CANADA
Coming in a 'little' late, but I’ve been a little busy.
So I decided to move to London (2 years ago), but before I settled in old London town I thought why not take the long way there and add a couple extra months of sight seeing before hand.
Around the same time I had begun to focus my travel choices around the philosophy of ‘travel with reason’ ... Now I would take the next flight to Vegas and lounge around a resort pool for 5 days eating nothing but prawn cocktails and margarita cocktails like the next person, but I have a very romanticised view on travel, with hyper-idealised visions on certain destinations. Dreaming up very amplified and typified experiences that push towards the frontier of adventure. With this travel tunnel vision commanding my choices, I had the idea of knocking out a few ‘bucket list’ experiences when deciding my flight path to London, and at the very top - Dog sledding.
So after some research, dog-sledding in Europe was a definite option, Alaska was also an option, although there was a greater pull towards Canada.
1. I wanted to hit up Banff along the way
2. I also had some family to visit in Toronto
3. I also decided to visit South America afterwards.
So staying on that general side of the world on this trip made sense. So dogsledding in Canada it was.
In the end I was leaving February 2017 for Canada, to first check out Banff for a week or so, then head towards Ontario for 6 days to dogsled and then spending my last week with my cousin and niece before jetting off to Ecuador.
With everything locked in, bags packed, emotionally prepared for the journey ahead I’m at Sydney airport checking in for my flight. Queue hurdle #1.
Flight attendant: And your Canadian Visa?
Nicole: Sorry? (moment of confusion, fear and gut-wrenching embarrassment)
Flight Attendant: Canada requires visitors to have a tourist visa, like the US ESTA visa.
Nicole: Sorry? (moment continues)
Oh …
The ever patient and calm flight attendant (although I could physically feel her want to eye roll even years later) explained to me it was a simple online travel visa, she gave me the URL, gave me a pamphlet and told me to just come back to her once I had the visa.
So aside I step, and frantically on my phone. First thought - Since the ** when did Canada need tourist visa’s? Admittedly I haven’t been there since the age of 10, Which was over 15 years prior, but what?
Through all the preparation for this trip I had not heard or seen any whispers of Canada changing up or introducing new rules. But before I was even able to finish that thought, I had the visa. Insert email sound here. It honestly was a simple online application that was pretty much verified on the spot, like did any one even cross check the passport details? But I was definitely not complaining. I hopped back in line and away I was.
Sydney > Vancouver > Calgary and a bus ride out to Banff.
On the flight from Vancouver to Calgary, I took a moment to look out the window, and that first sight over the mountain ranges was jaw-dropping. The vast openness of winter wilderness, snow capped hillsides and mountains of contrasting dark blues, blacks and white strands streaking through. The expanse was from that angle was beautiful. A rush of excitement overcame me in that moment.
From the minute I landed in Calgary, I could feel the cold. I knew I was not prepared what so ever for the Canadian winter temps, I was quite adamant I was going to literally Freeze To Death. I hear your thoughts, why not just buy what you need? My excuse - it’s hard to prepare you could say a little last minute, from Sydney, where its peak summer time and our even our quality winter gear when in season is half the standard required thickness for an average Canadian winter day. At this point in time, these were the coldest temps I had felt to date. I survived by layering.
*PSA - I endorse buying quality gear
The closest airport to Banff is in Calgary, from there most get a road transfer out to Banff. I took the Brewster Canada shuttle, a small bus service direct from the airport to your accomodation in Banff. I booked online ahead of time, although you can book once at the airport, although that all depends on availability. It was all an easy and smooth transfer that took just under 2 hours to get to Banff. You can even book a return trip with Brewster.
Banff alone has made me fall in love with winter. It was the first time I had ever had a proper white winter experience. The snow experience back in Aus, doesn’t really count. Banff is a quaint, sleepy town, picturesque with Cascade mountain overlooking and keeping watch. Train horns whistle in the background, maple syrup lines the gift stores, while red and black flannel and a fresh crisp chill in the air blanket the town. At the same time it’s also is a central hub to explore that part of the Canadian rockies, so there is a constant crowd moving about the main strip. It is a perfect mix of small town charm and natural magnificence in every direction that makes you feel right at home smack bang in the middle of no where.
I stayed at the Banff International Hostel. The two main hostels along the main drag are located steps from each other, the Banff International the calmer of the two. Basic but comfortable place to lay your head. Although Samesun Hostel did have a killer bar, I did pop into one night with one of the other girls, a roomate who befriended me and convinced me on a night on the town with her and her friend. The Samesun hostel bar is pretty lively even on a Tuesday night, with a great shot wheel. With pretty low prices for a shot but your fate lies with the luck of the spin. From there was ended up at Wild Bills along the main strip, a popular spot for the cowboy crowd, with some live music and a two stepping dance floor after a few beers.
The time of year I visited Banff may not have been ideal, but I was on a timeline and took the opportunity.
Con - Being early February the rockies were coming out of peak winter, where many attractions, trails, spots to visit were closed, or harder to get too. I did not get to the glacier or a lot of the lakes that I would of liked to at the time due to this, but I ventured further out to a few lookouts and scenic trails that were accessible including the unmissable Lake Louise.
About a 45 minute drive from the Banff town centre. I could have spent days admiring Lake Louise. Whilst in the winter it is frozen over and blanketed in snow, you could mistake it for a completely different lake compared to its summer sister version.
I spent hours just along the same trail there, taking the same picture over a over, with the feeling I would miss something with every step I took. With what seemed like forests of pines dusted in snow, there was a moment I felt like I was in Narnia.
I find the wilderness to be a felicity, with the senses awakened.
I was enamoured with the views, from looking outside the window, or just walking down the street. The distant mountains that bordered Banff alone where humbling. The enigmatic magic of its peaks and valleys call out to the explorer within. Watching the clouds roll over the mountain peaks and the sun peaking through just as the clouds break, warming up the ground and bringing new life to all the colours around. The browns, golds and greens, the blues and whites that saturate the scene.
As many have said in better words being amongst mountains whilst looking out at mountains, especially in the rockies is compelling terrain. For me like many, its a peaceful experience, a peaceful exhilaration that is. The mountains seemed to call out to me and my soul more harmonious than ever in this setting.
With my time in Banff coming to an end, I knew I was going to have to return again some time but I was full of excitement knowing what adventure was coming up next. Dogsledding!
Check out the video version of all this below! If ever you’re considering it, Banff is bad ass its a total 10/10 recommend.