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Bearing the Elements in Banff

Banff National Park was to be one of our major stops on the 3 week tour of Canada, perfectly located in the Rockies to provide spectacular views of the National Park.  When we booked the trip we knew camping was going to be a complete change of tact for us, but the weather decided to challenge us even further.  Days before we arrived 20C days were the norm, upon arrival we faced 3 days of 8C highs and sub zero temperatures at night, all in the comfort of our 7 x 5 foot tent.  It was definitely a shock to the system and we quickly realised that our shorts and vests would remain in the bottom of our rucksacks.  Banff itself is a ski town throughout winter with a number of charming shops and coffee bars along with lots of hiking trails to help you spot wildlife.  Despite lots of reports of sightings bears remained out of sight in Banff but we glimpsed plenty of elk, deer and cheeky chipmunks.  A day trip to Lake Louise allowed us to take in some incredibly scenic views but the snow and ice made walking quite tricky.  Luckily Banff served up some traditional hot springs to warm everyone up, even providing traditional swimming costumes for a bit of a giggle.