazing views, that way if she wants an easy rest day you pick something shorter or just go check out Athabasca falls. You could day hike and camp in the valley bottom and have the fires she would like. As long as you depart before the September long weekend crowds should not be an issue. |
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the mountain parks, Alberta
Canada
102 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 7:11 PM
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quote:
OP asked for suggestions; they might not have considered cycle touring. I didn't think the trip was that difficult when I did it. The nice thing about cycle touring is the worst that can happen is quite mild compared to climbing or mountaineering.
edit: The parkway has wide shoulders and was designed for cycling.
Why are you comparing it to climbing or mountaineering? Interesting take, I would think getting mowed over by an RV would be equal or worse than anything that could happen climing or mountaineering, which is totally irrelevant to this thread since he's asking for hikes which people are recommending.
The shoulders on the parkway are not all that wide and it's quite normal to see tourists hugging the edge while faffing around with the views. |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 8:40 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
OP asked for suggestions; they might not have considered cycle touring. I didn't think the trip was that difficult when I did it. The nice thing about cycle touring is the worst that can happen is quite mild compared to climbing or mountaineering.
edit: The parkway has wide shoulders and was designed for cycling.
True, and there's nothing wrong with asking if they've considered it.
However, he was pretty specific and clear about what he wanted suggestions for, and unless he's as experienced at cycle touring (as he is at hiking), a 230km ride down an unpopulated road they haven't been down, should probably not be taken lightly. Mechanical problems with a bike can also stop the journey pretty quickly.
I don't know if the worst consequences are lesser than hiking (as skibum pointed out). The shoulders are wide, but the RV drivers are often poorly skilled, and distracted.
Yes, they would have cars to bail them out...but I'm not sure that counts as "solitude"...you were saying they'd have no company...it all depends on your defintion. I dont' find biking down a major tourist road much of an escape...beautiful, and enjoyable, yes, but not a journey of "solitude". I'd say they'd actually probably have about as much solitude driving in a car down the parkway....perhaps more, as you don't have danger and noise from idiots exceeding the limit, and big vehicles barreling past.
But don't get me wrong, my post wasn't referring only to you by any means, nor am I putting down the suggestion itself. I just think that it is not to be taken lightly, it isn't necessarily easy, and it is a bit non sequitur. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 8:58 PM
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Is it just my imagination?
Does anyone else feel like they are being gummed by a flock of malevolent ducks whenever they post to CT?
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Calgary, Alberta
318 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 9:57 PM
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I am thinking that if you really really have to do a backpack trip with a newbie I would say the Hidden Lake / Skoki area. You could even do an easy scramble of Fossil Mountain in whatever loop you do.
My first recommendation would be to skip all the gear and just bring your daypack and hiking boots, stay at one location for the week and just do some of the many beautiful day trips in the Banff Lake Louise area. I recommend Mt Fairview and Mt St Piran at Lake Louise. I also like the Helen Lake/Kathryn Lake trail on the way to Cirque Peak. Sentinal Pass above Moraine Lake.
In Banff hike the Sulphur Mtn trail underneath the Gondola and enjoy the scenery in the restaurant on top, have a meal, and take the Gondola down.
Ha Ling Peak in Canmore.
Canmore is 15min drive fron Banff, Banff is 30min drive from Lake Louise. All close together.
Skoki is 5min from Lake Louise if that.
You also may encounter acclimitization issues, never know. Moraine Lake is 6,200 ft above sea level, Lake Louise (lake) is 5,700ft Lake Louise (town) is 5,000 ft, Banff is 4,540ft, Canmore is 4,300 ft
Lots of options but way less complicated IMO
Best regards
Allan A
http://www.truedino.com/scramble.htm
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Edited by - mtnview on 07/14/2012 10:10 PM |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 11:08 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mtnview
I am thinking that if you really really have to do a backpack trip with a newbie I would say the Hidden Lake / Skoki area. You could even do an easy scramble of Fossil Mountain in whatever loop you do.
My first recommendation would be to skip all the gear and just bring your daypack and hiking boots, stay at one location for the week and just do some of the many beautiful day trips in the Banff Lake Louise area. I recommend Mt Fairview and Mt St Piran at Lake Louise. I also like the Helen Lake/Kathryn Lake trail on the way to Cirque Peak. Sentinal Pass above Moraine Lake.
In Banff hike the Sulphur Mtn trail underneath the Gondola and enjoy the scenery in the restaurant on top, have a meal, and take the Gondola down.
Ha Ling Peak in Canmore.
Canmore is 15min drive fron Banff, Banff is 30min drive from Lake Louise. All close together.
Skoki is 5min from Lake Louise if that.
You also may encounter acclimitization issues, never know. Moraine Lake is 6,200 ft above sea level, Lake Louise (lake) is 5,700ft Lake Louise (town) is 5,000 ft, Banff is 4,540ft, Canmore is 4,300 ft
Lots of options but way less complicated IMO
Best regards
Allan A
http://www.truedino.com/scramble.htm
+1! Good ideas, including Skoki....
I'd skip Ha ling though! Better off at Fairview, St.Piran, Cirque, Paget, or others, and get much better view for not much more effort!
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 11:14 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
Is it just my imagination?
Does anyone else feel like they are being gummed by a flock of malevolent ducks whenever they post to CT?
LOL. Sometimes peer review isn't malevolent, particularly when it comes to giving advice to people new to an activity and/or new to a region!
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Jasper, Alberta
Canada
11 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 11:39 PM
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Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!
I think that Mosquito Creek/Molar Pass/North Molar Pass would make an ideal trip for you. I have done this trip twice; the first time with two tweens, with me as the solo adult, and the second time with my husband, who is fit, but not much into hiking and backpacking (he'd rather run the trails). In both cases, I wanted an easy, FUN backpack trip, with a "base camp" and scenic day hikes.
The trailhead is at Mosquito Creek, about 13 km north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway. It's a short hike in to the campsite - about 6 km, if I remember correctly. The campground is in the trees, a bit below treeline. I don't remember how many campsites there are though; you won't be alone. It's been a few years, but I think the sites are reasonably spread out. Fires are not allowed.
From a base in the campground for both nights, you have two passes to hike to, and all sorts of alpine meadows to wander around in. It is an amazingly gorgeous area!
The last time I did it (with my husband), we had a late start, so we drove to the trailhead ( 2 1/2 hours from home), hiked in, set up camp, had supper and lounged. On Day 2, we hiked over North Molar Pass to Fish Lakes and back to camp (you could just hike to the pass, for a shorter day). On Day 3, we packed up our camp but stashed everything we didn't need for day hiking for later pick-up (up the bear pole), then hiked up to Molar Pass, and then higher up the hill above Molar Pass, back down to the campground to pick up our stuff, and then out to the highway.
Mosquito Creek campground has porcupines living nearby so don't leave anything with salty sweat on it out of your tent (i.e. boots, packs, hiking pole handgrips) or it might get chewed on.
Not that I have been to all that many of them, but backcountry campsites in Banff and Jasper tend to be fairly small - 4 to 7 sites. Some of them are quite private, some of them, not so much. There are getting to be fewer and fewer backcountry campsites that allow fires, because the available deadfall is all long gone, Parks Canada doesn't have the money to fly in firewood, and people are stupid and start hacking at live trees. So it's easier just to not allow fires.
One other thing to consider about your trip is bugs. We are having a humdinger of a season for mosquitoes this year in the Canadian Rockies, which should hopefully be abating by later in August, especially up higher. But there is also a very pretty but voracious golden-coloured fly that likes to take a chunk out of you when it bites. I first encountered these at Mosquito Creek CG, but have since encountered them elsewhere at similar elevation, in July and up to the end of August. Don't forget the DEET.
FYI, the Moraine Lake "tight group of four" hiking restrictions began this week and will be in place until Oct. 8 :
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/mtn/ours-bears/miseajour-update-byk.aspx |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2012 : 08:16 AM
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Congrats on your upcoming wedding!
You may want to consider the Lake Ohara area as well. My wife, my girlfriend at the time of the hike, have gone in the area twice. I have gone in on two other occasions as well. Of the many hikes we have done this area holds special significance. The Ordaray Prospect hiike gives you views helicopter views that will leave your head spinning about where to focus your eyes. It is hard to rank the hikes in the Canadian Rockies as so many are great but if this is your only trip to the area you must go here.
We have only day hiked in this area so I can't speak about the privacy at the campsites. However Parks Canada limits the number hikers by only having 2 buses go in per day. Reservations for the buses are hard to get but if you can get in it is worth it.
Skoki and Fossil Mtn were suggested and these would be great too. |
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the mountain parks, Alberta
Canada
102 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2012 : 08:40 AM
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quote:
In Banff hike the Sulphur Mtn trail underneath the Gondola
Horrible suggestion as per what the OP is looking for.
Do the Sulphur mtn trail if you want to spend a few hours with basically the most people you can find on a trail with not much for views until the top. All other suggestions on this thread are WAY better.
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Honeymoon - wife's first time (need advice)
