Going to Banff, Canada ...

maddoc

maddoc

... likes film again.
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... I am goint to attend a conference in Banff from Sunday to next week Saturday. Hopefully, I have some spare time to take some photos at least ... I am planning to bring my M4-P (MP is at Leica for service) with 21/50/90 and some film (Trebi100C, Provia400X, and Tri-X)

I plan to go to a half-day trip to Lake Luise and Moraine Lake, any other places where to go ? Any advices ?

Thanks

Gabor
 
1. take money
2. look out for tourists
3. look out for elk
4. have a dip in the hot springs
5. have a drink at a window seat at the Banff Springs Hotel bar on the second floor overlooking the Bow
 
banff is very beautiful and you just need to point your camera and there will likely be a mountain at the other end.
sunny days will be warm enough but the evenings are already starting to get cold. the hot springs are a treat, like jan says.
animals walking through town are not uncommon, don't walk directly behind any of them, no matter how cute they might be.
i hope you enjoy your stay.

joe
 
Banff is great - very beautiful. If you have a DSLR, take it to get some landscapes.
Everything is pretty expensive though!
 
Thanks everybody for the tips so far ! :) The link to the Olympus forum was quite helpful, too ! Now, I really hope to have some more time for photography :D

(And I think that I should bring more film than planned ... ;))

Thanks again,

Gabor
 
I think that if you had the time to do the short run to Jasper and back you would enjoy that also.

Bob
 
I agree

I agree

jan normandale said:
1. take money
2. look out for tourists
3. look out for elk
4. have a dip in the hot springs
5. have a drink at a window seat at the Banff Springs Hotel bar on the second floor overlooking the Bow
Click to expand...

All good advice. The advice to try to get to Jasper is good as well. If you can only get as far as the Chalet at the Columbia Icefield, that's really great scenery. Enjoy! Have fun!
 
Be
Aware,
Nothing
For
Free


... this was recited to me by many of the locals - and yes, jasper is amazing too
 
If I wasn't half way around the world right now, I'd meet you for a brew and romp around with a camera.

Pretty much my take on the Banff thing is:
Get out of Banff it's a tourist trap. Everywhere else around in the mountains is so much nicer. I kind of dig the Hoodoos and a ride up around the Lake Minniwanka loop is good panoramic fodder. Hell, its all good, just get out of Banff.

Don't forget to check out the music action at the Banff Centre. You may be lucky and stumble upon some great live music the week you are there.

Cheers,

Russ Pinchbeck
 
Russ

I like your take on Banff and it is the reason that I suggested going up to Jasper and back. I just didn't want to come out and say it.

Bob
 
Here are some shorter, 1-3 hour hikes (shorter if you have a vehicle or rent a bike) around/near the townsite that may offer some scenery / wildlife photo ops (or just a chance to stretch your legs!):

In no particular order...

- Tunnel Mountain
http://www.banff.com/hiking/tunnel_mtn.shtml

- Tunnel Mtn. Rd., overlooking the Bow River - there is a popular outcropping from which to view the Banff Springs Hotel, which is nestled in the forest directly across the river from you. A common postcard shot.

- Sundance Canyon from the Cave an Basin; the "Cave" at the start is how Banff first came into being. Two explorers/surveyers scouting a route for the CN railway saw steam rising from a snowcovered outcroping, and discovered the natural hotspring in the cave. The trail from the Basin up to Sundance canyon is only 1.5km or so - a paved bikepath through the forest. A nice evening walk.
http://www.banff.ca/activities-events/summer/banff-hiking/sundance_canyon.htm

- The Bow Falls from near the golf course road, just below the Banff Springs Hotel.

- Vermillion Lakes Rd, looking back towards the townsite - frames the angular Mt. Rundle jutting up from the forest, with Lake Vermillion in the forground. A common postcard shot.

- if you have a car, you can drive up to/past Lake Minnewanka from the townsite (15 minute drive). Not overly scenic, but there are some rocky outcroppings surrounding where you may see some mtn. goats. Canon used to have have a mtn. goat shot/ad on the back cover of National Geographic magazines, that was shot in this area (if I recall).

- Elk are a common site in the townsite, but they come and go. Sometimes they are around, sometimes they are not. The golfcourse in the morning or evening is a possibility. Or wandering down the main street is a (somewhat) less possiblilty. I can't remember their rutting season, later in the fall I believe, but they *can* be aggressive if they are in their rut and feel someone is crowding them, so use caution. I've seen bears within the townsite, and there have been mtn. lion sightings right outside our backfence, in a subdivision within the townsite, so always use caution even on trails within the townsite. Let someone (hotel front desk, or the parks office) know your hiking schedule, and a bear bell hanging off your pack is not a bad idea either (Mountain Magic or Monod's Sports downtown will have them), especially if you will be wandering alone and not chatting with anyone to give any unsuspecting wildlife a heads up that you are around.

- Take a wander through the hallways of the Banff Springs as well, especially the ballroom areas, etc. Some beautiful Scottish-castle-esque architicture inside and out.

...off the top of my head - there is lots more to see!

Sean.
 
Nikon Bob said:
I think that if you had the time to do the short run to Jasper and back you would enjoy that also.

Bob
Click to expand...

Hmmm Bob... that short run is a good 3.5 - 4 hrs each way driving on the 93/Icefields Pkwy not counting pit stops... Total "driving time only" would be around 8 hours for the round trip. I'll travel with you anytime, as long as you do all the driving! ;- )
 
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jan normandale said:
Hmmm Bob... that short run is a good 3.5 - 4 hrs each way driving on the 93/Icefields Pkwy not counting pit stops... Total "driving time only" would be around 8 hours for the round trip. I'll travel with you anytime, as long as you do all the driving! ;- )
Click to expand...


Jan

Where we are from driving that distance/time return in a day to go shopping is done regularly. Everyones conception of a short run different. if you are in a heavily populated area a 1 hr. drive may seem long. OTH you can always do a partial drive or over nite it in Jasper. From my perspective the run to Regina in a one day run, 16 or so hrs., is a long one with me doing the driving.

Bob
 
Nikon Bob said:
Jan

Where we are from driving that distance/time return in a day to go shopping is done regularly. Everyones conception of a short run different. if you are in a heavily populated area a 1 hr. drive may seem long. OTH you can always do a partial drive or over nite it in Jasper. From my perspective the run to Regina in a one day run, 16 or so hrs., is a long one with me doing the driving.

Bob
Click to expand...

Miles OT now but like I said, I'll drive w you anytime if you drive like that. In Toronto you go about 50 miles / 90 km in 3 hours on long weekends.... and it's bumper to bumper.

I drove Regina to Winnipeg in a day, but to TB... that's driving!
 
back alley said:
banff is very beautiful and you just need to point your camera and there will likely be a mountain at the other end.
sunny days will be warm enough but the evenings are already starting to get cold. the hot springs are a treat, like jan says.
animals walking through town are not uncommon, don't walk directly behind any of them, no matter how cute they might be.
i hope you enjoy your stay.

joe
Click to expand...
Joe

Do they do handbrake turns
Or do you need a yellow filter?

Noel
 
handbrake turns? that's funny.
not that i'm aware of.

i once saw a small yappy dog run in circles around a young deer, the deer eventually made a very swift move and kicked that dog across a parking lot with his hind legs. moved like lightening. that same day i saw some toddlers allowed to follow directly behind another deer, thankfully that deer had a bit more patience and didn't kick the kids.
 
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