Do you offer custom trips or skill courses?
Yes we do. Please contact us to describe what trip will make your bucket list, and we will help make your dream come true!
What experience do I need?
Since 1986 we have introduced many people to outdoor adventuring, from sea kayaking to backpacking and base camp expeditions. Hike Banff’s trip itineraries are for both beginner and experienced hikers. We try to tailor each trip to the specific skill level and trip expectation of the group. To ensure your comfort in the mountains, we ask that you bring the suggested items in the clothing and equipment items to help keep you comfortable in the wilderness.
How long do we hike in a day?
For a full day hike, you can expect that we will start at the trailhead around 9 am, and return to the parking lot by 3:30 pm. Our snowshoe tours are about 4 hours in duration. We will introduce you to the guide pace which will feel like you’re traveling quite slow, but in reality, you arrive at your destination at about the same time as everyone else but feeling like you want to travel further. We will take the time to photograph, and enjoy a cup of tea at some scenic spot.
How fit do I need to be?
Being healthy is a good start for walking in the mountains. If you have any health issues, please let us know so we can be better prepared to help you. We recommend using hiking poles for your trip as this is an excellent way to use your upper arm strength to help relieve the exertion on your knees, support your balance over uneven terrain and manage steeper downhills. If you are just arriving to our elevation here, you may notice you are short of breath. This is when we slow our pace so you can continue to carry a conversation. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your hike. But there’s nothing like the present to start your fitness regime. All the trips listed on Hike Banff’s site are in the easy trip rating category, with some moving into moderate rating if we continue on to reach the pass for the final view. We’ll make that decision out there when we see how everyone is doing.
What clothing and equipment do I need to bring?
The following checklists will make sure you have everything you need for comfort in the mountains.
Introduction to Backpacking Skills
What to Bring for your Map + Compass
What will the weather be like?
It’s important to know that as we travel up in elevation, the temperature drops by 3° C for every 300 meters/1000 feet of elevation gain. Add some cloud to cover the sun, put in a biting wind from the west, and suddenly you’re pretty darn cool. We will want to put all the recommended layers in our pack even if we are starting out on a pretty nice warm day. You will be surprised how quickly the weather can change in the mountains. And that can go either way: sunny to snowing; or snowing to suddenly very warm and sunny!
Weather Resources
Webcams
https://www.onthesnow.com/alberta/sunshine-village/webcams
Avalanche Forecast/ Information Resources
Public Avalanche Bulletins
Public Safety
Kananaskis Public Safety, Alberta Parks
Field Snow and Weather Conditions
Parks Canada Snow and Wx Stations/ Banff, Kootenay/Yoho
Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?
We love to eat, and you can expect excellent, gourmet meals on your multi day trips, or a delightful lunch or snack on your full or half day tour. We go the extra mile to prepare a delicious menu where quality, quantity and variety are never compromised. We can accommodate dietary restrictions as long as you let us know ahead of time. Please let us know if you are vegetarian, vegan, prefer certain foods, dislike other foods, lactose intolerant, have food allergies, or prefer a certain coffee blend. We will gladly accommodate your diet if you give us advance notice.
What is the difference between a backpacking and base camp trip?
A backpacking trip means packing up your tent and sleeping bag and move down the trail to another beautiful spot. The goal is to keep our backpacks to under 14 kilograms/ 32 pounds. On a base camp trip, we will day hike from our single camp. This camp may be in comfortable tents or rustic cabins.
Can I have my own single tent on the multiday hiking trip?
We will plan to give all single participants their own tent, and couples or people traveling together a tent large enough to share comfortably.
