Experience The Mountain Parks Blog

Jasper Motorcycle Run

Back on June 23, 2012, we talked about the fourth annual Jasper Motorcycle Run.
Guess what? They extended their early bird registration to July 31, 2012, so you'e got only three days left!

Make sure not to miss this amazing opportunity. To register for this year's Motorcycle Run, please visit www.JasperMotorcycleRun.com.

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(Wild)Life in Banff, Jasper, Waterton or any other Canadian Rockies town

We, at Experience The Mountain Parks, thought it would be worth showing you this video as a reminder. You might think: "Hold on a sec, I wouldn't do this!". Fair enough, but some of you might have seen it done, or might see it done though, and this video wasn't staged, it's real life!

Please, don't try to get too close to wildlife hoping to send us your best wildlife shot for our annual photo contest! 

A BBC video shot over the summer in the town of Estes, Colorado, U.S.A., is showing  rutting male elk, so fired up they invade the streets and charge at the tourists.

Remember, this "wildlife/humans issue" is easily transferable in the Canadian Rockies, in towns like Banff, Jasper or Waterton, just to name a few.

Please act safely, animals in National Parks are wild, and you should treat wildlife with respect for their and your own safety. Please keep the wildlife wild!

Check this reminder from Banff National Park staff about Elk/Human safety.

On the same topic, one of our contributors Michael Kerr wrote for us some time ago two stories on wild animals:
- Minding your Manners and 
- Lifestyles of the Wild and Famous.

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Trail Running in the Canadian Rockies

Trail Running is quickly becoming a popular way for locals and visitors alike to experience trails throughout the world, and the mountain parks are considered one of the top trail running destinations. Many runners simply take hiking trails and instead of walking, they run. It allows them to see more locations and scenery while getting a great workout at the same time.

These runs can also be used as a great hike - although some of the longer ones will need more than one day for a walker to complete. And in turn, most of the great hikes in the area can be run. Don’t be afraid to piece together trails or shorten distances to suit your ability. This is an infinitely small selection of the trail runs available in the chosen areas.

As with all backcountry activities, be aware of wildlife, run in groups when possible and ensure you have enough water and nutrition to make your day an enjoyable one. And don’t forget your camera.

Canmore
Highline Trail
The Highline Trail was opened in August 2009 and has quickly become a local favourite. With four entry points, there are plenty of options for either an out-and-back run or loop run. The well maintained and well-marked single track offers uninhibited views overlooking the town of Canmore, and the trail is regularly shovelled during the winter by a group of dedicated mountain bikers. Popular starting points are the Quarry Lake day use area and Three Sisters Blvd. Regardless of where you begin, you’ll only achieve the 8 km rolling traverse by first testing your lungs on the climbing switchbacks.

Montane Traverse
On the North side of the highway, Montane Traverse links Cougar Creek and Harvey Heights above Silvertip Golf Course. A well-travelled 8 km mountain bike trail, this undulating single track appeals to runners of all levels. It offers short side loops or can be extended east to include the approximate 8 km G8 circuit. Finish at Cougar Creek parking lot and treat yourself to a pint at the Iron Goat Pub and Grill.

Canmore to Banff

Challenge Run: Combine Rundle Riverside and Goat Creek Trail for an epic 42 km trail run from Canmore to Banff and back. Starting at the Canmore Nordic Centre, run to Banff via Rundle Riverside, connect to Goat Creek via the Banff Springs Golf Course road and complete the return trip on the Goat Creek Trail. Finish with a significant downhill on Spray Lakes Road back to the Nordic Centre.

Banff

Lake Minnewanka
The lakeshore trail at Lake Minnewanka is a classic Banff-area trail for runners, hikers and mountain bikers. As one of the first trails to be snow-free in the area, it’s a stunning and fun beginner/intermediate early-season run. From the Lake Minnewanka car park, take the sealed road past the boat docking area and the trailhead will present itself. Although the first part of the trail has some steeper elevation gain, the extent of the whole trail hosts a mildly undulating, winding and fast singletrack. The out-and-back trail is a tad under 30km but is spectacular at any turn-around point making it a favourite for all levels of runner.

Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House – Lake Louise
From the iconic Chateau on the Lake, Chateau Lake Louise, 10 mins from the township of Lake Louise, follow the paved path to the right side of the lake. A wide unpaved pathway leads you, along with many tourists, cameras and over-fed squirrels, to a stunningly picturesque lakeside trail. The trail progressively becomes less of a wide path and more of a singletrack, passing Lake Louise’s ‘Back of the Lake’ rock climbing area. With stunning views of Mt. Lefroy and Mt. Victoria ahead of you and Lake Louise behind you, the trail winds upward to the Teahouse. Enjoy cake and tea and a fast return to complete this 10.6 km run.

Kootenay National Park

Stanley Glacier
This well used trail is a gorgeous, and less busy, early morning run. The 8.4 km round trip trail will take you through former forest fire areas, and offers breathtaking scenery with 1,200 ft. elevation gain. Access this trail left from Highway 93 just 3.5 km of the British Columbia/Alberta border. Be prepared for some tourist-dodging during midday summer weather.

Rockwall Traverse
This run is considered a “must-do” for local ultra running enthusiasts. In its entirety, the Rockwall is an astounding 53 km and is usually completed in 3-5 days by overnight backpackers. As a one day adventure, with three mountain passes, this run is only for experienced long distance runners. Access this trail at either the Paint Pots parking lot or the Floe Lake parking lot (more popular option) and run the point-to-point trail through majestic mountain terrain. Transportation will be needed to get back to the start, and many locals hitchhike back to the beginning. Shorter traverse options, or emergency exit points, can be created by following Numa Creek (18.5 km) or Tumbling Creek (26.5 km) to reach Highway 93.

Yoho National Park

Lake O’Hara
The Lake O’Hara area is a must-see in Yoho National Park. Depending on your availability, you can access the multiple trails by either reserving a spot on the shuttle bus that runs from mid-June to early October ($14.70/adult) or running the 11 km access road located 13 km east of Field, B.C. Once there, the trail running options are endless. Download a trail map before you go and plan your route to include any number of trails in beautiful backcountry terrain. Alternatively, set up camp (fees apply) for a couple days and take your time exploring the area. This can be a busy area in high season summer months.

Iceline Trail
Starting at the Whiskey Jack Hostel, runners can complete a 17.5 km circuit (via Celeste Lake) or a 20.8 km circuit (via Little Yoho). Both routes offer views of outstanding landmarks including Emerald Glacier and Canada’s second highest waterfall, Takakkaw Falls. Look out points along the trail encourage some frequent breaks to enjoy the scenery. From 27 km west of Lake Louise on Highway 1, follow Yoho Valley west to the hostel and trailhead.

Valley of the Five Lakes
Just 9 km south of the Jasper townsite on highway 93, this popular and stunning run allows many options for distance and trails. The traditional short 4.2 km return trail passes wetlands, meadows and five lakes of differing size, colour and uniqueness. The beauty of this area is that trails can be added to make a loop of linking singletrack with endless options and distance including nearby Wabasso Lake.

Athabasca River Trail
The trailhead for this fast and fun 23 km run is at Old Fort Point. Following singletrack behind the Jasper Park Lodge golf course, the trail rises up some easy hills to Maligne Canyon. Time permitting, take the opportunity to follow the self-guided tour at the Canyon. The trail then follows west along Maligne Rd and hooks up over the Fifth Bridge to Trail 7. Gently making its way back to Old Fort Point, the trail follows the curves and picturesque landscape of the Athabasca River. The trail network in this area opens up a world of options for linking up singletrack for a customized running experience.


~Jen Lowery and Edward Marran

Photos Credit: Edward Marran 

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What you ought to know about these blockbusters

We're launching a new series about movies filming locations.

Did you know lots of blockbusters or TV series were actually partly or fully filmed in Alberta and/or British Columbia?

So we'll start with our first round in Alberta. This first list is far from being exhaustive as we intend to continue on.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Partly filmed in Canmore, Edmonton, Calgary.

The Edge (1997)
Partly filmed in Canmore, Banff National Park, Edmonton.

Mystery Alaska (1999)
Partly filmed in Canmore, and Banff National Park.

Night Breed (1990)
Partly filmed in Canmore, Calgary, Bragg Creek, and Drumheller.

Last of the Dogmen (1995)
Partly filmed in Canmore, and Banff National Park.

Harry Tracy, Desperado (1982)
Partly filmed in Canmore, and Jasper.

The High Country (1981)
Partly filmed in Canmore, and Banff National Park.

The A-Team (2010)
Partly filmed in Cold Lake.

Open Range (2003)
Partly filmed in Calgary, Longview, Morley, and Stoney Indian Reservation.

Unforgiven (1992)
Partly filmed in Calgary, Brooks, Drumheller, High River, and Longview.

X-Men 2: X-Men United (2003)
Partly filmed in Kananaskis Country.

Good Luck Chuck (2007)
Partly filmed in Edmonton.

This was our first random installment...To be continued, stay tuned!

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Our Trivia Quiz #2

The author Graeme Pole is generously offering a second set of 3 companion guides.

Congratulations to the winner, Nitisha Armstrong!

For the record, the three questions asked were:

1. The most common cause of death for grizzly bears in the Canadian Rockies is:
- Collisions with vehicles
- Kills made by wolf packs
- Drowning after falling through river ice
- Duels between males
The correct answer is "Collisions with vehicles".

2. Who was the first European mountain guide to work in Canada?
- Edward Feuz Sr.
- Peter Sarbach
- Rudolph Aemmer
- Herman Buhl
The correct answer is "Peter Sarbach in 1897".

3. Jasper National Park is the "hub" of how many major river systems?
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
The correct answer is "Five (Athabasca, Columbia, Brazeau/North Saskatchewan, Fraser, Smoky/Peace)".

There are 7 more chances to win a set of these guides. Make sure to check our Trivia Quiz #3, running from July 5 to August 5 inclusive. Sorry, only one answer per person will be accepted. If your entered answers were right, your name will be entered in our random draw and you could win the set.

Good luck!

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