The Real Banff Blog

You turn to face your friends, where once you could see enthusiasm and energy, there is now only enthusiasm and fatigue. It’s that time again. You got up early, ate a huge breakfast and stood in the cold waiting for the first bus. You strapped your board to your feet while waiting, at the front of the line, for the lifts to open. Lunch was a hurried affair of sandwiches that have been flattened from a morning in the backpack, hot chocolate and a selection of granola bars. Everybody knew this was going to the last run but nobody called it. You never call last run. You don’t say it out loud. To speak of the last run is to summon misfortune. Time is pressing. All that is left is the ski out. With a final nod to your friends, and with the remaining strength you have left in your legs, you head for the bottom of the mountain and dream of a shower, a rest and the last granola bar.
You get off the bus, say bye to your friends and head home. You can’t wait to get clean, changed and fed. It has been a long and productive day on the hill. You have a few hours at home and then you are all meeting up again in town for a drink and to greatly exaggerate all of the day’s stories. You turn the corner to you house and stop.
You stop and just stand there. You don’t know what to do. A life in the city in England has not prepared you for this. There is a deer stood outside your front door. A big deer. With antlers.
As this fits no previous frame of reference, you end up just standing there. Standing in the street, snowboard under arm, looking at the deer. The deer stops eating and looks back at you. There is a face off. This deer is much more used to seeing people, than you are to seeing deer. Especially a deer, with antlers, that is stood in front of your door.
You turn to your housemate. It is clear from his expression that he also has no idea what to do. Where are all the Canadians? This isn’t weird to them. How can I get it to move. I want to get inside my house!
People may come to Banff to do all sorts of different things, but they all come for one reason, to get some stories. Stories about experiences you can’t get back home. So while sometimes it might a day on the hill that gives you plenty to tell your workmates on your return. At other times these things just creep up on you. And sometimes, just sometimes, they land right at your door.

Wardy

Banff Local

New & Improved look & feel! We've shaken things up a bit with the real Banff Ski Report... let me know what you think!

I had such a great time filming this week's video over the Family Day long weekend.

Lake Louise Ski Area hosted a Cardboard Box Downhill Derby on Valentines Day... there were quite a few amazing boxes flying... and I mean 'FLY-ING' down the race course. When you watch this video keep in mind that each cardboard box was made with only cardboard, glue, tape, string, paint & decorations.

I then met up with some families from Calgary & Ontario who wanted to experience dogsledding in Lake Louise... I heard a couple of "YAHOO's" on the trail as the sleds sped past... one guest said "it's like snowmobiling with dogs", while the kids were begging mom & dad to adopt their favourite dog after the trip was done! It truly is an experience that'll make you smile & your eyes light up every time you tell the story once you're back at home.

I am having one heck of a winter in the World's Finest National Park, I have a perma-grin on my face along with rosy cheeks and I've never felt so healthy. Come on out and play... there is so much to do with only three more months of winter left.

Psst... Romance packages for Banff National Park are plentiful and Valentines Day is just 2 weeks away... pass it on.

In the spirit of everything romance, I thought I'd throw together a cheat sheet of smooching locations and activities for all those love birds out there looking for a unique experience this year.

1. There isn't anything better then sitting on a chairlift watching valleys open up behind you as you float up the mountain for a day of skiing/snowboarding... you may get the odd holler to 'get a room' from skiers below but don't worry about them, they're just jealous!

2. There are heaps of trails for you and your significant other to explore on snowshoes or cross country skis, rentals are available and one of the local cafes would be more then happy to put together a picnic lunch for you. Or go with a guide to get a little more insight into the beauty that surrounds you.

3. Take a gondola ride up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain... that'll give you 8 minutes each way for some quality kisses and the view at the top will have you wrapping your arms around each other in awe.

4. Soak in a mineral spring-fed hot pool with a view to remember at the Banff Upper Hot Springs... things will be sure to warm up with the pool temps between 98f -104f!

5. If you want to feel like you're in a classic film, take your lover on a sleigh ride along the shores of Lake Louise or experience a true one-horse open sleigh in a small 2-seat cutter sleigh in Banff.

6. If you want to leave it all behind for the weekend, why not ski/snowshoe into one of Banff National Parks luxurious backcountry lodges? Snuggle up together beside a cozy woodstove and let the Chef take care of the meal.

7. Don't forget about a few of the locations locals love (pdf 553.18 kB) ... this brochure shows off each location in the summer, but trust me, you won't be disappointed one bit with the wintery adaptation. One location I will add to that list is Surprise Corner. Ask our staff at the information centre to mark each spot on a free map for you once you've arrived.

Banff National Park provides a romantic back drop for all occasions and none of these suggestions ever expire! (Romantic summer activities may be substituted for the winter ones.)

If any romantics out there have ideas to add to my list of smooching locations and activities, we would love to hear from you... add your comment to this post and share the romance.

As we say goodbye to 2008 I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone happiness and health in 2009.

This week's video showcases little clips taken from videos we had created last winter... so if you like what you see stop by our Youtube channel where we've got a full buffet of winter and summer adventures waiting for you!

I've got the champagne chilling and will be watching the fireworks display hosted by the Town of Banff set to go off at the turn of the New Year.

Happy New Year everyone... see you in 2009!

I wandered down to the frozen Bow Falls for this weeks video and met some wonderful travellers... one person from Montana had a surprising message for his family back home while a family from Japan enjoyed a little R&R during they're trip here.

The Banff Lake Louise Tourism team went out cross country skiing for our Christmas party activity before we had our dinner and gift exchange, I recorded a little message from us to all of you. We had a great ski out on Johnson Lake before heading back to the parking lot for some hot chocolate.

If your looking for something to do for the New Years, we've got fireworks in Banff at midnight, and torchlight runs happening at Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay. You can watch the one at Mount Norquay from Banff at 8pm.

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!

I had a blast skiing with Santa this week when he took a well needed break before the big night! If you spot him at the ski area be sure to ask him for a candy cane, and don't be shy, Santa loves to have his picture taken. I found out that nobody knows the mountain like Santa... ask him what his favourite run is!

Then because of the frosty temperatures we've been having here in Banff National Park, I made my up to Mount Norquay to get the inside scoop on how to stay warm from the GM, Andre... cover up, keep active and wear layers. I happen to also be a fan of the hand and foot warmers, and don't forget about the hot springs at the end of the day!

You may notice in the video I've got a bit of a black lip... I caught an edge on my snowboard and had a wee spill (happens to the best of us). But don't worry, I didn't hurt myself (aside from a few bruises) & I had a great rest of my day!

Until next week keep warm and have a fabulous holiday season!

Oh, and if you want to know what the ski conditions are before you're heading out the door, sign up for our text messages at banfflakelouise.com/text

Banff National Park kicked off Christmas celebrations this past weekend with our Christmas in the Rockies.

Everyone and their dog showed up for the event on Saturday voting for their favourite decorated Christmas tree, designing their own ginger bread cookie, and sharing some Christmas spirit with Santa. Once the sun went down the celebrations moved to the streets for the Santa Claus Parade of Lights... I've captured some of the floats that lit up Banff Avenue in this week's video.

Everyone will be happy to see how much snow fell over the last week and I'm looking out the window right now at what appears to be clouds heavy with snowflakes!

Stop by next week... I've got a special guest joining me on the slopes, I actually spill the beans at the end of this video!

Want to be in the snow know? Sign up for text message from Banff Lake Louise Tourism and get snow conditions &/or events on your phone... click thru here banfflakelouise.com/text

This week I rubbed elbows with the ski racers at the Men's World Cup in Lake Louise, while discovering first hand what our local ski areas are doing to keep the smile on your face!

Canadian John Kucera from Calgary placed second in the Men's World Cup the day after I chatted with him... check out what he says about skiing on his home course!

For those of you who haven't heard the news, the jumps are back in the terrain park at Lake Louise thanks to a change in ownership! And Sunshine Village has built a temporary rail park just off of the Wawa chair until enough snow falls for them to build their kickin' terrain park off of the Great Divide chair. Get some tips on how to do a rail slide from the guys who built the parks.

With week 2 under my belt I've got plenty of ideas for stories to cover in these videos, but if there is anything you'd like to know more about let me know... I love idea's and look forward to hearing from you!

Join me next week as I capture Christmas in the Rockies in the World's Finest National Park.

Don't forget, if you want updates about the snowfall, events and festivals in the park, sign up for our text alerts at banfflakelouise.com/text

It's early season skiing in the Canadian Rockies and it's beautiful out there!

In this video I head to 2 of our 3 ski resorts: Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Mountain Resort (Norquay opens December 5, only open weekends now), in the hopes of meeting some newbies who've come to work in Banff National Park for the ski/snowboard season.

With comments like "the best commute in the world", "we have snow back home but it's nothing like this" and "it's surreal", I've gotta question why more of your haven't made you way here yet?! I came out to work for one winter... that was 6 years ago, a scenario you'll hear over and over again if you take the time to chat with the locals.

Join me each week as I ask locals & visitors to share their stories and experiences with you about the World's Finest National Park. You can also expect a quick snow update, events and as always a call out to our feature packages.

And yes... my name is Reality, and I am sharing the real Banff National Park with you!

Looking to stay up to date on the latest and greatest news from Banff National Park?

Look no further... Banff Lake Louise Tourism just launched a FREE text messaging service so you can receive up to date information right on your cell phone.

What kind of texts can you receive? Try these out...

• Festival updates for our upcoming WinterStart Festival
• Weekly Ski Updates - every thursday
• Daily Conditions - every morning at 8am
• Weekly Events - for those wondering what to do with your weekend!

It's pretty darn easy to sign up, just visit www.banfflakelouise.com/plan-your-trip/mobile-alerts

We guarantee we won't use your number for anything else... so seriously, sign up now and stay connected with The World's Finest National Park!