One of the more popular hikes in Banff is Johnston Canyon. We were advised by the ranger in the visitors center to arrive early to get a parking spot. We set an alarm for 6:30 am, dressed and drove there.
The advantage to taking your house with you is that we could then make coffee and have breakfast in the trailhead parking lot. Fully caffinated and fed we put on our boots, filled out water bottles, packed the backpack, got our hiking poles out and donned our wide brimmed hats. We were ready to hike. What we did not know was this trail was paved just like the one at Lake Louise.
“Hiking” up had a fair number of people and we chatted with some as they passed us. We were impressed by the 80 year old Chinese couple from Vancouver who were headed to the falls.
After passing the lower falls the trail did get steeper … so they had installed stairs.
We noted signs on the trail advising people not to feed the animals. Most of the hikers here apparently could not read. A few animals thought Mr Ram might give them some food but they learned faster than that squirrel in Zion that there were better people to bother.
Our trip down was much more difficult. We weren’t tired and Mrs Ram’s knees was fine. It was the hoards of people who had finally gotten up and parked somewhere on the side of the road.
There people from all over the world chattering away, several large groups all in the same color shirts and lots of kids trying to feed chipmunks and squirrels. Two women were really put out when Mrs ram refused to leave the trail so they could walk side by side under an umbrella.
By the time we returned to our van Sparty, the parking lot was full and we were ready to escape back to our campground.
And those circling cars could wait for us to leave.