The Christmas season comes early to the Canadian Rockies with the arrival of Santa Claus in Banff mid-November. By this point the mountains are already blanketed in snow, ski resorts are starting to open, and high elevation trails are prime … Continue reading
I spend my winters regularly exploring trails around the Canadian Rockies. I’ve learned that just because there’s a snowy trail, doesn’t mean it’s a snowshoe trail or that it’s appropriate for winter hiking. I enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and … Continue reading
Spend a weekend in a remote off-the-grid cabin with a glacier out your back door. Alternatively, check in to a deluxe cabin with hot springs located close enough that you can make a run for it in your bathrobe. These … Continue reading
Those of us living in Southern Alberta, Canada, know that if we want snow, Lake Louise is the place to go! Even when the prairies are dry, bleak, and completely brown, it is always a winter wonderland with many activities … Continue reading
Snowshoeing is the ultimate winter crowd-pleaser. Rent some snowshoes and you’re good to go for an easy fun day playing in the snow. Don’t believe me that snowshoeing is a fun way to plan a day out with your friends? … Continue reading
Wake up in a cozy little mountain retreat, ready to hike or ski out the door into a snowy winter wonderland. Spend the afternoon soaking in a nearby hot spring pool and then head to the nearest town to sample … Continue reading
Alpine resorts are having to step up their game with a larger variety of winter activities as more groups and families visit each year, often looking for more than the classic ski package. Couples are looking for special additions to … Continue reading
When most people think of provincial or state parks, they think of camping and hiking, of vehicles loaded down with boats and bikes, and of families heading out for a summer weekend away at their favourite lake.
Travel north to … Continue reading
Want to see the best that Banff National Park has to offer in the winter months while getting off the beaten path away from resorts, crowded streets, and tourist sites? Check out these trails and destinations below – and don’t … Continue reading
Spring is around the corner in the Canadian Rockies and it gets challenging to find good snow for hiking or skiing. Mornings are icy, afternoons are slushy, and you can start to expect some serious postholing conditions (even in snowshoes) … Continue reading
Canada celebrates its 150th birthday this year and Parks Canada is offering free admission into all national parks, marine conservation areas, and historic sites with free discovery passes. To quote Parks Canada, “There’s never been a better time to make … Continue reading
We have good days and bad days when we head out for a winter hike as a family. Fortunately I’ve learned to predict what kind of outing we’re looking at and I’ve figured out the key steps to planning a … Continue reading
Snow is collecting on the mountain peaks of the Canadian Rockies and there’s a great deal of excitement in the air for those of us who enjoy winter sports. In my house, we are busy planning out our trips for … Continue reading
Reluctant to pack the snowshoes away for another season? Check out these great spring getaways in the Canadian Rockies and don’t forget the winter boots; It’s definitely not summer yet in these parts!
Destination One: Lake O’Hara, Yoho National Park… Continue reading
There are things that you try once, enjoy immensely, and where you’ll then take great satisfaction in checking the experience off of your bucket list. Then there are things you try for the first time that get their hooks into … Continue reading
Traveling into the backcountry clears the mind, creates peace, and re-focuses everything to the here and now. With thoughts focused on comfort, warmth, survival, and hopefully the beauty surrounding you, your mind tends to forget about the zillion things you … Continue reading
If it’s covered in snow, it’s good for snowshoeing, right? Or is it? Personally, I enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking – but rarely on the same trail despite the presence of snow on all three kinds of … Continue reading
The Rogers Pass area of Glacier National Park is famous in the world of backcountry skiing and people travel from all over North America to experience it first-hand. While not as well-known as Glacier National Park in the United States, … Continue reading
It’s mid-April and our family has officially transitioned to biking, hiking, and even bagging small summits here in the Canadian Rockies. We even went as far as to put our skis away for the season and started moving winter clothing … Continue reading
Living in Southern Alberta, I tend to spend most of my weekends in nearby Banff National Park or Kananaskis Country. Every February though we get a long weekend to celebrate a local holiday known as “Family Day” and I seize … Continue reading
I’ve been on a quest this winter to find the most beautiful destination to explore in backcountry Banff National Park and I believe I may have just found it. I just took a 3 day mixed ski and snowshoe trip … Continue reading
We recently spent a weekend at a small wilderness hostel with two other families on Alberta’s most scenic highway, the Icefields Parkway. This remote highway connects the Village of Lake Louise in Banff National Park with the town of Jasper … Continue reading
There are a lot of ski-in, ski-out lodges throughout North America but few that can offer a great “snowshoe out your door” experience to winter hikers. Most of us don’t want to stay at a crowded ski resort (even if … Continue reading
I’m fortunate to live a short hour outside the park gates of Banff National Park in Alberta where opportunities for both skiing and snowshoeing are abundant. Backcountry lodges are also plentiful for multi-day trips but tend to cater to skiers … Continue reading
Most winter outdoor enthusiasts will have heard of cat skiing where giant snow cats carry you high up into the alpine for sweet backcountry ski runs without the effort of climbing to the ridge tops first. But, what if you … Continue reading
What’s the best way to go stargazing in winter? On snowshoes of course! Head out of the city for a night hike this winter and get off the beaten path, climb up to a meadow under the stars, lie down … Continue reading
If you have friends who ski, you’ve no doubt heard complaints about how “boring” snowshoeing is to them. Well-meaning friends will try to tell you that skiing is more exciting, that it’s easier, and that it’s faster on the way … Continue reading
Winter is around the corner but you don’t have to pack the tent and sleeping bag away for another season quite yet (or at all.) October and November are great months to get out for one final backcountry trip and … Continue reading
Highwood Pass is located on the highest paved road in Canada and offers incredible adventures year-round. Cyclists flock to this area in Kananaskis Country each spring to bike the highway before it opens in June for the summer season, and … Continue reading
I’ve spent the past 14 years exploring the Canadian Rockies and one thing I’ve really discovered is that having a good base camp is the first step in planning the perfect backcountry adventure. Find that gem of a lodge, cabin … Continue reading
A few weeks ago I made my way out to the mountains for the day with one of my favorite outdoor companions, my five-year-old son. While he may whine a bit more than my husband, and can’t exactly share a … Continue reading
Emerald Lake Lodge in British Columbia has been promoted as one of Canada’s top destinations for a secluded romantic mountain getaway. It is also an absolute paradise for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing without the crowds you’d find at the nearby … Continue reading
We’re always looking for new places to travel as a family from our home base of Calgary, Alberta, and Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park is one destination we’d always wanted to visit in winter. We travel south to Waterton each … Continue reading
A few months ago I was contacted by Columbia Sportswear to see if I’d like to try some Omni-Heat Reflective clothing. I didn’t have to think about this offer very long because my winter playground is the Canadian Rockies where … Continue reading
I’ve been testing out a pair of Crescent Moon Gold 13 Trail Snowshoes over the last couple of months, and am extremely pleased with them.
Designed for Women
They were designed specifically for women and made to accommodate a woman’s … Continue reading
Last winter I spent the most amazing couple of days snowshoeing in Kananaskis, Alberta while based out of the remote Mount Engadine Lodge. It was an incredible weekend with soft fluffy powder deep enough to lose myself in coupled … Continue reading
The Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic roads in the Canadian Rockies and links the mountain communities of Jasper and Lake Louise. In summer it’s a busy road with tourists at every viewpoint, groups of cyclists completing the … Continue reading
Waves crash in the background as I sit down to write and I’m definitely in paradise surrounded by palm trees and warm ocean breezes. Still, I can’t stop thinking about a very different kind of paradise I was in last … Continue reading
I decided to do a search on YouTube the other day for child skiing and there were more than 2,000 results with titles ranging from “amazing three-year old skier” to “extraordinary four-year old skier.” It wasn’t hard to find awe-inspiring … Continue reading
I’ve lived in Calgary, Alberta for the past 12 years and in this time I’ve taken up enough mountain sports to successfully fill the garage and basement with gear for everything from camping to mountaineering, hiking, and skiing. Add the … Continue reading
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