r/Banff

It's prime bear season and I'll be in Banff this week. Should I take bear spray while skiing at Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise? I'm staying in the town and getting around by bus. Apologies for the dumb question but I cannot find any consensus around carrying bear while whilst resort skiing.

looking for opinions on how to set up my itinerary in banff. We're going to do a 2 night / 3 day backpacking trip for for the first half and then relaxing/sightseeing for the second half of the trip. We've locked in the backpacking part and now want to figure out a game plan for the second part.

context and dates:

6/22 - fly into calgary

6/23 - 6/25 - backpacking trip (mount shark to marvel lake area and back)

6/26 - 6/28 - no plans yet. will be based in a condo in Canmore.

what would you recommend doing for 6/25 evening, 6/26 full day, and 6/27 full day? We fly out early 6/28 out of Calgary.

My friend and I are planning a hiking trip in Alberta for for May 15-18. I know, it’s not the best time but the only time we could fit it in and already booked flights so no going back. 

I would love to do some high-up hikes. I know many of the mountain peaks will have snow and carry avalanche risk. I’ve done winter hikes in the past in BC (pump peak at Seymour, Hollyburn peak at Cypress, the chiefs in Squamish, all in snowy conditions) so I have some experience -  I only used crampons for these (the microspikes you can pull under your boots)

On the top of my list is Fisher peak. Would this be foolish to attempt? And would it be closed to access? Planning on having an ice axe, helmet, crampons, poles. 

Here are others on the list that I think would be more reasonable based off some research I’ve done: 

• East end of Rundle (I’ve already done Ha ling last June)
• Opal ridge 
• Tent ridge, Kananaskis
• Wasootch peak 
• Mount Yamnuska 
• Prairie Mountain 
• Door Jamb Mountain and Loder Peak

 

Lastly, I really want to do Mt Temple and Mt Edith Cavell, but I understand in mid May they aren’t the safest. Would they 1) be closed to access and 2) be foolish to attempt even with prior snow hiking experience/some gear (ice axe, crampons, other winter essentials)

Sorry if these questions seem dumb. I know there are a lot of posts that don’t recommend doing many of these hikes until June. I am willing to take the challenge and attempt them with the right gear but at the same time I don’t want to be outright foolish. Would love some honest opinions.

Would love any thoughts on any of these hikes and if you have other recommendations. I loved the view I got at Ha ling, so anything similar to that or higher up would be great. 

Is it worth it flying up next week or week of the 20th for someone’s of season skiing? Want to spend 6 or 7 days skiing. How’s the snow? Will it hold through April ?