Banff Baby!!!

August 25, 2012

Day 9

After another cold night of sleeping we were up early and ready to explore our surroundings.  Once we ate and were ready, we headed out of the camp.  There was a cycling competition this morning, but they had to change the route due to a bear, which meant that we had to stay at our site longer because the roads were closed to cars.  So, instead we hopped on our bikes and rode up to the outlook above Two Jack Rivers and Minnewanka Lake.  Before we even left the campsite exit there was a Mommy and baby deer, which Sol got some good photos of. 

Bambi

Two Jack Rivers

Lake Minnewanka

On our way back into the campsite we caught the deer again and Sol took a few more photos.  Then we hopped in the car and went into Banff for some breakfast, YEAH!!!  When we arrived in Banff, the hydro had gone out and none of the businesses were actually open and its currently noon.  As we wondered the streets trying to figure out where normally serves breakfast the power slowly came on in the stores and they began to open.  We had breakfast at Brunos – Solly had a BLT sandwich and I had a pulled pork skillet.  It was soooo good and the coffee hit the spot especially after a long cold night.  We also stopped in the info centre where I bought a hiking trail guide for us to pick some trails to do over the next couple of days. 

After breakfast, we quickly hit the grocery store for some snacks that we could take with us on the trail up Sulphur Mountain.  The grocery store still did not have hydro so you were not allowed in the refrigerators, but their cash registers and debit machines were working.  It was quite entertaining in the grocery store as it was insanely busy.  We grabbed some granola bars and fruit and then we were on our way.

Parking was absolutely insane, it took us about 30 minutes just to find a parking spot.  Then finally we were on our way up.  One way is 5.5 km and the trail contains a lot of switchbacks.  There are short cuts but we didn’t take them on the way up.  It took us about 2.5 hours to get up, but that also includes rest and taking some photos along the way.  I have never heard Solly whine so much; obviously his steady state cardio is not up to par like mine. LOL 

View from Sulphur Mountain and we are only part way up

 

 Once we made it up to the top we were quite relieved.  We briefly browsed the observation deck.  And then we made our way back down the mountain since the line up for the Gonadola was massive.  We quickly realized few people walk up the mountain and the majority of the people will take the gondola both ways or up then hike down.  I kept wondering why I was breaking so heavy and no one else seemed to be, I know I am not in bad shape and sitting in a car for 7 days could not have effected me that badly!  

 

We survived!

 

One the way down, we found a chipmunk that Solly took a few photos of.  Them we made a story line of Solly eating the chipmunk. 

HELLO Chipmunk!

GONE!!!

 

After our nice long hike we headed back into Banff to once again hit the grocery store.  We thought it was crazy earlier; it was even busier now.  The shelves were being emptied as we walked around.  We grabbed pork for dinner, eggs and pork cutlets for breakfast.  We also bought marshmallows, what’s a campfire without them?  We also wander Banff a little and I took advantage of the fact that Alberta does not have provincial tax and went shopping at Lululemon for some new workout clothes! 

 

Cooking sweet potatoes for dinner

 

Once again, we headed back to the campsite where we cooked dinner, had a nice campfire and then hit the sack since we were tired from our long hike.  Before bed, I quickly read up on some of the local trails preparing for tomorrow.  🙂