A North American Adventure: Summer in Banff: Biking, hiking and bears ;)

Sonntag, 16. August 2015

Summer in Banff: Biking, hiking and bears ;)

Came spring and summer, there's no way I would spent my free time inside. I've never been this type of person and I had a hole to fill: May 18th was the last day of skiing so I had to switch to other outside activies! Luckily, Banff has so much to offer that I never got around to even half try all the hiking trails and bike trails that are around. But I tried my very best!

Spray River trail is like a 15km roundtrip that takes you along Spray River, over a bridge, back on the other side and you end up at the Banff Springs Golf Course. It's very scenic, and easy tour and good to start the season with. Offers some nice views as well :)

Winding through the forest: never forget bear spray!

Having a little rest with gorgeous mountain views all around

Spray River

With Hana I had an awesome hiking partner and we hiked up to the Lake Agnes Tea House at Lake Louise and a little higher up to the Little Beehive (that's the name of that peak as far as I remember...). But it doesn't matter what it's actually called I guess, it's the beauty of the view that was the most stunning about this. Lake Louise was so very turqouise it was almost unreal. None of these pictures are edited, this is the color as it was! Also, I saw my very first bear taking the Bow Valley Parkway!!! Very impressive. Didn't want to meet this guy up close though! Also we had a little misjudgement of the weather conditions and snow up to our thighs close to the peak but the view was very very rewarding!

Grizzly just chewing on some dandelions

Wouldn't want to be super close to this guy as cute as he seems...

Lake Louise from above!

So so turqouise.

In Canmore there is a peak called Mt. Lady Macdonald that we also chose to hike. This time it was 3 of us, Hana, Tyler and me. A little later in the year to avoid snowy surprises this time ;) And another mountain offering gorgeous views, this time of Canmore and the Bow Valley! The sky was blue with only a few clouds and it was a very warm and beautiful day. To get all the way to the peak was a bit of scrambling involved but the view was rewarding for everything! I do admit to have complained a little in the end but I made it up and I am very proud of myself :) Back at the bottom we stuck our feet into the little creek to cool down. Check this out!