(no audio) (upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music fades) (gentle music) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) - Welcome, fellow adventurers, to a winter wonderland like none other.

I'm Alice Ford, and today, we're in the frosty embrace of the Canadian Rockies.

This is a place of epic proportion with stunning mountains, pristine landscapes, and wonderful wildlife, too.

We're starting in the town of Banff, which is right in the middle of Banff National Park.

And if you think the snow and the cold temperatures are gonna stop us from adventuring, well, think again.

We're gonna be skiing, ice climbing, skating, even spelunking, and I'll be driving the harrowing Ice Fields Parkway to all the way to Jasper National Park.

This is gonna be so much fun.

I have never been here in the winter and I am so excited to explore.

So grab your hand warmers and I'll see you out there.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) Banff National Park is one of Canada's most well-known national parks and is one of the four national parks that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks.

While summer may be the most popular time to visit Banff, winter offers an unparalleled access to adventures in the snow.

Surrounded by mountains and nearby glaciers, the area around Banff brings people from all over the world to do activities like downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, ice climbing, and just enjoying the beauty of frozen alpine lakes and waterfalls.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) There are 20 ski areas in the Canadian Rockies and three within a 45 minute drive of Banff.

So my first stop meant hitting the slopes.

If you're into skiing or snowboarding, the best way to get out on the slopes at Banff is to pick up a SkiBig3 pass.

This gives you access to Sunshine Mountain, Mountain Norquay, and Lake Louise.

And today we're starting at Sunshine.

(gentle music) (gentle music continues) Sunshine Mountain is famous for some of Canada's best snow and three mountains of diverse terrain.

It's really close to town and community reach easily by car or shuttle from downtown.

Now, my best friend was joining me for the first few days of the trip and we were both super excited to be up on this mountain above the clouds.

I grew up skiing and minus a few years in my 20s, I try to get out on skis at least once every winter, and I really love that SkiBig3 offers three unique mountain experiences under one ticket.

Between the three mountains managed by SkiBig3, there are more than 362 runs over more than 7,700 acres.

One thing we love for sure at Sunshine were the big open runs above treeline and the fog banks that sat just below the top of the mountain, allowing you to ski directly into a cloud.

(gentle music) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) The town of Banff is located smack dab in the middle of Banff National Park.

It's located just 90 minutes from Calgary.

The small downtown is charming, full of shops and eateries, and perfect for walking even on a cold winter day.

(gentle music continues) Unlike a lot of mountain towns that got their start in mining, the town of Banff has always been tied to tourism.

In the 1870s, work began on the ambitious Canadian Pacific Railway meant to span from coast to coast across Canada.

The planned route tracked right through the Bow Valley in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

During construction in 1883, three railroad workers stumbled upon a series of natural hot springs on what is now called Sulfur Mountain.

These were quickly identified as a potential hotspot for tourists, leading the Canadian government to protect the area in 1885.

They later enlarged the protected area in 1887 and named it the Rocky Mountains Park of Canada, which later renamed itself Banff National Park.

This became Canada's first ever national park and the third one in the world.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) Before the arrival of European settlers, the Banff area was inhabited by indigenous peoples, including the Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot, and Kutenai.

These communities had longstanding connections to the land, relying on its resources for survival.

After the creation of the national park, the Banff Town site was quickly built and with it one of the most famous hotels even today.

And that's exactly where I was staying, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, one of Canada's most luxurious holiday destinations and a national historic site, which has been welcoming guests since 1880.

It's hosted famous people like Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, and even Queen Elizabeth.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) Right now we're just in the Banff Gondola.

This is gonna take us up to the top of Sulfur Mountain.

Now, I actually did this many years ago when I was here in the summertime during the day, but right now in January, they actually have a thing called Night Rise up here.

It's a really cool light show that illuminates the top of the mountain.

We're gonna be heading up there, checking out Night Rise, and then also eating at the Sky Bistro at the top.

Night Rise honors the Sacred Mountains in a collaboration with the Stoney Nakoda people and Moment Factory.

It's spread out across multiple floors at the top of the mountain, each having a different experience with lights and sounds, and it's really fun for people of all ages.

I absolutely loved this activity.

It was one of my favorite nighttime activities, and I also really enjoyed that it was in partnership with the indigenous community.

At the top of the mountain, there are also two restaurants, a shop, and a coffee bar where you can have dinner, hot drinks, or cocktails.

(upbeat music continues) Good morning, it is day two here in the Canadian Rockies, and today we are heading over to Lake Louise to the Lake Louise Ski Area, which is one of North America's largest ski areas.

There's four gigantic back bowls, I think 11 lifts in a gondola, and I'm really excited to check out this mountain.

(gentle music) You've probably heard of Lake Louise, a glacier lake famous for its summertime turquoise waters, which is usually dotted with canoes and surrounded by people hiking up some of the nearby trails.

But what you may not know is that just down the street is one of the most beautiful ski areas in the Rockies.

And after skiing here, it's certainly one of my new favorites.

It takes about 45 minutes to drive to Lake Louise from Banff and it really is an absolute must when visiting this area.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) There is nothing more in Canadian in the winter than going ice skating.

So now that we are done skiing for the day, we've hopped on over to the Chateau Lake Louise and the beautiful ice covered Lake Louise to do some ice skating.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) When you haven't ice skated in about 25 years, it's not the quickest relearning, but it's a lot of fun.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music fades) (upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) This lake brings back so many great memories because I was actually right here in the summer about nine years ago, filming one of my very first YouTube videos on these national parks right here, Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and it's so great being back here, especially just with the beautiful winter weather that we're having, and I'm having so much fun exploring.

There's lots more coming up in this video, so don't go anywhere.

I promised you some ice climbing, and that is exactly where we're heading next, so I hope you brought some ice axes.

We're gonna need it.

(gentle music) (gentle music continues) We have come out to ice climb today with a guide from Yamnuska Adventures.

He's just heading up this waterfall to set some ropes for us, and then we're gonna give it a try.

Now, both of us have actually ice climbed before, but it's been a long time, so we're really excited to get out on the ice.

If you've tried rock climbing and don't mind the cold, I highly recommend trying out ice climbing.

Not only is it super fun, but it's a unique way to experience the winter landscapes.

And honestly, what's cooler than climbing up a waterfall?

Now, our guide provided helmets, crampons, ice picks, climbing harnesses, and equipment for this adventure, and it's super doable for anyone that's a newbie.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) Overall thoughts?

- Cold but fun.

- We had a great time up there.

Time for more adventures.

(gentle music continues) Good morning.

I am so excited for today's adventure.

We are actually leaving Banff and we are heading up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park.

And along the way, we're gonna be making a bunch of stops.

We're gonna be stopping at frozen waterfalls, some of the amazing Alpine lakes that, during the winter, are covered in ice.

We'll be doing a couple short hikes, and I have a feeling that this is gonna be absolutely spectacular.

I've actually never been able to drive this road, even on my summer trips to this area, so I am really excited.

It is supposed to be one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the world, and come winter, it is covered with snow.

It can be a bit treacherous, so I'm gonna be taking it slow and we're gonna be making a lot of pit stops to see the scenery.

My first stop was to Johnston Canyon, one of the most popular winter hikes in Banff that takes you along metal boardwalks through a limestone canyon to marvel at the frozen river and waterfalls.

After Johnston Canyon, I headed onto the Icefields Parkway.

This has been called one of the most beautiful drives on the planet, connecting Lake Louise with Jasper.

It started with more than a hundred glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, and forests.

But keep in mind, in the winter, driving conditions can be treacherous.

Snow tires or chains are required in winter.

And if you've never driven on snow covered roads, I would definitely recommend taking a tour of this and not driving yourself.

The views along this roadway are stunning though.

And if you're like me, you'll be stopping a lot to take pictures and walk on some of the snowy trails and frozen lakes.

(gentle music) Peyto Lake Overlook was one of my favorites.

This can be accessed via a short trail through the snow.

The viewpoint looks over Peyto Lake and the surrounding glaciers and mountains and the summertime at this place is absolutely mobbed with people, but as you can see, in the winter, the people are few and far between, and it's just you and the mesmerizing views.

After walking to the Peyto Lake Overlook, I headed down to the lake itself, where the clouds were slowly rolling by, making for a beautiful setting to have some fun and get some goofy shots playing in the snow.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) My next stop was to Abraham Lake, famous for its ice bubbles.

Now, this is a manmade lake and the ice bubbles are actually formed from methane gas.

It starts when bacteria feeds on the large amounts of decaying plant matter on the lake's bottom.

And as this process releases methane gas, it's then trapped in the lake's ice until it melts in the spring.

Jasper National Park is home to several hundred glaciers, and many can be seen while driving along the Icefields Parkway.

The glaciers are believed to be between 45 and 120 million years old.

And sadly, climate change is causing these glaciers to retreat, happening to all of the glaciers in the park, which is something I saw firsthand while visiting the Columbia Icefield.

(gentle music) As you can see, it is just starting to snow here, just adding to the spectacularness of this Canadian Rockies road trip.

So far along the Icefields Parkway, I have just been blown away.

Peyto Lake was beautiful, that overlook, and I'm gonna show you a photo of what this lake looks like in the summertime, because it is just this turquoise color of blue that just will blow your mind.

But right now in this season, it's just a winter wonderland.

Everything colored in white, those slow moving clouds that we got to track across the lake were just absolutely spectacular, too.

I've got a few more stops, namely one really spectacular frozen waterfall.

And then when we get to Jasper, we are gonna be hiking up a narrow river gorge that is covered in ice.

(gentle music) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) The park's ecosystems range from dense forests and alpine meadows to crystal clear lakes and powerful rivers.

And come winter, these become a frozen palace of ice and snow.

The habitats of the Canadian Rockies support an immense amount of wildlife, with iconic species like the grizzly bear, moose, elk, and bighorn sheep.

And the bighorn sheep in particular are one of the best kept secrets of the park and one of the more common winter species to spot.

There are somewhere around 3,000 in the park and they can often be seen along the Icefield Parkway.

Elk are another common species that you can spot in the winter, loving the open areas where digging down for grass is less difficult.

They're often seen near the towns of Banff and Jasper.

(gentle music) Continuing north, I ended my day at the Jasper Park Lodge for a relaxing evening in another one of Canada's most amazing national parks.

Good morning, I am now in the midst of Jasper National Park, and last night I actually spent the night at the Jasper Park Lodge, which is a Fairmont property.

Very nice and highly recommended if you come up this way, which you should.

This morning, I am heading out to Maligne Canyon to do an ice walk.

This is actually also a really popular tour for people, so if you don't wanna do it self-guided, you can actually hire a tour guide and they'll take you out along the river to see some frozen waterfalls and to an ice cave.

Maligne Canyon is the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park.

Hikers can explore the views down into the canyon on a trail that traverses over a series of bridges.

And for the adventurous, you can actually head down into the frozen canyon floor with waterfalls and icicles frozen at every turn.

You will need proper equipment to do this track, which includes crampons or MICROspikes, warm waterproof clothes, and helmets are also highly recommended, too.

(gentle music) This canyon is another really great place to ice climb, and there were several groups enjoying the frozen falls as I walked through the canyon.

This place really reminded me a lot of The Narrows in Zion National Park in Utah, except completely frozen, and I really loved it so much marveling at the sparkling ice and the towering icicles that sparkled like jewels in the light.

(gentle music continues) This walking through Maligne Canyon on the frozen river has definitely been one of my favorite highlights.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) Next stop is this beautiful lake, which is called Pyramid Lake, and there's a fun little island that you can walk over to called Pyramid Island, and in the summertime, there's a little foot bridge, but right now I'm just walking on the lake.

(gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) After Pyramid Lake, I headed back towards Calgary for two of my last adventures in the Canadian Rockies.

This next one was taking us underground into one of Canada's largest cave systems.

This was my first adventure here in the Canadian Rockies where I wouldn't need to be so bundled up.

That's because within this cave system, the temperature remains around a stable 50 degrees.

I was heading into a cave called Rat's Nest Cave.

It's actually Canada's fourth longest cave at over four kilometers.

And unlike many of the caves I've explored before, this one has no lights and no stairs.

The cave system, like much of the Rockies, was formed from limestone.

And inside it, I found plenty of flowstone, stalactites, stalagmites, and even some old animal bones.

It was such a fun way to spend the afternoon, and I highly recommend this for people that are looking for a very unique and different kind of adventure.

My last stop on my visit to the Canadian Rockies was to the Yamnuska Wolf Dog Sanctuary.

This place is a sanctuary for wolf dogs.

Some of them are up to 70% wolf, and it was actually started by a woman who was, at the time, in her early 20s.

She had adopted a wolf dog and quickly realized that they were extremely difficult to take care of and that most people didn't have the time, the resources, or even the space to be able to take care of an animal like this.

So she started the sanctuary and now she has 43 resident wolf dogs, some other adoptable animals as well.

And it's really to drive public awareness and education around wolf dogs, and they hope in the future to also help with wolf protection in the wild.

I really enjoyed visiting this place.

You're not allowed to pet any of the wolf dogs, but you can just sit quietly in their enclosures while you learn about some of the interesting facts about wolf dogs.

And if you're a wolf lover like me, or even a dog lover, I definitely recommend adding this to your list.

(gentle music continues) Those wolf dogs were such spectacular creatures and I really enjoyed learning about them.

This whole trip has been fantastic, and I just wanna thank you for coming along this journey from Banff National Park through Jasper and to the outskirts of Calgary here.

I'm sad to say that this episode is coming to a close, but I hope that this spirit of a adventure here in the winter will inspire you to get out and explore something new, discover a new destination, or try a new activity.

I'll see you in the next adventure.

Make sure you stay tuned so you don't miss where we head next.

As always, I'm Alice Ford.

Never stop exploring.

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