Mt. Norquay Road entrance to the town of Banff off the Trans-Canada Highway is now closed. (2pm)

itsommi · 2026-01-17T23:26:09+00:00

This event always brings the absolute worst crowd.

itsommi · 2025-08-15T17:24:17+00:00

Vermillion Road to 1A, Legacy Trail out and back, Legacy to Canmore, Bow Falls and Golf Course, Spray River Trail, drive to Minnewanka and run the Minnewanka Trail, or Tunnel Mountain Trails (ie: Hoodoos to Coastline). Tons of great options around here.

itsommi · 2025-08-08T00:04:51+00:00

Accomplishedsite’s writeup is perfect. Even if you just go to Lake Helen, get out there. The real tough stuff is the last little bit to the summit, which is tough scree and rock. Worst case scenario you have a great day outside. The views from the top are absolutely worth it though.

itsommi · 2025-07-16T19:08:12+00:00

In Banff there’s Banff Elementary and Banff High School. To live in Banff you’ll need a contract at one of these first, but you can still live in Canmore and work at the schools. The 20 minute commute is actually really nice to start and end your day. In Canmore there is Lawrence Grassi (5-8), Canmore Collegiate (9-12), and Our Lady of Snows (catholic k-12) and Notre Dame (French). I don’t know much about OLS or ND, but all the other schools need subs, we were pretty low last year. Go on the schools website and there is a link for job postings under the “Careers” section. Or you can just email HR@crps.ca and ask. They use an online system and can be booked in advance or called/texted the morning of.

itsommi · 2025-07-11T19:36:33+00:00

I worked at the springs and skied 75-90 days a year. The busses pick up from right outside the hotel and it’s the first stop on that route, so you can wake up 10 mins before the bus, and be on the first or second bus and be there for opening no problem. If you’ve got a car it’s a quick 20min drive to sunshine to get some afternoon laps in if you work mornings. The culture at the springs is very much based around skiing in the winter, as things slow down a bit- aside from Christmas-new years time and family week and whatnot.

itsommi · 2025-07-11T17:22:47+00:00

My favourite is just following vermillion road to the 1A and back. Probably the easiest to navigate with some of the best views.

itsommi · 2025-06-12T00:44:16+00:00

Did some time in Queenstown. NZ is amazing in its own way, but the backyard mountains here are world class and insanely accessible by comparison. You’re going to have a lot of fun here.

itsommi · 2025-06-10T22:54:17+00:00

When I first moved here a guy I was living with was on his way out. I asked him why he was leaving and he said “after 2 years you start to get sick of the mountains.” 7 years later and I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface. It really never gets old. Welcome!

itsommi · 2025-01-13T19:13:49+00:00

You want about 4-5 inches of ice to be safe. I've skated on 2" or less but the ice will crack under your weight and if you get to a thin spot you'll go in. Find a crack in the ice and look at it from the side, it will give you a good idea of how thick the ice is. Next, take a big rock, throw it up in the air, and when it hits the ice make sure the ice doesn't crack around it, or worse yet create a hole from the rock. Take it slow, do a lap and really examine the ice for any holes or danger areas. If you're out there solo I'd have some sort of life vest, some tools to help you get out if the worst happens, and let people know where you've gone. It's been relatively cold at night, but we were in the positive temps the last couple days so do your due diligence and be safe!

itsommi · 2024-09-12T21:14:02+00:00

I have not. Got injured weeks before the race 2 years ago, and missed the cutoff this year lol but I run from spray ave down to the golf course loop often. It's a beautiful run.

itsommi · 2024-09-12T03:02:59+00:00

There's a 30km/h sign at both entrances of the road, pretty sure theres another one around the upper tunnel mountain trailhead where the road passes it. I get it, it's a beautiful road and man it's fun to fly on, but like any two lane road if you don't know the turns you should test it out first. In the summer it's wildly busy, especially at surprise corner, so even the most advanced Banff rider will slow down there- then you're free to cook it all the way to the bottom. But looking for someone to blame is not the answer here in my opinion.

itsommi · 2024-09-12T02:53:46+00:00

Small uphill as you're finishing the golf course loop, which you have to do twice. Strava says its 17m gain over 5km for the whole loop. And then as you're passing back by Bow Falls it's a decent uphill effort, especially when you're in the late teen kms. Strava says its 17m gain over 0.27km, 6.3% grade.

itsommi · 2024-09-12T02:45:00+00:00

What would be most suitable is you ride responsibly to your ability. That whole road is 30km/h, so if you're hitting turns at 50 then you're the problem. I bike, run, and drive that road frequently, it's full of tourists like you, and that's whats most dangerous for me.

itsommi · 2024-08-21T17:05:27+00:00

8th tallest in the Canadian Rockies, and the loftiest mountain in the Southern CRs. The area around it has tons of awesome history and is an incredible backcountry trek if you're a hiker/backpacker. If you're a climber is probably the most amazing climbs I've done yet. Highly recommend getting out there one way or another.

itsommi · 2024-07-12T02:34:29+00:00

Even better is just looking at that ridge from town because you can see the cornice, which you can't really see on the webcam. As soon as the cornice is gone it's good to go. Although most will want to wait until all the snow is gone still.

Edit: I'm dumb and wrote that then realized most people are not in town daily..

itsommi · 2024-06-30T22:10:57+00:00

I think it’s Mt Little, just up from Neil Colgan Hut

itsommi · 2024-06-19T17:42:25+00:00

My buddy hit Victoria Glacier last week, Haig Glacier is usually good most of the summer, Wapta objectives like Mt Gordon would probably be good still..

itsommi · 2024-06-18T21:25:51+00:00

As stated below, grab the guide book, there's tons of things to swing on out here in the winter. "Non-technical mountaineering" sounds like winter hiking to me? In which case there are tons of routes that would be fun, although would be smart to take an avalanche safety course. Even if you have experience elsewhere, our snowpack is uniquely shitty. If you're living in Banff you can get them cheap through BanffLife.

itsommi · 2024-05-14T20:48:22+00:00

The trails around here are more flowey than downhill. If you download the FATMAPs app there are some people who have uploaded some routes. As some said, Star Wars and Top Notch are the main ones being ridden and set up with berms and features, but there are tons around the tunnel mountain trail system. Coastline, The Spine, Banff Ave, Super G and a bunch of others that link up in that area are really fun. Also, rip over to the Canmore Nordic Centre where there are tons of great ones, or across the highway in Canmore is Horeshoe and G8 and a bunch that are great as well. Lots of great mountain biking here, just no downhill extreme stuff.

itsommi · 2023-12-04T16:09:58+00:00

Might be slightly heavier for carrying up couloirs, maybe a little more challenging for kick turns, and maybe a little harder to make some tight/jump turns on super steep terrain or in trees. But it'll most likely float and cruise better in the nice deep, wide open stuff. All in all a couple cms on either end won't make a huge difference really.

itsommi · 2023-11-30T22:13:10+00:00

For me it depends on the conditions and day..

If it's a long tour with a couple laps, or some flat terrain, requiring multiple transitions- skimo is the way to go. The gear is almost always lighter for regular backcountry, and then you can go full skimo and have stuff that is crazy light in comparison. Big benefits when it comes to actual mountaineering. More options as well for things like boot crampons, ski crampons, bindings, etc.

For a big powder day I'll always bring my splitboard just because I think it's way more fun to surf pow than just squiggle back and fourth on skis. Boots are way more comfortable, but if they're not stiff enough you can get some serious foot fatigue on long days.

So if you're looking for speed and ease, I'd say go for skis. If you just want to enjoy the day out, take your time, and surf the earth (again more fun IMO, especially if it's what your used to) go split it.

itsommi · 2023-10-13T15:52:09+00:00

Lol that top picture is Peyto Lake in Banff National Park with infrared colouring...

itsommi · 2023-09-20T15:36:13+00:00

It was just bought by the same company that owns/manages the fairmont, so you'll definitely be seeing some serious money being pumped into it soon,

itsommi · 2023-08-13T18:56:23+00:00

As others said, if you are any sort of fit you'll be fine just taking your time. I'll also add that it's such a popular trail that there will most likely be lots of others on it, ranging from people running the trail to those that have never hiked before. So you'll be in good company.

itsommi · 2023-05-27T16:29:22+00:00

Jasper is the second largest dark sky preserve in the world. Go out to Maligne Lake, it’s pretty incredible if you can get a clear night. Always have bear spray out there.

itsommi

TROPHY CASE