So that we would be able to spend a good while exploring the Columbia Icefields on our way to Jasper on Wednesday we needed to get all our packing and the condo cleaning done today. Thus the morning was spent, well packing and cleaning the condo! We've found that our house swappers tend to tumble dry all washing (there is nowhere to hang washing to dry either inside or out) and that it seems they don't do any ironing either. Indeed our Canmore condo didn't have a...

Tuesday saw a lovely sunny day and us setting out on our own for a 11.5km hike up Johnston Canyon Trail to see the waterfalls and on to the Inkpots. We knew this would be a popular spot, particularly the Lower Falls but we were a little bit unprepared for the crowded car park where cars spilled out onto the grass verges for quite a distance. The path is exceptionally well maintained and includes stretches of 'catwalk' that take you close to the falls along the cl...

Following a suggestion from his old school friend Bill Mullaney, Dave had contacted Micky, a walking friend Bill had met in Spain who lived in Banff and a walk was planned for Monday on the Bourgeau Lake Trail. We actually walked beyond Bourgeau Lake to Harvey Pass some of the way to the summit of Mt Bourgeau. This was about 20km, with a climb of approaching 1000m - quite a hike! The day started with coffee at Micky's house where we met brothers Luke and Gent, t...

After our lazy day, Sunday turned out to the the first of many quite strenuous hikes, although not entirely by design! We had spotted a relatively modest hike along the Watridge Lake and Karst Trails. The most arduous part of the day looked to be a long drive up the gravel mountain road in our hire car with huge 4x4s zooming past and leaving us in thick dust clouds. Spray Lake Reservoir was a typical bright blue colour - all the lakes have tones of blue and turqu...

Saturday was a lazy day spent shopping, walk planning and blog writing. We were to be in Canmore for over a week so it was off to the supermarket first. We were surprised to find the biggest supermarket was Safeway! As ever on the trip, prices seemed significantly higher than at home. Ruth's condo was very central and turned out to be a comfortable base with a spacious open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. The only down side we discovered that evening - coo...