free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
OK, I'll be straight up from the off here and say this is a cheat. My little Grandson was here for 2 weeks and we took him up Sulphur Mountain on the Gondola, but there is a little walking required up top and it was a beautiful day in a spectacular location.....worth a look if you ever thought of visiting Canada
Once the weatherman predicted sunshine and blue skies in the Rockies we took a trip to Banff to ride the Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, though in truth it doesn't go to the summit, you do need to walk a little bit to get there.
But before we went to the mountain we stopped off in town for lunch and a little shopping spree. My son and his wife posing in Banff.
Banff is a small town but packs a large punch with its choices of shopping and eating options as well as its National Park location and stunning views even from the town centre.
Ethan stayed in his pushchair to save his little legs for the summit of Sulphur Mountain later in the day
it's a short drive to the Gongola parking area and a short wait whilst Mark returns to the car for all the things we forgot.
riding the gondola is pretty cool, its quite a long ride and the views are spectacular and though grandma would rather close her eyes until we reach the top she managed a smile for the photos
the view down to the gondola station
the gondola takes you to about 7500 feet then you can walk to the actual summit which is visible here behind and to the left.
there is a boardwalk the whole way and the views are incredible throughout the walk in every direction
Ethan examined the boardwalk as we went along to ensure it was up to scratch, the walk begins by descending to a col before reascending to the summit
this shot looks back toward the restaurant and the top of the gondola
Ethan found the steps easy going with the help of dad and grandma, I couldn't help envying him those wonderful swings
viewpoints along the way give spectacular vistas across the town of Banff and the mountains beyond
the final push is steps, steps and steps but worth every one once you reach the top
the restaurant and gondola top is now quite a way off as the route circles around the mountain, the valleys running either side provide a beautiful perception trick seemingly enclosing the peak in the foreground
finally at the very top grandad,grandma, dad and Ethan pose for the summit pic.
from here the valleys reaching outward from Banff in all directions are clearly visible and it is a wonderful sight, I feel so lucky to be here with my wife, my son and his lovely family on such a beautiful day, at times words are not enough....this is one of those times.
after taking photos of all possible combinations of family members at the summit we set off back down again with that restaurant looking more and more inviting
on the way back while carrying Ethan, Mark stumbled on the top step in a series and lurched forward and to the side at the same time, he then jumped the distance to the bottom of the steps 'juggling' Ethan as he did landing upright with his little boy safe in his arms, it took Hayley quite a while to get her breath back and I'm sre my heart stopped for at least a week
back at the restaurant we sat and enjoyed tea and snacks looking over the beautiful surroundings with the ever present smile of little Ethan making it all the more enjoyable.
the ride back down was great fun with Ethan cracking up laughing every time a gondola passed on its way up.
Hayley drove us for the one hour journey home (Mark had driven there) and we laughed and joked in the glorious sunshine of the rocky mountains, it is a day I will remember for as long as I possible can.
I know this isn't the usual 'hike report' but hope you still find it interesting.....back to the mountains for me tomorrow
