TUESDAY, July 14th 2009
Day 1

Arrive at Calgary Airport at 11h30 AM by WestJet
Go get car rental.
Get info on Banff National Park hiking trails.
Go to Canadian Tire to buy Pepper Spray and meet my brother's son François.
Buy food for the week.
 

BED AT 10h30 PM chez François Szoka

WEDNESDAY, July 15th 2009
Day 2 With Gabriel  — See Picasa Album for pictures

Paradise Valley / Larch Valley to Giant Steps, Alberta
map  C — Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Area —  4+ organize in advance! (but we were just 2) Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description
Highest Alt : 2105 m

17 km total distance, elevation gain 880 m, 11°C / Windy 

Start at 10h38 / 6h23 /  Had Alymer Pass planned but needed to be 4 to do that one. They said OK for this one but we were glad we had our bear sprey even if we didn't use it.
 

	See Grizzly Bear after 1 hour hiking — See Black Bear after 1h30mins hiking (but maybe it was a black grizzly 2-3 year old cub) — See bear tracks between the two —

BED AT 11h30  chez François Szoka

THURSDAY, July 16th 2009 ~ banner picture ~
Day 3   With Gabriel & François — See Picasa Album for pictures 

Wenkchemna Pass, Alberta map  C — Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Area
—  4+ (but we were just 3)  
Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description
Highest Alt : 2620 m

19,4 km distance, elevation gain 720 m
pac sac 20 lbs 15°C / Sunny / little wind  / avalanche "bang" /
7h03 mins  / 3832 calories / 50% fat / AveHR 112 68%/ MaxHR 146 88% / 1h32mins inZone (75%+)

Trailhead: 100 m past Moraine Lake Lodge, along lakeshore. A 2.4 km trail switchbacking steeply through the forest to a junction high on the north slope of the Valley of the Ten Peaks. From the junction it is another 0.4 km uphill to Larch Valley.

	We see the famous Ten-Peaks almost all along the trail, but the trail itself is fun as well.

BED AT 10h30 PM chez François Szoka

FRIDAY, July 17th 2009
Day 4  With Gabriel & François — See Picasa Album for pictures 

Plain of Six Glaciers, Alberta map  C — Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Area — lots of tourists Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description
Highest Alt : 2070 m

19 km distance , elevation gain 650 m
pac sac 20 lbs 23°C / Sunny / little wind 
6h37 mins  / 3362 cals / 50% fat / AveHR 109 66%/ MaxHR 206 125% / 1h31mins inZone (75%+)

Lake Agnès Trail, Mirror Lake, Tea House, tour du Lac, Swithcbacks, Big Beehive, descent/ Highline other Tea House / P House / Plain of Six Glaciers, return via Lakeshore Trail

François and Gabriel

Upper Banff Hot Springs

BED AT 11h30 PM chez François Szoka

SATURDAY, July 18th 2009
Day 5  With Gabriel  — See Picasa Album for pictures 

Bourgeau Lake & Harvey Pass, Alberta map B  — Castle Junction Area —
Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description
Highest Alt : 2160 m

19.4 km distance, elevation gain 1035 m, start at 8h50, pac sac 20 lbs, 18°C at the top, strong winds

Trailhead: On the Trans-Canada Highway 13 km west of the Mt. Norquay Interchange. Trailhead is on the south side of the four-lane divided highway. Strong hikers who are good route finders can continue beyond Bourgeau Lake on a rough, unmarked trail to Harvey Pass.

BED AT 10h30 PM chez François Szoka

SUNDAY, July 19th 2009
Day 6  With Gabriel — "Steady up and Giddy-up" this week — See Picasa Album for pictures 

O'Brien Lake + Taylor Lake Walk + Panorama Meadow, Alberta
map B  — Castle Junction Area — Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description
Highest Alt : 2065 m

18.7 km distance, elevation gain 740 m Start at 9h15
7h00 mins  / 2864 cals / 55% fat / AveHR 99 60%/ MaxHR 135 82% / 34mins inZone (75%+)

Trailhead: On the Trans-Canada Highway 8 km west of Castle Junction at Taylor Creek Picnic area. Caution: There are no signs on the highway for this trailhead. Use extreme caution when entering and exiting.

	The trail to Larch meadows starts at the very "back" of the camping area.. not at the "end" of it.

BED AT 8h00 PM chez François Szoka

MONDAY, July 20th 2009
Day 7  With Gabriel & François — See Picasa Album for pictures 

Boulder Pass, Deception pass, Alberta map  C — Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Area —  Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description.
Highest Alt : 2475 m

22 km distance , elevation gain 784 m, pac sac 20 lbs
7h18 mins  / 2843 cals / 55% fat / AveHR 98 59%/ MaxHR 142 86% / 33mins inZone (75%+)

Trailhead: From the village drive towards the ski area, turn at signs for Fish Creek Parking area, follow gravel road for 1 km to parking lot on south side.

	The most beautiful day, no "Decption" at all. Would have loved to do a 3 day hike here.

Back vis Bow Valley Parkway. Supper : Tacos & Tokay

BED AT 10h15 PM chez François Szoka

TUESDAY, July 21st 2009
Day 8  With Gabriel  — See Picasa Album for pictures 

Stanley Glacier, British Colombia
+ Loop : Cave, Plateau, morraine top, Plateau, other side
map B  — Castle Junction Area — Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description
Highest Alt : 1950 m

12 km distance, elevation gain 695 m, pac sac : 15 lbs, 5h45 mins

Trailhead: On Highway 93 South, 13 km west of Castle Junction in Kootenay National Park.

We do a loop at the end of the trail that takes almost longer than the trail itself. I love visiting the cave and we eat lunch on the morraine. The Glacier itself is just a climb away, but we decide to head back at a reasonable time, since this extra was not planned.

Stop at Continental Devide, Supper at Evelyns (Brocoli Quiche) in Banff. Upper Banff Hot Springs

planned BED AT 10h30 PM chez François Szoka

WEDNESDAY, July 22nd 2009
Day 9  With Gabriel  — See Picasa Album for pictures 

Helene Lake + Dolomite Pass, Alberta map D — Icefields Parkway Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description
Highest Alt : 2195 m

18 km distance , elevation gain 750 m, pac sac 20 lbs, 23°C Sunny, Start at 10h30
6h10 mins  / 2707 cals / 55% fat / AveHR 103 62%/ MaxHR 135 82% / 39 mins inZone (75%+)

Trailhead: Same as Helen Lake. From the high ridge above Helen Lake, strong hikers can descend to the shores of Katherine Lake and then make a short climb to the summit of Dolomite Pass, 3.0 km farther.

	At Dolomite pass we're "behind" the mountain that we see from the road.

THURSDAY, July 23rd 2009
Day 10  With Gabriel  — See Picasa Album for pictures 

Healy Pass, Alberta map B  — Castle Junction Area — Click on hike number for location and in the location-map, on hike number for description
Highest Alt : 2330 m

18.6 km distance, elevation gain 655 m, pac sac 20 lbs, 27°C Sunny, No wind, Bugs, Start at 8h56
5h28 mins  / 1714 cals / 55% fat / AveHR 92 56%/ MaxHR 127 76% / 2 mins inZone (75%+)

The trail begins at the far end of the parking area immediately behind the Sunshine gondola terminal. After following the wide Sunshine ski-out trail for 800 m, it branches right, crosses Sunshine Creek and begins its ascent of Healy Creek.

Nice way to end our vacation. When we leave the part that has lots of flowers there is a junction that reminds me that we always have new routes to follow another time.It's a nice place to stop for lunch, something mystical about it.

Bar : Cowboys, Calgary

BED AT 11h30 PM chez François Szoka

FRIDAY, July 24th 2009
Day 11  With Gabriel  — See Picasa Album for pictures 

10h00 Horse back riding early Boundry Ranch, Kananaskis Country, Alberta
2 hours Ridge Ride

Airplane home during the night. WestJet
 

Don't really get any Sleep on the airplane Home early morning.