Our last day in Banff

Our last Day in Banff

Far too quickly, our week in Banff was drawing to a close. It’s never enough time in a place like Banff, there’s so much to do. The weather had turned cooler, but remained dry, so we decided to spend the morning on a leisurely hike along the Bow River, parts of which we had paddled nearby the day before.

Before setting off, we picked up a can of bear spray that our hotel kindly lent us, complete with clear instructions on what to do should we actually meet a bear. I must admit, carrying it in the side pocket of my rucksack certainly sharpened my awareness of what might be lurking in the woods, and I certainly hoped we wouldn’t be putting the spray to use. Being from the UK, the most dangerous animals I normally have to consider on a walk are cows, bulls, or the occasional adder.

We followed a marked trail leading from the side of the Bow River. It’s amazing how quiet it was as we ventured deeper into the woodland, and also very beautiful, albeit with an edge of tension thanks to our heightened wildlife awareness. We chatted deliberately as we walked, making just enough noise to alert any animals to our presence. Some hikers fix bells to their packs to warn bears away, or so the theory goes.

At one point, we paused on a small wooden footbridge and spotted some fresh pawprints. Out came Google Lens, which suggested they were too small for a bear. Possibly a wolf, judging by the shape and size. With our antennae fully raised, we carried on, wondering if the creature responsible was watching us from the shadows. The forest was beautiful, and we stopped often just to breathe in the crisp Rocky Mountain air, sometimes sitting quietly with our eyes closed, listening to the beautiful sounds of nature around us.

Eventually, the trail brought us back to our starting point. Feeling hungry, we headed to Evelyn’s Coffee Bar for lunch, still debating what animal those tracks belonged to. We settled on probably a wolf……unless it was a small bear, though we’ll never know for sure.

After a good rest and excellent food, we decided to walk once more to the Bow Falls, a favourite spot we had first visited earlier in the week. It’s such a lovely area, even if the paths can get busy. As we descended to the lower level, we watched several white-water rafts begin their run. We didn’t get the chance to try it this time, but it looked exhilarating, and very wet! Maybe on our next visit we might try it.

It’s funny how, on the final day of a trip, I always try to squeeze in as much as possible, but eventually the daylight began to fade. That evening we enjoyed a fabulous dinner at The Maple Leaf, followed by one last browse around the shops before returning to the hotel to pack and get a good night’s sleep. The next day would take us by bus to Calgary and then by plane back to Vancouver.

Tips

• If you are going of on a trek, defiantly take bear spray.
• Chatting, and making some noise I’m told does help wildlife aware you are around and avoids startling them.
• Just sit with your eyes closed and listen to your surroundings.
• Evelyns Coffee Bar is great for coffee and lunch.
• Take a walk to the Bow River falls and maybe even try white water rafting.