This will be one of the last Rocky Mountaineer train departures for 2010 but 2011 Rocky Mountaineer packages are now available for booking with early-bird savings of up to $1,400 per couple.

With weather and temperatures like this, the 3 hour Bow Valley Loop ride should open before the end of the month. Cookouts and day rides are scheduled to open May 15th and the Spray River Corrals located by the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel should be open for the 1 hour Spray River Ride on May 1st 2010.

This 2 hour Sundance Loop trail ride travels through the woodland, along the Bow River, climbs the backside of Sulphur Mountain over Windy Knoll and loops around the marsh.  This ride will depart at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm daily.

The cost for the 2 hour Sundance Loop trail ride is $72 per rider and payment can be made using your credit card.  Jeans and a close-toed shoe, like a sneaker or light-hiking boot, are best to wear while riding.

I like stopping at the Bow Falls in Banff as they look so different at different times of the year. Here are a few pictures below to give you a idea of what to expect!

This photo was taken November 28 2006. This was a particularly cold start to the winter season so they almost froze over completely.

The photo below was taken in June 2007 when a sudden increase in temperature caused a large amount of snowmelt to drain into the Bow River.

The photo below was taken on June 26 2006 when there was a lot of meltwater from the glaciers and snowmelt.

This photo was taken on June 15 2008 for comparison. At this time of year, the Bow Falls always have a good volume of water.

This photo below was taken on November 26 2006. This was a very cold day and you can see the “steam” rising from the cold waters of the Bow River.

This is a typical photo in the fall / autumn time. With the colder nights, the glaciers start to release less meltwater causing the Bow River levels to be low.

There are two types of bears here: the black bear and the grizzly (or brown) bear. Don’t let the names fool you, you may see a brown or cinnamon coloured “black bear” like the cub with her mother photographed below:

Black Bear

Grizzly Bear

The grizzly bear can be identified by it’s distinctive hump on the back of it’s neck.

A grizzly bear is also larger than a black bear.

Each year, people get too close to wildlife especially bears. I personally have seen families stand in front of a bear cub on the side of the road to take pictures. This is not fair for the bear, especially the mother who is watching and may decide to protect her cub at anytime.

Please don’t put bears, or any other wildlife, in this position, it simply isn’t fair.

The bear safety information below has been sourced through Parks Canada:

If you are driving: stay in your car, and consider not stopping.

If you are not in a vehicle:

• Stay calm. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose about, it is trying to identify you. Remain still and talk calmly so that it knows you are human and not a prey animal. Bears may also bluff charge: run toward you and turn away at the last moment. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack.
• Pick up children, stay in a group.
• Back away slowly, don’t run.
• Leave the area. If this is impossible, wait until the bear leaves; make sure it has an escape route.

To reduce your risk of a surprise encounter:

• Make noise. Clap, sing or yell to announce your presence, especially where a bear might not otherwise smell, hear or see you coming. (Bear bells are not very effective.)
• Travel in groups, on established trails, and during daylight hours.
• Minimize odours by proper storage of food, garbage and toiletries.
• Leave the area if you see a bear or fresh tracks, droppings, diggings; or if you come across a large dead animal (a bear may be nearby).

If you surprise a bear and it defends itself:

Use bear spray if you have it. PLAY DEAD, let it know you are not a threat: lie on stomach with legs apart, cover back of head and neck with hands, keep pack on to protect your back.

If a bear stalks you and then attacks, or attacks at night:

Try to escape, use bear spray if you have it. FIGHT BACK, let it know that you are not easy prey. (This kind of predatory attack is very rare.)

Guides are easily available so if you are not comfortable hiking in the wilderness then local experts can certainly take good care of you.

rocky-peak Holidays is a local company based in Canmore, just 5 minutes outside of Banff National Park and can help you find a suitable guide. There are also group hiking tours available.

Have you had a bear encounter you would like to share with us and our readers? Please post it below!

This 1-hour trail ride travels through the woodland, along the Bow River and loops around the marsh.  This ride will depart hourly daily starting at 10am with the last one departing at 5pm.

Reservations are recommended for this ride and you can call +1-403-609-0286 (1-888-747-6259 North America / 0800-567-7542 U.K.) to speak with a local reservations agent.  The cost is $40 per rider and payment can be made by Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Please check in at Warner Stables 10 minutes before your ride’s scheduled departure time.  The stables are located at the end of Sundance Road just off Cave Avenue. No shuttle service provided.  Gloves and hats are highly recommended for this time of year!

For more Banff Horseback Riding Tours, contact us at Banff Holidays.

For the 2008-2009 winter season, NHL ice hockey tours are once again offered from Banff to Calgary. Pick-ups from Canmore and Lake Louise can also be arranged. Our ticket packages include coach transportation, an onboard guide, a hockey souvenir and of course, your hockey ticket!

For most games, we offer Green and Black seating. See the seating diagram below:

The 2008-2009 Banff Ice Hockey Tour schedule is listed below:

Tickets this year are $104.76 for Black Tickets including transportation and $133.33 for Green. Both rates are subject to 5% Goods Services Tax.

For more information including how to book, visit Banff Ice Hockey.

All NHL games are played in the Saddledome in Calgary.

Date: 9 Feb
Game: Edmonton
Departs Banff: 2.15 pm
Game Time: 5.00 PM

Date: 22 Feb
Game: Detroit
Departs Banff: 4.15 pm
Game Time: 7.00 PM

Date: 26 Feb
Game: Colorado
Departs Banff: 4.15 pm
Game Time: 7.00 PM

Date: 4 Mar
Game: Columbus
Departs Banff: 4.15 pm
Game Time: 7.00 PM

Date: 7 Mar
Game: Nashville
Departs Banff: 4.45 pm
Game Time: 7.30 PM

Date: 10 Mar
Game: St Louis
Departs Banff: 4.45 pm
Game Time: 7.30 PM

Date: 20 Mar
Game: Colorado
Departs Banff: 4.15 pm
Game Time: 7.00 PM

Date: 22 Mar
Game: Minnesota
Departs Banff: 5:15 pm
Game Time: 8.00 PM

Date: 25 Mar
Game: Vancouver
Departs Banff: 4.15 pm
Game Time: 7.00 PM

Date: 29 Mar
Game: Edmonton
Departs Banff: 5:15 pm
Game Time: 8.00 PM

Prices:
$100-$110 for Black Seating AND return transportation from Banff or Canmore
$125-$135 for Green Seating AND return transportation from Banff or Canmore
$155+ for Blue Seating AND return transportation from Banff or Canmore

Tickets Available from:
ROCKY-PEAK HOLIDAYS

More information:
Banff Ice Hockey Tours

We also have some Green and Black seating available. For more information just click on the above title link.

All the trips provide all the necessary winter gear, a new well maintained skidoo, a highly qualified guide, and a memory that will last forever!

Want more power? You can upgrade your 380cc Skidoo to a 550cc Skidoo for just a small amount extra.

There are other tours such as the High Power Private trip and for more experienced riders – the Extreme Tour!

The price is CDN$250 for a full day of action including ALL TAX, some insurance, a BBQ lunch and return transportation from Banff.

Include this tour as part of a ski package and save 10% with rocky-peak Holidays, offering ski holidays in Western Canada.