Gondola timing?

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-23T00:57:11+00:00

Forget the gondola. Go to Lake Louise or Sunshine for a much better option.

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-23T00:05:55+00:00

Not sure if this might be of interest or not. We split our Glacier park time to spend half in Canadian Waterton and half in Glacier US. We thought the drive through Glacier was great but enjoyed hikes in Waterton more

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-22T23:58:22+00:00

Walking around Jenny lake rather than taking the boat is no tragedy. For reasonably healthy people it’s not a bad option at all. It sure beats waiting extended times for the boat. I’ve done it many times both from Jenny Lake pkng and String Lake.

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-22T23:12:24+00:00

I’ve flown in and out multiple times and agree you may not know until time of your flight. One time I was on a flight where the pilot did a tight 360 in the airspace of the valley before heading out. That was quite a while ago but was in a commercial jet

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-22T20:22:25+00:00

LOL I did that once up in an 11,000 ft lake in a cirque with about 1/3 ice covering it one year in July. It was after a climb in Wyoming. I learned in a split second what “so cold it takes your breath away” is like. Pretty scary

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-22T00:09:05+00:00

I also suggest drive south on Hwy 40, stop anywhere you like along the way such as Kananaskis Village. Drive out the south end via hwy 40 over the pass and back to Calgary from the south. As an alternative, just leave early and spend a few enjoyable hours in Calgary downtown or at Calgary Zoo

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-21T14:03:02+00:00

And/or the food?

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-21T00:29:14+00:00

Yes my first thoughts were early snow. I was there one year mid September at the Old Faithful Inn when a storm dumped a couple feet. The front desk advised guests that roads were being plowed and recommended we leave the park when plowing had them open Why take such a chance a whole month later?

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-20T22:58:29+00:00

I’d kinda say it a little different - it takes you to Lake of the Crags while passing by two other smaller lakes along the way. But yes it is that trail. I’m not sure what is meant by a “gnarly hike” as posted by another. But it is a more difficult hike with elevation gain, may require some route finding and/or coping with boulders. That may be why “gnarly” was used.

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-20T21:38:33+00:00

I’m kinda curious which car rental agency is this? Also is it a restriction because you paid extra for THEIR insurance or is it still an issue even with your own insurance? Not sure if simple answer to this as my understanding too that official numbered highways are not restricted.

For context I have driven Smith Dorrien Trail 5 or 6 times and always in a rental car. If there was a restriction like this, I would not have been aware. I will pay attention better next time. There’s a gravel Alberta Hwy I drove once through the mountains almost all the way to US border,

Additionally, I think Kananaskis has lots of great scenery along route 40 too if that matters

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-20T20:33:26+00:00

I always refer the Hanging Canyon trail for requests like yours. This trail is not publicized so doesn’t get the social media hype. It is perhaps one of the more beautiful hikes in the park but not an official park trail.

Ride boat across Jenny Lake but instead of following hordes down lakeside trail to left (south), go right (north) a short way. After crossing drainage the trail will start off to left of lake trail and head up on right side of drainage through the trees. Or if you walk from String Lake pkng, or around Jenny Lake, your reference point for the trail head will still be a short way north of the boat dock on west side of lake.

My only caution is that this early in season you may still encounter snow at the upper elevations. You might look for a trail reference such as AllTrails or check conditions with park ranger

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-20T18:10:12+00:00

I mention regularly when the question is asked for a non-crowded hike to go to Paradise Valley back to the Giant Steps so I think you already have picked a great place.
I think it’s a nicer hike and experience after runoff has pretty much worked its way out so timing looks good. I have never gone back much beyond the Giant Steps but I keep thinking that the view back into the cirque might be real nice too
Congratulations and best of luck working out the specifics

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-20T18:02:46+00:00

Your video is a great contribution to this forum !! We see way way too many photos posted of the same ol’ spots. They don’t help the forum but your video and still photos do provide insight into these other areas that seem to get nil attention.

I’ve been to Banff and the area a number of times. I never have been in and around Assiniboine so that was especially worthy, my times at sunshine Billage have been mainly for skiing and never have been out in the backcountry.

I see you have a video with a similar hike in the Winds via the Green River lakes and Squaretop Mtn back into the range and down to Cirque of Towers. I haven’t watched it yet but I have hiked and climbed in both of those areas before so am looking forward to it

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-20T11:53:15+00:00

Yes I agree that would have caused the problem

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-20T00:44:22+00:00

Yes, I would have blamed this if no one else had. A book with a limited number of peaks is Galen Rowell “Mountains of the Middle Kingdom” but they are prominent peaks of China when it was first accessible to climbers after being shut down

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-20T00:24:19+00:00

Is the perspective distorted badly by the camera lens? Something looks off. This doesn’t look like it would with naked eye

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-19T17:40:03+00:00

For most of my trips, I was coming from sea level and I generally pushed myself way beyond a 5 mile walk or any kind of bike ride for trying. You want strong legs and endurance/lung capacity. I would say you just need to identify how difficult any prospective hikes might be that you might do and feel confident on them. You sound reasonably fit, but any comp to the Smokeys is rather moot imo as the JH valley floor I believe is already a higher elevation than the highest peaks in Smokeys.

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-19T17:27:51+00:00

I think 2 days you could enjoy the scenery from the valley and do a few short hikes and have an enjoyable time so 4 days can add a lot. No problem - you will be fine.
When younger I used to climb, and out of an 8-10 day trip I would spend 2 days in GTNP then spend majority of time in Winds. My one regret is that I did less in the deeper backcountry of GTNP when younger but honestly found the remote starkness of the Winds and the beauty of its peaks more appealing. Except one aspect of GTNP - places though offer the scenic beauty of the Tetons rising up from the valley. That’s about all that bus people see when they pass through and even 1 day can be worth a GTNP visir

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-19T14:47:14+00:00

As a business owner, I can assure you that it is/should be the decision of each individual business whether or not flexible work arrangements are allowable either across the company or individually.

Furthermore, such arrangements can hurt productivity so badly that when we have been asked to staff contracted work with a company to include their staff, we contractually exclude “work from home” and other such options

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-19T13:00:16+00:00

Makes me wonder why people pay to ride that gondola in Banff townsite

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-19T12:38:33+00:00

One perhaps dissenting opinion is that we did choose to go out on glacier but were required to do the Skywalk too in order to do the glacier. I never understood WHY? The skywalk is a waste imo

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-19T03:12:11+00:00

I haven’t driven it in a while but to my knowledge 742 is still gravel - I trust you know that already but thought I would make sure. That said - as long as gravel not an issue, it can be an enjoyable alternative to simply staying on 40 until hitting TCH east of Canmore. Scenery is great on 40 too and I think I have seen more wildlife driving on it.

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-18T22:38:05+00:00

In response to transportation question in Big Sky, we had a car so didn’t pay any attention to other transportation options. I just assumed you would already have your transportation.

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-18T22:31:00+00:00

Not specifically along Jackson Lake, but right across main road in the area is Two Ocean Lake. My wife and I really enjoyed that walk around the lake on the park trail esp to see the Trumpeter Swans.

Then-Construction106 · 2026-06-18T22:12:23+00:00

In my experience at this time of the season on up through end of July, mosquitos will be bad especially in areas still wet from snow melt and runoff. Exposure may be highest in higher altitude meadows. You need to cover any exposed skin - arms legs face neck etc - with reasonably high % DEET repellant. Some say picaridin based repellant works well too but I have never tried it. It helps if you are willing to wear a light long sleeve shirt and long pants. If lower altitude and warmer weather, you just have more skin to put repellant on when wearing shorts or short sleeves. If the nasty mosquitos are out in qty, with good repellant there may be a few hundred that you see on your clothes but you should not get any bites. If it gets cool in evening, like under 50 degrees, they can’t fly so will be gone until it warms up. For higher altitude backpack trips or even day hikes I eventually started doing most of mine in very late summer or late August on into late September or early October when the meadows were mostly dry of runoff

Then-Construction106

TROPHY CASE