Grizzly Bear in Banff

Friday| 17 August 2001 | Banff National Park: Our plans were big. A pot of coffee was ready to brew, bagels were packed, cameras, binoculars, maps and guidebooks were by the door. But at 6 a.m., when the alarm buzzed to wake us for our early morning wildlife drive, we decided the same animals would most likely be out at sunset and went back to sleep. How lazy we were, but how were we to know this would be the most exciting wildlife-sighting day of our lives (so far)?!

We did get up early, to beat the heat, and exercised. DT ran 4 miles and I walked two. Then we decided we wanted to get satellite television, so we had to move Goldie forward about 10 feet - so the dish could have a clear sight through an opening in the trees. I would not advise this - but we moved the motorhome with the slide room AND awning out! (I did unhook the water and electrical connections.) DT honed in on the satellite - PGA golf this weekend for goodness sakes! I can't believe we can even get a signal, as the dish is pointed directly into a mountainside.

It didn't seem the weather people were going to be correct - it was not going to be a scorcher today - but it was still pretty hot. Maybe we could go for a little hike, in the forest where it would be cooler. There was a little trail up Sunshine Canyon we had wanted to try - but dreaded the "walk" to get to the trailhead. It was up a paved bike/cross-country ski trail, with a horse trail running alongside. There was a little 2 mile diversion along the Bow River, so we took that trail to avoid total pavement - hoping to see a moose or elk along the river. We then joined the paved trail for about two miles to a picnic area where the pavement ended and a trail to the canyon began. We saw ducks, robins, grey jays and chipmunks along the way.

The Bow River

Please notice in the above photo how smoky the sky is in Banff! There is a lightning-strike fire burning in Kootenay National Park (a park directly west of Banff). The foresters are letting it burn, hoping for luck in the winds and rain. The highway running through the center of Kootenay is closed part of the time because of low visibility.

Anyway, back to my tale - so there we were hiking on asphalt, nearing the picnic area when - there it was - a GRIZZLY BEAR! He was about 300 pounds, about 50 yards above the trail, consuming vast quantities of buffalo berries. An English family on bikes and 4 or 5 horses and riders on a trail ride soon joined us. The bear ignored us and stuck to his task. DT reached into my pack to hand me my camera - and this is the best photos I can show you - snapped while walking backwards very quickly.

What I did on my summer vacation

Don't worry, Howard, I have a huge, huge, huge telephoto lens on my camera! We were so excited to see this Grizzly and can't believe we finally saw a Grizzly in the wild - though only 5 miles from Banff Townsite. We have hiked mile after mile in the Rockies (and Yellowstone, Tetons, etc.) and when we finally see a Grizzly it is from a paved trail!
 
"Ahhhh, BooBoo - A bear in his natural habitat!"
 
Of course, about ½ mile down the trail - we walked backwards - a Park Ranger came up in a small truck (don't forget, paved trail). He wanted to know if we had seen the bear and where it was, etc. I showed him the photos (above) on the screen of my digital camera and he immediately gave me his email address so I could send them to Parks Canada! I asked him about the bear, because it was so small and he said that is the average size of the Grizzlies in Banff - they are small bears. The Ranger, and another following him in a few minutes, went up to the bear and fired beanbags at the bear to get him out of the area. (By the way, Ladies - if you like a man in uniform - the Rangers in Banff are gorgeous.) Needless to say, the Rangers closed the trail and we had to turn back - so we were at the right place at the right time. I don't know what you did today, but I saw a Grizzly Bear!
 
After this big excitement (and phoning Lisa and my Dad to tell them about the Grizzly) we drove to Lake Minnewanka and Johnson Lake for a bit of scenery. However, the smoke was quite thick by now and I didn't take photos of the mountains - as in the photo above of the Bow River, the mountains were barely visible! But the Bighorn Sheep were laying on the side of the road, posing for my pleasure! Aren't they just a gorgeous animal?  And, obviously, terribly shy of tourists!

Bighorn Sheep


Bighorn Sheep


Bighorn Sheep

Back to the motorhome for FOOD! Hungry hikers - though we only walked 6 miles - need carbs. I made a nice meal of penne tossed with sautéed mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes, spinach and feta! Delicious with homemade (and frozen a few weeks ago) garlic bread and a tossed salad. A little wine, a shower and we were feeling quite smug dining alfresco on our picnic table - after all, we had seen the most feared creature in North America and lived to tell the tale!
 
Then a little breeze came up. Then a little lightning could be seen, though it was still light outside. Followed by a monstrous clap of thunder, echoing all the way down the Rockies! A little rain. Then suddenly it was like a tornado was coming through the campground. The power went out and our awning snapped in a gust of wind. For the second time in two weeks we had to get the awning in NOW - I was holding the strap while DT was loosening all the latches and snaps. The wind nearly carried me off the ground, the rain was pelting down; we finally had the awning back into its place and we hurried inside. Fifteen seconds later the power came back on and the wind completely died, the rain stopped and the sun came out. It was one of the strangest things I have ever witnessed - a one-minute storm.  Most people didn't have time to get their awnings in before the storm had passed. The instant storm had cleared all the smoke from the sky - the air was fresh again... but not to the west - where the sun was setting, the smoke was billowing back over the mountains towards Banff - but it sure makes for a pretty picture.

Smoky Sunset

After dishes (compliments of DT) we drove down the Bow Valley Parkway in search of elk. We found two huge specimens, both with gigantic racks - but it was too dark for the photos to turn out and I am too polite to use a flash on a wild animal. So, that's it for our day - I am whipped... walking 2 miles, hiking 6 miles and seeing a Grizz! 

Campground: Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court