A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

water

On the Trail: Lake Louise/Banff Gondola

As I try to get back into regular blogging (again) and work on some of these features, it’s time to dial back the clock nearly a year for this one. 

It’s crazy to think this trip to the Pacific Northwest and Canada was nearly a year ago. When getting on a plane didn’t require masks and worry. When the ability to go to places didn’t require six feet of separation. It’s nice to remember these things and hope they will get back there. 

This trip was a geocaching-based one and got bigger as it was planned. We covered a lot of miles and saw a lot, but one thing was getting to Banff and Banff National Park, even just for a day. I’d like to go back some day when I can spend more time there, that’s for sure. 

On this day, we hit two places – Lake Louise, and then the Banff Gondola. I’ll put the two of these together as they were on the same day. Be sure though – they are highly different. 

Lake Louise

First, by the time we reached Lake Louise, it was too late to get parking, so we had to get a shuttle. And that took forever, it seemed. We waited for one at the wrong spot and if we had just driven back up to one area, we would have been there much quicker. Alas, live and learn when you don’t know the area. 

But, we did arrive. And we explored. Though we didn’t go hiking up, we took the trail around the lake for a bit. It’s a striking area, that’s for sure. The Lake Louise “hike” was a bit more than four miles, but if you had time, there are many more miles to explore. And it seems quite a bit of different terrain, too.

Remember, though, that the Banff area is very touristy. And with that brings a lot of people. I think to visit a spot like Lake Louise would mean getting there very early, spend your time there and then try to get out of there by 12 or 1 p.m., and then go visit some areas that might not be as crowded. 

Lake Louise itself, though, is striking. The color of the water and the wandering trail that takes you around the outside of it is wonderful. There are also a few geocaches, which is cool. It’s truly amazing to see what kind of things nature can give you. 

And photo opportunities? Plenty! There’s no chance you could leave here and claim you didn’t have anything to take photos of, that;’s for sure. But don’t just focus on the photos, focus on the beauty. 

The great part about this trail was all of the different people. Because it’s not the most strenuous stroll you will take, there were people of all shapes and sizes. It’s nice when you can get that in a place like this because it allows everybody to enjoy the scenery and brilliance. 

Banff Gondola

This was a definite on the list to hit. The gondola ride up was a blast. And there weren’t many people when we got there.

Remember, we went in the fall, and later in the day. That’s a check mark to each item as that meant fewer people. When on top of the mountain, there are a series of “trails” that take you to different parts and viewpoints. While

I might not consider this a trail, per say, it’s nice to know when you get to the top of the gondola ride, it’s not just one viewpoint and back down you go. Instead, you can go find a bunch of different places and there’s also (of course) a gift shop at the top as well. 

We didn’t have issues parking here, but I could see where it could be tougher during tourist season. Either way, it’s worth coming to and experiencing this. 

When done, I would encourage you to jump down into Banff and explore a bit. We only got to do so for an hour or two (including dinner), but what a cool town. This is definitely a place I want to visit again – preferably in the spring or fall when there are fewer people. 

Final thoughts: 

Positives: Lake Louise is an amazing and relatively easy hike. If we had more time, I think we would have tried some of the other trails and maybe looked to see where things led. The Banff Gondola is a great experience and spending time at the top of the mountain is really wild. A lot of fun. 

Cons: Parking at Lake Louise. Do the research. Either get there really early, or know where the best place for the shuttles is. The gondola has a price tag, so make sure you know that ahead of time and make a reservation if possible. 

Overall: Both are well worth the time. Lake Louise is breathtaking. There are some great spots to stop and soak it in. I have no doubt if you explore the other trails, the views will be simply amazing as well. The gondola “trails” give you some awesome looks and make you appreciate where you are. Make no mistake – if you go to places like this, appreciate what you see. If you ever get the chance to visit the Banff area, spend more time there than I did. I really want to go back one day … it’s truly an amazing place. 

To watch a Relive video of this hike, please see below!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

On the Trail: Wapta Falls

As I start to work on a few of these newer features on my blog, one thing I’ll be doing is occasionally going back in time, so to speak. 

This feature is one that will have that regularly. 

My thought process for this feature will likely be once a month. If I can get into a rhythm and have enough spots for it, then I might go twice. But for now, it’s a once-monthly feature, so I’ll be bringing back past trips and hikes. 

Today it was from the geocaching trip this past fall, which took me throughout the Pacific Northwest – in the United States and Canada. 

One hike I looked into was Wapta Falls, as there was an Earthcache there. Mix that with a waterfall that was supposed to be simply amazing, and it was put on the “must do” list. 

The thing about geocaching trips where there are so many things to see and do, some things get skipped. This trip was no different. While in this part of Canada, we had to skip several things to make sure other things were done. I don’t regret it, but it definitely makes me want to return to explore more. 

Anyway, Wapta Falls. 

Wapta Falls in her glory. Simply amazing!

This hike followed a long day of travel and other stops. This day began in Kamloops, British Columbia and brought us closer to Banff National Park. Several things had to be skipped to give us a remote chance to get into this area, make the hike and see the falls. As we pulled into a drive up spot to get a pass to the park, we asked the girl working if we stood a chance at doing this before dark. 

Absolutely, she said. But bring flashlights – the odds of making it back out in the light would be slim. Excellent advice. 

The hike out was only supposed to be a bit more than a mile (though add more in the winter when the gates on the road are apparent;y closed). And, that’s probably about right. For the most part, the terrain isn’t too bad. But on normal walking, I can do about an 18-minute mile if I am pushing it, but usually I’m in the 20-minute range. 

This took a bit more. 

One thing I realized though, that despite going into a different time zone from where we started the day, there were no issues with daylight. I was actually shocked. Being from upstate New York, when the sun sets at a certain time, it doesn’t take too awful long after to get dark. And despite being in part of the Canadian Rockies, when the sun went down, it remained light for quite a while. 

The hike out wasn’t too bad, with a little incline. When you get to the end and are near the falls, you have a couple of options – stay up top and view the falls in all their glory and call it good, or head down the hill with a few switchbacks to get up close and personal. 

Well, we didn’t come all this way to stay up top and head back. Down we went. There were three others down there and they were indulging in some herbal enjoyment. They waved, but weren’t too close, basically giving us the run of the falls. These were impressive. 

Wapta Falls from above. Really amazing to watch that water flow.

Wapta Falls is situated inside Yoho National Park. Part of the Kicking Horse River, these falls are nearly 100-feet high, and almost 500-feet wide. 

From the top, the falls were amazing. But from the bottom – despite the hill that sits in front of them – they are simply breathtaking. The sound and rush of the water is incredible. The mist that comes off of the falls, too, is powerful. We were going to attempt to get to the left side of the hill as I wanted to try and get a wild photo, but with as slippery as things were, we stayed to the right side. Still, it was pretty amazing to be up that close to these falls. 

The hike back was a bit more difficult. Getting back up to the trail took some work (remember, I’m not in perfect shape), but it wasn’t a bad hike back. And the girl at the booth was fully correct – a flashlight coming back out was smart. In the end, we did about 3.5 miles and it was definitely a good workout.

Final thoughts: 

Positives: The trail isn’t too bad, and it’s quite easy to follow. Hearing the falls as you approach is impressive, though when you get to the end, it’s even more amazing. This is a very remote area, so you likely won’t find a lot of casual onlookers – it’s likely people who really want to see the fall. 

Cons: Depending what you consider a con – but once you get out there, no bathrooms and you are in nature. I find this to be a positive – but some might avoid it because it’s remote. Finding the road in wasn’t easy. 

Overall: If you like a hike in the woods with an amazing payoff at the end… and you are in this area? Make this a must stop. 

Geocaching note: There is one geocache out here – an Earthcache (GC7W35A) with a rating of 1/3.5. This can be your goal as well, but what it brings you to is even more amazing. No traditionals or anything along the trail out or in the parking area. 

To watch a Relive video of this hike, please see below!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

On the Trail: Bridal Veil Falls

Exploring the world around us is a great way to connect with nature, or other things. And it seems, as society continues to evolve, that people tend to miss a lot of what is out there to see. 

Geocaching can often help with that as it makes you look at things differently, well sometimes anyway. 

What I love about geocaching is its ability to make me see and go to different places – many of which I likely never would have found without the game. 

On the trail logo

Welcome to On the Trail, a periodic feature on the blog where I’ll tell you about some of the places I’ve visited or hiked to. I’ve tried to start reconnecting with the world around me a bit more, and one of the best ways to keep doing it is to get out and hike/walk some trails. 

The first installment of this is from a recent vacation, which took a couple of us through the Pacific Northwest, including heading into Canada and into the Candian Rockies. 

There will be a few of these posts from this trip as it’s a good way to get this feature going. 

When researching this road trip, I realized we would have the chance to see a whole heap of cool waterfalls. And for those who know me, I am a massive fan of waterfalls. 

Bridal Veil Falls is located within Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The falls are quite easy to find and not far off the main road, which made it a no-brainer to stop, even with the jet lag and several-hour drive in front of us. 

Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls in Chilliwack, British Columbia

The trail isn’t too tough, though you do get a little bit of elevation on the way to the falls. The trails are groomed and well maintained. The walk up to the falls was nice and peaceful, as well as scenic. 

Now, I won’t lie – I was a little worried. Being we were in a new area and traveling, we had a lot of things in our car. One thing I read about some Canadian parks (and hell, they may not say it, but the US parks, too) is people getting their cars broken into and all. But nothing happened while we were here, thankfully. 

Once to the top, we didn’t really think about anything other than the falls. They are majestic. The name stems from the 400-foot drop over the rock face, which creates the illusion of a veil. They were pretty amazing to look at. 

Scrambling up to the top was well worth it, too, as it got you close to the falls and you could really appreciate nature at its finest. 

The hike back down was easy, though looking at the map, it seems there was another way to go down that would have circled us to the parking lot. I wish we had done that trail, if not just to see what it had to offer. Either way, we got back without issue. 

Final thoughts: 

Positives: Trail is relatively simple, and leads you to amazing falls. Can be done in less than an hour. Plenty of parking and there are restrooms available. Very scenic. Easily accessed off the main highway. 

Cons: Bathrooms were not clean at all. 

Overall: Well worth stopping at if you are near. 

Geocaching note: There is an Earthcache (GC49JKF) with this waterfall, so that’s fun. Two other traditional caches are here as well: GC1EFDN and GC7BQTF are located just off the trails. Unfortunately, even with using the hints and photos, we came up short on both of them. They’ve been found since, so it was likely just us!

To watch a Relive video of this hike, please see below!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Foto Friday

OK, I made that headline up.

It’s not a new thing.

It’s just … I got nothing right now. December’s end is coming soon enough and this every day thing can stop. BUT … I do like this idea for today, to share a photo.

With the weather we’re having here … I’d love to be back at this beach!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

The beach in the offseason is a nice way to get away and relax

As I have done for the past several years, I had the chance in October to slip away for a few days to the Jersey Shore.

My aunt and uncle own a place in one of the small Oceanside towns there, so it’s nice to get away for a weekend. It’s also nice because it’s outside of tourist season, so it’s usually pretty quiet. I like that. There’s something to be said about being able to walk on the beach and not see many people.

This year, the weather – as it was last year – was a tad iffy. It wasn’t quite as bad as last year, when it was almost no fun to deal with. The day we left down there was really quite warm, so it was nice to have a clear day to look out over the water.

When I was younger, we used to go to an uncle’s place in Maryland. It was really nice and going into the water was always fun. Though, to be fair, having to use an outhouse wasn’t great. But, that’s neither here nor there.

Now this is peaceful.

Now this is peaceful.

There was then a time in my life where I hated the beach. There were several reasons for this, but in recent years, I’ve started to appreciate it more. It’s likely more like I appreciate it when it’s not so crowded. The water and the sound can be very relaxing and peaceful. There are times I’ve sat on the beach for several hours with nobody around, just because the sights and sounds are very peaceful.

I know people rush out to vacation in the warm months and take advantage of the sun. And I can understand that without a doubt. However, there’s something to be said to vacationing when things aren’t so busy. I live in a high tourist area, well close to one, and it can be a total pain when it’s in full swing.

And while it’s true that everything isn’t open, or doesn’t have a lot of hours when they are open, it’s a very calm setting.

The one seafood place I love to eat at (the chowder there is amazing) has closed the weekend I was there the past two years. What’s nice about that is I get them at the end of the season and when it’s not so crammed full of people. I can have a quiet breakfast at a place I truly enjoy. And then I can walk on the beach without seeing many people.

There’s not much of a night life when I am there, but I also don’t really go to have that type of time.

This year, the weekend was the town’s seafood festival. It wasn’t bad and there was definitely a crowd in town for it. I took part in the chowder-tasting contest. I also went up the road to Ocean City one night to see the fireworks there and take in the boardwalk, which was busy that night.

To be fair, my mind was racing all weekend I was there about a lot of things. But on the Sunday I left, the weather was fantastic and I walked the beach by myself, took my shoes off and let the ocean water cover my feet. It’s amazing how quickly your thoughts can vanish and you can get lost in the beauty of the water and beach. Though the tourist season could make me change my mind, I am envious of those who live near a beach and can go on short notice.

The weekend ended up being good for me in that I got a chance to relax and clear my mind a little.

Where do all of you go for a quick weekend to recharge and clear your mind? Beach? Woods? Somewhere else? I’ve found, though, that it’s important to have places like this for your mind, body and soul. It’s always good to get away from the hustle and bustle of life for a bit, if even just for a weekend.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!