Does anyone have any knowledge of the conditions around Banff and Lake Louise?
More specifically Cascade, Fairview, Ha Ling?
I've tried looking at webcams but can't find any that provide a view of what I'm looking for

TIA

Ha Ling/Miners good
Cascade: NO (snow on exposed traverse below summit)
Fairview: Could do with lots of postholling on wet snow in lower parts

Thanks very much!
I'm coming down from Northern BC for the long weekend.
Hard to find conditions for trails,
I'll Send you a PM

Mid-Aug. 2018 conditions on Poligne Creek trail to Maligne Pass: there are 6 bridges between the Poboktan/Poligne junction and Avalanche camp. Bridges 1, 2 & 6 are functional. Bridge 3 is reduced to a single wobbly plank which I tried to stabilize; crawling over on hands and knees is an option. Bridge 4 is the same V-shape as last year; walking up the V is safer than walking down. Bridge 5 is now a single narrow board; fording recommended (easy). Fording at 4 is easy, but 3 is lower down and may be more challenging. Since last year, there is also some avalanche debris to cross just below Avalanche camp - which seems appropriate. Above the camp, there is one more bridge before the pass, which is intact. The trail near this bridge is usually boggy and a bit hard to follow, but as of now there is ample flagging to guide one through this section.

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Early April '19


Went for a walk on Minnewanka. Mostly dry, some slush/old ice in shady areas. Lake still frozen. Went maybe 5km in, then descended to the shore and walked for about a km on the beach in total solitude. Fresh bear print in the mud on trail

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Hi,

We're thinking of having our Easter long weekend in the Banff/Canmore area. Can anyone suggest some early season scrambles or ridgewalks that would be in condition? Is Bow River Campground open? Any suggestions for car camping?

Centennial Ridge Trail up Mt Allan looks nice. (Edit that... looks like it's closed for the Bighorns...) Thanks for any feedback.

Prolly have to stick to the front ranges this time of year. Goat, Kid Goat, Loder, Door Jam are the usual early season wanders. Or try down Prairie Mountain way.

Think Bow River CG is not open till May https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/ka...ing/bow-river/
I'd probably stay at Canmore ACC hostel: https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/we...Clubhouse.aspx


In addition to what I PM'd you, good early season options are Wasootch Ridge and Wasootch Peak. It's on east side of Hwy 40 (Kananaskis Trail). I posted TRs for both at a time.

Thanks for the suggestions. yes the clubhouse is great. But 28$ to pitch a tent... pff no thanks. That's an increase since I was there last. Forecast is looking lousy for that weekend, but we'll see what happens.

2nd half of May '19

Don't know how many ppl read this anymore, but if you visit Canmore watch for bears. In less than 10 days I've run into them twice within city limits. 1st time at forest road that extends east from water filtration plant - nice brown (with a hump), stared at me and followed me for awhile, young curious I think. Second time today brown mom with 2 black cubs, inside Cougar Canyon. Scared her & she ran away with cubs clambering behind, but mom could have run the other way.

Plenty of posts on Bow Valley social media too, at least 5 different sightings reported and several new warning tables about "problem bears" around Quarry Lake; also they had to put down a blackie 2 weeks ago at Wilson Drive area, was relocated but came back.

not so fast. Ha Ling Miners is closed until further notice. You do have other options however as mentioned.


https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/ka...isories/#35056

Thanks Zeljkok for the Canmore update. I am a regular reader of this site and appreciate your trip reports and information. You have given me information for new hikes to go on and your directions and information are always good. Keep up the good work please.

Thanks Zeljkok ... we were just in Canmore last week, just passing through, with my daughter and 14 month old grandson ... wanted a leg stretcher so I packed the little guy up the 'hard' trail to the grassi lakes then up to whiteman's pond. Met my daughter there and we drove the loop around to kananaskis village. Nobody on the road that morning. Slowed down for a big, fat Grizz crossing the road around mud lake near the burstall pass TH. wow, you have some epic hiking-trekking country there ... and you have some beastly large Grizzlies too.

BTW, what's that hike like up to 'east end of Rundle'?

EEOR is ok. It's grind all the way up, but views on top are really good. More busy now that Ha Ling has been closed (lots of people pissed about that, and it drags forever, but that's another story). There is some scrambling near the top, but nothing difficult. There are several bumps along the ridge one can traverse relatively easy too. Some people go all the way to main Rundle summit above Banff but that has technical parts, while EEOR itself is class 2, low class 3 at most.



I got detail TR with some high-res photos here

Very helpful ... thanks much. Great place, Canmore area.