Feeling proud of ourselves we made an earlyish start (we're not among the world's natural early risers) to avoid the weekend crowds that would be making their way to Sunshine Meadows, a high alpine plain reached by bus up a ski-access road. Unfortunately it would have been better to have been able to have been proud of our full-planning for this trip. If we'd researched fully we'd have known that all of the Sunshine trails were still closed following the damage c...

Predictably after our Cory Pass exertions we opted for a lazy morning. In fact a lazy day altogether. Mickey has gym membership at the Banff Springs Hotel and had offered to take us to the hotel pool to enjoy the Spring waters. We arranged that Mickey would take a break from his office to have lunch with us at the hotel. The views of Tunnel, Sulphur and Rundle mountains from the terrace made it easy to see why they built this dominating hotel here. After lunch Mi...

Mickey had promised to take us on his favourite hike today - the Cory Pass Trail. He knew Jill's discomfort at steep down hill paths but assured us that this walk was perfect. It was a round trip, steep going up but a longer and gentler return loop. Micky's good friend Gaye joined us and we set out in shorts and t-shirts on a glorious sunny day. The trail head car park was only a short drive out of Banff and we were soon climbing briskly up through trees. We s...

Sadly Friday was our leaving day but not before a pancake breakfast. New American guests had arrived with various dietary requirements which Laura met by making normal, vegan and gluten-free pancakes! Laura asked for every bit of detail about how the guests preferred their gluten-free pancakes made only for the guest to decide she didn't want any. We exchanged knowing glances with Laura: hard to believe anyone could be so thoughtless having seen the effort and ...