Trailhead: Cross the Bow River bridge, turn left, then right at the first intersection. Drive 4 km on Mountain Avenue to the Upper Hot Springs parking lot. If walking from town, take the Upper Hot Springs trail. The trail leaves from the corner of the Upper Hot Springs parking lot closest to the pool.  2 to 3 hours of slogging gets you amazing 360 degree views of the Rocky Mountains and the Town of Banff.  It also warms you up for a huge dinner at The Balkan Restaurant.

Side trip: 1 km one way, 60 m elevation gain, 1 hour round trip. Boardwalk trail departs from Observation Deck on the summit.

Take the gondola down as an added bonus.

Parks Canada Trail Map can be found here.

New nightclub set to become local legend

Dancing Sasquatch to offer totally unique and Banff flavoured entertainment experience 

Banff, AB --This weekend a completely unique entertainment experience will open its doors on main level Banff Avenue. The Dancing Sasquatch, a nightclub like none other, will offer guests a whole new outdoor mountain experience, indoors.

“People come to Banff because they want to experience the Park, so we brought it inside,” says Jordan Mendelman, Operating Partner of the Dancing Sasquatch.

Everything about this Canadian cabin club gives a nod to the heritage of Banff and its surrounding area.

Clientele walk through a dark and moody mineshaft and upstairs into a virtual forest.  Once on the main level of the nightclub it actually feels like you’re out in the woods of Banff National Park.  Tables are built around real aspen trees, the walls are dressed in high definition and constantly changing projection imagery of the surrounding park, and you walk up to cabin windows to be served by bartenders dressed like campers and lumberjacks – or you can sit and be served by waitresses in hiking attire – with a sexy twist.  A campfire style seating area and a sauna style lounge round out the Canadian cabin party experience. The aesthetic is warm and welcoming and the vibe is fun.

 “We wanted to create an iconic destination on main street Banff,” says Yannis Karlos, a local restaurateur who is also part of the club’s ownership group.   We are aiming for the Dancing Sasquatch to become that must-see, all-out-fun, entertainment venue in Banff.”

The owners thought long and hard about the name too. After uncovering tales of Sasquatch sightings in the Lake Minnewanka area (http://www.hancockhouse.com/article.php/20060326135529147), they decided to go with the Dancing Sasquatch.  They’ve been having some fun with the idea on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/sasquatchsimon).

The local Banff ownership group has over 60 years experience in nightclub and hospitality management and it shows from the moment you walk into the Dancing Sasquatch which was designed by Calgary’s well known CeDeCe.

The nightclub itself offers state-of-the-art  lighting and audio including a versa tube system, projection systems and a custom sound system by PK Sound from Calgary (of Shambhala fame).  Dancing Sasquatch will feature the best local, regional and international talent as a live DJ venue seven days a week.

Sitting in prime real estate, located at 120 Banff Avenue, Dancing Sasquatch is sure to become a local legend. To learn more visit www.banffsasquatch.com

125 Years of National Parks in Canada - Come Celebrate!

Banff National Park is the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a global treasure of natural beauty, wildness, and diversity of life. Banff National Park provides a beautiful and unique destination for the Subaru Banff Triathlon. The event has a strong connection with the natural character of the park through its pursuits of healthy, outdoor lifestyles. The Subaru Banff Triathlon is honoured to host the inaugural race in the same year that Parks Canada celebrates the 125th birthday of the 1885 founding of Banff National Park.

Check out this fun video about Canada's National Parks and the 125 Anniversary of Banff National Park:

English

The Subaru Western Triathlon Series is proud to announce its newest race in Banff that is scheduled for September 11, 2010.  Imagine doing a triathlon in such a beautiful spot. This promises to be one of the most picturesque races in the world.  Swim in the pristine waters of Two Jack Lake and bike around the picturesque Minnewanka Loop Road and then into the town of Banff finishing the run on Banff Avenue and Central Park.

Blue Canoe on the Bow River, Banff Photo by Victoria Mitchell

Banff National Park offers a variety of canoeing and kayaking opportunities for paddlers of all levels.

Canoeing

In the Town of Banff, canoes can be rented at Blue Canoe, at the north end of Bow Avenue (also accessible from Wolf Street). From the canoe docks, paddlers who put in directly may choose to explore up a gentle leg of the Bow River or have the option to follow 40 Mile Creek into the Vermilion Lakes. Both routes offer splendid wildlife viewing.

Experienced canoeists may wish to paddle any of three different legs of the Bow River:

• Lake Louise to Castle Junction
• Castle Junction to Banff
• Bow Falls to Canmore

Kayaking

The lakes surrounding the Town of Banff are inviting to kayakers because of their serene settings and use by wildlife. The best kayaking spots include:

• Lake Minnewanka
• Vermilion Lakes
• Johnson Lake
• Two Jack Lake
• The Bow River between Castle Junction and the Banff townsite

For experienced whitewater kayakers, some local routes include:

• Bow River (Banff Springs Golf Course to Canmore) - Class I-II
• Upper Bow River - Class III-V
• Pipestone (at Lake Louise) - Class IV
• Red Earth Creek - Class V+

Banff Adventures Unlimited offers half-day guided tours in inflatable kayaks, including a scenic "calm water" trip down the Bow River, with instruction in basic kayaking techniques and safety.

Check out Discover Banff Tours and Adventures Unlimited for more information

View the link of Simon ranting about Sasquatches in Banff National Park

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db3xB-8pE6w&feature=player_embedded

We also believe that The Balkan may be Simon's favorite restaurant in Banff.

RCMP Musical Ride

RCMP Musical Ride   Photo Credit: BONNER Photography

One of Canada's most recognized icons, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride, will be performing in Banff, Alberta on Monday, July 26.

The troop of 32 horses and riders will perform a variety of cavalry drills choreographed to music at the Banff High School Grounds located at 330 Banff Avenue. One show will take at 1:00 p.m. and a second show will take place at 6:00 p.m. 

“The RCMP musical ride last performed in Banff in 2003 and it was a huge success with locals and visitors alike so we are excited to welcome them back,” says Grant Canning, executive director, Banff Heritage Tourism. “Banff will be the only location in the Canadian Rockies hosting a performance as the musical ride tours throughout Canada this summer.”

The horses will be stabled at Warner Stables allowing for a procession down Banff Avenue before and after each show creating a wonderful photo opportunity.  The general public is able to view the horses and speak with the riders at the stables in between the shows on Monday, July 26 and during select times on Tuesday, July 27.   

Tickets are available at the following locations;

• Banff Centre Box Office (adjacent to the Eric Harvie Theatre)
• Old Crag Cabin  (211A Bear Street)
• By phone at 403-762-6301
• Online at www.banffcentre.ca
• Through Ticketmaster. 

All tickets are $15.00 and children 2 and under are admitted for free.  

All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Banff High School Community and Youth Programs and the RCMP D.A.R.E. program.  The Musical Ride is coming to Banff in partnership with the Banff Park Lodge

.

Another great option while exploring Banff National Park.

Featuring .... The Rum Mojito... The Greek Mojito .... and back by popular demand... The Raspberry Mojito

Three delicious handmade concoctions.  We even hand crush the ice for that je ne sais quoi taste.

The Lake Minnewanka Wildman

By Sean Viala

Lake Minnewanka is located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The information provided here was collected through a variety of sources, including: Archive Reports, Old Newspapers, & Local Legends. The lake is seen here in an old post card (a drawing), circa 1905. Up to about this time, it was known as "Devils Lake" (shown on the image), which may have been associated with the term "Indian Devils" - now known as sasquatch.

The first indication of the creature that became known as “The Lake Minnewanka Wildman” took place in late 1895. Several people were out fishing, along the southern shore of the lake when they found footprints of “gargantuan size.’ They estimated that the prints were 19 inches long.

Then in early 1896 footprints of the same sized were found, again near the shore. The individual who discovered the prints decided to follow them, and he found that they led to a hole broken in the ice of the frozen lake. From that point, they trailed off into the woods. He stopped following them at this point.

In the late spring of 1896, a trapper was checking his lines when he noticed a large creature moving in the distance. It walked towards the woods and ducked to avoid a tree limb that was across its path. Later, the trapper inspected the area where the creature had ducked, and he found that the limb was more than 7 feet above the ground. This indicated that the creature was considerably greater than 7 feet tall.

In the late summer of 1896, two prospectors spotted what they thought was a “great bear.” They shouldered their rifles and fired at it.. To their surprise and horror, the creature stood up on two legs and emitted “a most horrible shriek.” It then ran off into the forest. As it disappeared, they could still hear it screaming from within the forest. They quickly left the area.

In early winter 1897, the creature lurked near the outskirts of temporary settlement. The dogs in the area raised the alarm, and men armed with rifles cam running to see what had caused their dogs to bark and growl so ferociously. The creature was almost immediately spotted, and was greeted by a hail of gunfire. Once again, it ran away screaming and disappeared into the forest.

It wasn’t until late summer 1897 that the creature was seen again. This time, two young boys watched it at a distance as it walked along a small ridge and disappeared from sight. They ran home to tell others of what they had seen.

The creature seemed to disappear from the area for a while, perhaps fed up with trigger-happy settlers, as it was not sighted again until fall 1898. This time a man fishing along the lake shore sighted it from an estimated distance of 40 -50 yards. The creature bared its teeth and growled at the man, and once again it was fired upon. It ran from the area emitting “hair raising cries.” It was believed that the creature was hit by at least one of the bullets as spots of blood were found on some of the trees in the area.

In early winter 1898, two Irish wolfhounds were found dead just outside a small settlement. Footprints 19-inch long were found in the area . The settlers mounted a hunt for the creature, but nothing was found.

In the spring of 1899, the creature was spotted near a cabin, watching a pair of horses stationed in a small corral. The inhabitant of the cabin appears to have caught it off guard as we are told he shot it with a lever action rifle and apparently hit it at least 3 times. It fell to the ground, but quickly rose again and dashed off into the forest.

In the late summer of 1899, a small pile of fish bones was found near the lake shore with several 19-inch long footprints nearby.

In the early winter of 1899, a man on horseback spotted the creature at a distance. It was walking towards the west and the witness noticed that it had a very bad limp. Perhaps this was the effect of being shot so many times. The man watched it until it disappeared into the distant tree line.

That was the last report of “The Lake Minnewanka Wildman.” Perhaps it decided to give up on the Lake Minnewanka area and head to a place where there were fewer people and naturally fewer bullets to dodge. Whatever the fate of the creature, this is probably the last we will hear of it.

Shown here is a photograph of the lake taken in 2004 from about the same view point as the c. 1905 image. From what we can see, nothing has changed in the last 100 years. I am sure, however, that this lake as well as countless others in North America, could reflect many strange tales from the deep and distant past. 






© Sean Viala, 1999.