So first full day in Banff NP yesterday - Grizzly encounter

[Chickenman Testa]

We were coming down from a pass and saw a couple freaking out and walking toward us while glancing behind themselves. Then we saw a huge grizzly excavating a burrow just 15 yards off the trail. We stopped short about 60-70 yards away from him as soon as we saw him. I’ve got the video of the couple as they walk up to us - the guy shaking as he held his bear spray. They had come around a blind corner and didn’t see him until they were on him.

We hung out for 10 minutes just staying cool and getting pics. The dude excavated like a back hoe - helps to have enormous shoulder and back muscles and huge paws and claws.

We had to get off the mountain so bushwhacked down the hill and around him. Hard to keep from turning an ankle while keeping eyes on him. Spent the rest of the hike on high alert.

Scary but awesome.

 

[BBrown]

We were coming down from a pass and saw a couple freaking out and walking toward us while glancing behind themselves. Then we saw a huge grizzly excavating a burrow just 15 yards off the trail. We stopped short about 60-70 yards away from him as soon as we saw him. I’ve got the video of the couple as they walk up to us - the guy shaking as he held his bear spray. They had come around a blind corner and didn’t see him until they were on him.

We hung out for 10 minutes just staying cool and getting pics. The dude excavated like a back hoe - helps to have enormous shoulder and back muscles and huge paws and claws.

We had to get off the mountain so bushwhacked down the hill and around him. Hard to keep from turning an ankle while keeping eyes on him. Spent the rest of the hike on high alert.

Scary but awesome.

What part of Banff were you in? Did you have bear spray?
I was there in July and loved it, not the actual town of Banff so much (too touristy for me) but the area around it and the NP are gorgeous.
We stayed in Canmore and really liked it. I've never been in a more dog friendly place. And everyone had really great dogs, Labs, Shepherds, Huskies, Bernese Mt. Dogs...
Here are some pics if you are interested...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60907528@N02/albums/72157709682353641

 

[JWB389]

Very scary. Certainly on a far different scale, I was wondering if anybody else noticed the dead black bear at about mile marker 190 on I80 Eastbound. I saw it Sunday AM on the drive home.

 

[psuro]

Yeah, at least it wasn't a mamma bear and her cubs. They are very protective of their cubs.

 

[step.eng69]

What part of Banff were you in? Did you have bear spray?
I was there in July and loved it, not the actual town of Banff so much (too touristy for me) but the area around it and the NP are gorgeous.
We stayed in Canmore and really liked it. I've never been in a more dog friendly place. And everyone had really great dogs, Labs, Shepherds, Huskies, Bernese Mt. Dogs...
Here are some pics if you are interested...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60907528@N02/albums/72157709682353641

great pics, BB

 

[BBrown]

great pics, BB

Thanks. But its more the landscape than me.

 

[Aardvark86]

We were coming down from a pass and saw a couple freaking out and walking toward us while glancing behind themselves. Then we saw a huge grizzly excavating a burrow just 15 yards off the trail. We stopped short about 60-70 yards away from him as soon as we saw him. I’ve got the video of the couple as they walk up to us - the guy shaking as he held his bear spray. They had come around a blind corner and didn’t see him until they were on him.

We hung out for 10 minutes just staying cool and getting pics. The dude excavated like a back hoe - helps to have enormous shoulder and back muscles and huge paws and claws.

We had to get off the mountain so bushwhacked down the hill and around him. Hard to keep from turning an ankle while keeping eyes on him. Spent the rest of the hike on high alert.

Scary but awesome.

How high up before snow at this point?

 

[step.eng69]

Then we saw a huge grizzly excavating a burrow just 15 yards off the trail

Excavating, possibly for you!
Grizzlies often bury a carcass to save it for later feeding, this is a sure sign to head home.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

How high up before snow at this point?

We hiked up to about 8000 and there nothing yet. Clouds blocked some higher peaks but not too much snow yet. Forecasted to get some this week. We could have 1 or 2 wet days before it clears up. Yesterday was definitely better than forecasted so hope our luck continues. They forecasted high in low 40s and lows in high 20s with rain/snow the next 2 days. I’ve got the gear for it but would prefer it a little warmer. Still haven’t looked outside yet as I’m cooked

 

[Fayette_LION]

What part of Banff were you in? Did you have bear spray?
I was there in July and loved it, not the actual town of Banff so much (too touristy for me) but the area around it and the NP are gorgeous.
We stayed in Canmore and really liked it. I've never been in a more dog friendly place. And everyone had really great dogs, Labs, Shepherds, Huskies, Bernese Mt. Dogs...
Here are some pics if you are interested...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60907528@N02/albums/72157709682353641

Very nice pics. Nice catch on that rainbow. Banff is a beautiful place.

 

[BBrown]

Very nice pics. Nice catch on that rainbow. Banff is a beautiful place.

Thanks.
I was pretty impressed with Canada. Calgary was very nice as well.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

What part of Banff were you in? Did you have bear spray?
I was there in July and loved it, not the actual town of Banff so much (too touristy for me) but the area around it and the NP are gorgeous.
We stayed in Canmore and really liked it. I've never been in a more dog friendly place. And everyone had really great dogs, Labs, Shepherds, Huskies, Bernese Mt. Dogs...
Here are some pics if you are interested...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60907528@N02/albums/72157709682353641

We are in Banff town and it’s crazy touristy but things should get real quiet now after the weekend since summer is over.

We definitely had bear spray. Hiked the Healy pass and Simpson pass trail from the lower Sunshine Village gondola. Ended at the upper village. Completely fried from about 18km of almost all uphill hiking - wish the guidebooks had told us that. Tough way to start the vacation. The bear was about 1km below Healy Pass in a meadow.

Easier hike today up at Lake Louise. We were just beat up coming to the upper Sunshine Village gondola. We needed tickets to ride the 5k down and we had left our wallets back in the car (me doing so at the last second) to travel light. We likely could have made it down on foot but it would have been incredibly painful and slow. Anyway, I was looking around for nice people to buy us tickets and we’d reimburse them back at the car when the gondola attendant said the Interpretive Center could help. I walked in and said to the college guy behind the counter - “I’m going to provide a disclaimer - we are figuratively on our hands and knees begging as we don’t have our wallets and need to ride the gondola”. He laughed and said - “it’s my last day. I’ll hook you up” and pulled 2 tickets off a huge roll he had and handed them over.

 

[step.eng69]

the guy shaking as he held his bear spray.

I'm not much of a hiking kind of guy, but when I do, I like to go beyond pepper spray....

 

[Aardvark86]

We are in Banff town and it’s crazy touristy but things should get real quiet now after the weekend since summer is over.

We definitely had bear spray. Hiked the Healy pass and Simpson pass trail from the lower Sunshine Village gondola. Ended at the upper village. Completely fried from about 18km of almost all uphill hiking - wish the guidebooks had told us that. Tough way to start the vacation. The bear was about 1km below Healy Pass in a meadow.

Easier hike today up at Lake Louise. We were just beat up coming to the upper Sunshine Village gondola. We needed tickets to ride the 5k down and we had left our wallets back in the car (me doing so at the last second) to travel light. We likely could have made it down on foot but it would have been incredibly painful and slow. Anyway, I was looking around for nice people to buy us tickets and we’d reimburse them back at the car when the gondola attendant said the Interpretive Center could help. I walked in and said to the college guy behind the counter - “I’m going to provide a disclaimer - we are figuratively on our hands and knees begging as we don’t have our wallets and need to ride the gondola”. He laughed and said - “it’s my last day. I’ll hook you up” and pulled 2 tickets off a huge roll he had and handed them over.

If you have flexibility and it's still an option, do the Lake Louise teahouse hike. The long version. Also, go paddle around on a canoe on Moraine Lake - maybe the best thing we did while there, and that's saying something.

Also, if you REALLY have time, go do the glacier experience up the Icefields Parkway. Sounds hokey but it's really cool.

 

[Cold Smoke]

No way better to taste the wild than a griz sighting. Sounds like a boar and you were in his domain. Busy trying to dig up a marmot from the sound of it. You played it right taking a respectable loop around him. Those park bears are usually pretty safe if not surprised. Think about being lax on your timing and coming out in the dark.

 

[fairgambit]

What part of Banff were you in? Did you have bear spray?
I was there in July and loved it, not the actual town of Banff so much (too touristy for me) but the area around it and the NP are gorgeous.
We stayed in Canmore and really liked it. I've never been in a more dog friendly place. And everyone had really great dogs, Labs, Shepherds, Huskies, Bernese Mt. Dogs...
Here are some pics if you are interested...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60907528@N02/albums/72157709682353641

Spectacular!

 

[step.eng69]

Also, go paddle around on a canoe on Moraine Lake - maybe the best thing we did while there, and that's saying something.

Uh, OK Ardvark

 

[Aardvark86]

Uh, OK Ardvark

View embedded media

That's classic, but river bears are much better swimmers than lake bears.

Also, he was from the BC side rather than the Alberta side, so he was probably stoned to begin with.

 

[BBrown]

That's classic, but river bears are much better swimmers than lake bears.

Also, he was from the BC side rather than the Alberta side, so he was probably stoned to begin with.

The Bear or kayaker?

 

[Aardvark86]

The Bear or kayaker?

Both

 

[STPGopherfan]

I'm not much of a hiking kind of guy, but when I do, I like to go beyond pepper spray....

The RCMP might not like that so much...

 

[STPGopherfan]

Thanks. But its more the landscape than me.

You're too modest! Those pictures are awesome! BTW I kind of wish we would have spent a little more time in Canmore. It looked amazing. Can't wait to go back!

 

[BBrown]

You're too modest! Those pictures are awesome! BTW I kind of wish we would have spent a little more time in Canmore. It looked amazing. Can't wait to go back!

Thanks.
Yea I really liked Canmore, a lot.
I stayed at the Silver Creek Lodge and it was very nice, the restaurant under it was very, very good, Wild Orchid Bistro.
Seemed to be really well located to the things I wanted to see and places I wanted to go.
Lots of good Restaruants around as well.
The Grizzly Paw Pub was very good as was Crazy Weed.
I want to go back as well.
So much to see and do a week wasn't enough.

 

[Frabjous]

Did you encounter ze Burglar of Banff-ff? He is a bon ami of Maurice Ffrench!

 

[BoulderFish]

We are in Banff town and it’s crazy touristy but things should get real quiet now after the weekend since summer is over.

We definitely had bear spray. Hiked the Healy pass and Simpson pass trail from the lower Sunshine Village gondola. Ended at the upper village. Completely fried from about 18km of almost all uphill hiking - wish the guidebooks had told us that. Tough way to start the vacation. The bear was about 1km below Healy Pass in a meadow.

Easier hike today up at Lake Louise. We were just beat up coming to the upper Sunshine Village gondola. We needed tickets to ride the 5k down and we had left our wallets back in the car (me doing so at the last second) to travel light. We likely could have made it down on foot but it would have been incredibly painful and slow. Anyway, I was looking around for nice people to buy us tickets and we’d reimburse them back at the car when the gondola attendant said the Interpretive Center could help. I walked in and said to the college guy behind the counter - “I’m going to provide a disclaimer - we are figuratively on our hands and knees begging as we don’t have our wallets and need to ride the gondola”. He laughed and said - “it’s my last day. I’ll hook you up” and pulled 2 tickets off a huge roll he had and handed them over.

Did you go all the way to the top at Lake Louise (beyond the tea house)?

I don't think there's a bad way to spend your day anywhere within a couple of hours from Banff.

Maybe I'm a sucker, but I actually liked the town too - not as a place to spend the day, but as a nice place to walk to a decent restaurant for some beer and food after a day of hiking.

 

[PSU Mike]

What part of Banff were you in? Did you have bear spray?
I was there in July and loved it, not the actual town of Banff so much (too touristy for me) but the area around it and the NP are gorgeous.
We stayed in Canmore and really liked it. I've never been in a more dog friendly place. And everyone had really great dogs, Labs, Shepherds, Huskies, Bernese Mt. Dogs...
Here are some pics if you are interested...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60907528@N02/albums/72157709682353641

Nice but you need some fish porn!

 

[demlion]

Thanks.
I was pretty impressed with Canada. Calgary was very nice as well.

Yeah I LOVE Canada. I have been through every Province from Quebec to BC. I vacation in Ontario every year, and the Canadian Rockies are the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen. What makes it even better is that, almost to a person, Canadians are the most generous, chill, polite people anywhere.

 

[Aardvark86]

Did you go all the way to the top at Lake Louise (beyond the tea house)?

I don't think there's a bad way to spend your day anywhere within a couple of hours from Banff.

Maybe I'm a sucker, but I actually liked the town too - not as a place to spend the day, but as a nice place to walk to a decent restaurant for some beer and food after a day of hiking.

+1 on the Tea House.

I liked the town as well. From my perspective, most US park infrastructure is built "as" infrastructure, with the result basically being that you better like fine dining at Aramark. The Canadian park infrastructure, by contrast, is actually a functional town that happens to be located in a park. The result is that you have a variety of hotels, restaurants, galleries, stores, etc. including some local options.

 

[STPGopherfan]

Thanks.
Yea I really liked Canmore, a lot.
I stayed at the Silver Creek Lodge and it was very nice, the restaurant under it was very, very good, Wild Orchid Bistro.
Seemed to be really well located to the things I wanted to see and places I wanted to go.
Lots of good Restaruants around as well.
The Grizzly Paw Pub was very good as was Crazy Weed.
I want to go back as well.
So much to see and do a week wasn't enough.

Yes, Could have spent two weeks in Jasper NP alone! Canmore looked like two weeks or more as well.

 

[mikeaac]

We were coming down from a pass and saw a couple freaking out and walking toward us while glancing behind themselves. Then we saw a huge grizzly excavating a burrow just 15 yards off the trail. We stopped short about 60-70 yards away from him as soon as we saw him. I’ve got the video of the couple as they walk up to us - the guy shaking as he held his bear spray. They had come around a blind corner and didn’t see him until they were on him.

We hung out for 10 minutes just staying cool and getting pics. The dude excavated like a back hoe - helps to have enormous shoulder and back muscles and huge paws and claws.

We had to get off the mountain so bushwhacked down the hill and around him. Hard to keep from turning an ankle while keeping eyes on him. Spent the rest of the hike on high alert.

Scary but awesome.

We were coming down from a pass and saw a couple freaking out and walking toward us while glancing behind themselves. Then we saw a huge grizzly excavating a burrow just 15 yards off the trail. We stopped short about 60-70 yards away from him as soon as we saw him. I’ve got the video of the couple as they walk up to us - the guy shaking as he held his bear spray. They had come around a blind corner and didn’t see him until they were on him.

We hung out for 10 minutes just staying cool and getting pics. The dude excavated like a back hoe - helps to have enormous shoulder and back muscles and huge paws and claws.

We had to get off the mountain so bushwhacked down the hill and around him. Hard to keep from turning an ankle while keeping eyes on him. Spent the rest of the hike on high alert.

Scary but awesome.

 

[mikeaac]

Was in Calgary and Banff three weeks ago for trout fishing on the Bow River. Heard on the radio that a family in a tent was attacked by a wolf. It ripped thru the tent as the father was shielding his family the wolf dragged him out and chewed on him until another
camper hit the wolf with a rock to chase him away. The news mentioned they found the wolf and it was old. Never said they killed it but you know they did.
This was in Banff.

Also, fish the Lower Bow in Calgary...big trout with smallest 19 inches. Don't fish on upper Bow ...very small trout (6-7inches) but it is what runs thru Banff
and is prettier scenery.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

We were coming down from a pass and saw a couple freaking out and walking toward us while glancing behind themselves. Then we saw a huge grizzly excavating a burrow just 15 yards off the trail. We stopped short about 60-70 yards away from him as soon as we saw him. I’ve got the video of the couple as they walk up to us - the guy shaking as he held his bear spray. They had come around a blind corner and didn’t see him until they were on him.

We hung out for 10 minutes just staying cool and getting pics. The dude excavated like a back hoe - helps to have enormous shoulder and back muscles and huge paws and claws.

We had to get off the mountain so bushwhacked down the hill and around him. Hard to keep from turning an ankle while keeping eyes on him. Spent the rest of the hike on high alert.

Scary but awesome.

Can you share some of your bear pics? Spectacular creatures!

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

What part of Banff were you in? Did you have bear spray?
I was there in July and loved it, not the actual town of Banff so much (too touristy for me) but the area around it and the NP are gorgeous.
We stayed in Canmore and really liked it. I've never been in a more dog friendly place. And everyone had really great dogs, Labs, Shepherds, Huskies, Bernese Mt. Dogs...
Here are some pics if you are interested...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60907528@N02/albums/72157709682353641

Absolutely stunning...thanks for sharing.

 

[BBrown]

Absolutely stunning...thanks for sharing.

Thank You

 

[Chickenman Testa]

If you have flexibility and it's still an option, do the Lake Louise teahouse hike. The long version. Also, go paddle around on a canoe on Moraine Lake - maybe the best thing we did while there, and that's saying something.

Also, if you REALLY have time, go do the glacier experience up the Icefields Parkway. Sounds hokey but it's really cool.

Just did the Teahouse hike and tomorrow is Moraine Lake. Weather is dicey so views are blocked but it’s still gorgeous.

We leave for Jasper on Wednesday. Weather sounds better than so really looking forward to that drive

 

[Cold Smoke]

The most dangerous time to encounter a grizzly is between late September and mid October. Very large but old grizzlies are the most dangerous because they usually get bullied away from their kills and forced to dive for salmon where the water is deeper and harder to catch fish. These grizzlies are the ones that usually hunt and kill humans. When I say hunt, they’ll pick up a hikers scent and stay somewhat clear giving the impression they’re harmless. It’s at night when you setup camp when they approach and attack. They’ve busted through electric fences, pepper spray will only work until for a while. The grizzly that killed Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend took five twelve gauge slugs and six .40 caliber shots to drop him. He was 28 years old and weight 750lbs. Please be very careful if your removed from civilization.

OK mister... This is the most ignorant post ever on this site. Completely worthless.

 

[Aardvark86]

Just did the Teahouse hike and tomorrow is Moraine Lake. Weather is dicey so views are blocked but it’s still gorgeous.

We leave for Jasper on Wednesday. Weather sounds better than so really looking forward to that drive

Sweet! Love the tea house hike as you get to see all those features you learn about in 8th grade science.
Maligne canyon hike at jasper!! Great sandwiches at Patricia street deli.

 

[TheGLOV]

We were coming down from a pass and saw a couple freaking out and walking toward us while glancing behind themselves. Then we saw a huge grizzly excavating a burrow just 15 yards off the trail. We stopped short about 60-70 yards away from him as soon as we saw him. I’ve got the video of the couple as they walk up to us - the guy shaking as he held his bear spray. They had come around a blind corner and didn’t see him until they were on him.

We hung out for 10 minutes just staying cool and getting pics. The dude excavated like a back hoe - helps to have enormous shoulder and back muscles and huge paws and claws.

We had to get off the mountain so bushwhacked down the hill and around him. Hard to keep from turning an ankle while keeping eyes on him. Spent the rest of the hike on high alert.

Scary but awesome.

Bears need to eat too and you are (Chicken) at least by your title sir!

LOL!!!

 

[PeetzPoolBoy]

Just did the Teahouse hike and tomorrow is Moraine Lake. Weather is dicey so views are blocked but it’s still gorgeous.

We leave for Jasper on Wednesday. Weather sounds better than so really looking forward to that drive

Every person in your hiking group should be carrying, with safety clips removed, bear spray. You are hiking during the period in which bears are most aggressive. They will be calorie loading for the next month and don’t care about you or any other humans.

 

[step.eng69]

That's classic, but river bears are much better swimmers than lake bears.

Also, he was from the BC side rather than the Alberta side, so he was probably stoned to begin with.

Had to add to the fun, Id love to visit the places the board has mentioned.