7-17-08 Banff-ocity!!

Up to the sound of the automatic door on the knightrider minivan opening. First campsite with running water in the bathrooms. Headed out to the gondola for a ride to top of Sulphur Mountain with a great view of downtown Banff, AB to the east and the Bow Valley, a lush forest, to the west. Then on to stops at Lake Louise and Lake Moraine…the two most well-known lakes in Banff National Park. Both lakes have some serious turquoise blue water. The crowds are at ridiculous levels…approaching critical mass. Had to park ½ mile away from actual parking lot at Lake Moraine. Randomly picked a great hike to do at Lake Moraine called, well not sure of the official hike name but it started at Lake Moraine and climbed up 2500ft and leveled off on the way out to Lake Eiffel. The lake itself is not terribly impressive, but what was impressive is it sits in what’s called ‘The Valley of the Ten Peaks’. There they are…10 jagged high-reaching peaks with this tiny lake at their feet. In my opinion, the mountains strictly speaking, of Banff are the most impressive viewed on this trip…or maybe just the Canadian Rockies in general for that matter. We have noticed that Canada puts a lot of effort in advertising tourism.

Gassed up and hit the highway. If anyone is curious we have purchased $600 worth of gas thus far and estimate about 1/3 of the driving remains. Only about 1.5 hours to Golden, BC…back in British Columbia…knee deep in the Kootenay Rockies. Golden is apparently this little gem of mountain biking…heard of it from a gentleman we spoke with in Banff. And sure enough his information is confirmed by employee of BCVC No. 6, or more commonly known as British Columbia Visitor Center @ Golden. Come to find out Golden has the longest singletrack downhill in the entire world! Got a campsite, set up tents, grabbed some food, hit the hay. Big day of riding tomorrow.