Planning trip to Canadian Rockies - any suggestions?

beabatesbeabates Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
edited March 15, 2005 in Wildlife
Planning the last week in June for about a week. Any suggestions on what lenses to take? I have nikon gear (D2H AFS lenses and VR's) What focal lengths would be most useful?

Will there be wildlife? Any here been there and offer tips on what, when and where to shoot.

Last time I was allowed out like this was the Pacific Northwest - I had a ball!
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Comments

  • ShakeyShakey Registered Users Posts: 1,004 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2005
    Where are you going exactly? I can give you a lot of tips.

    Tim
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited March 14, 2005
    Between Tim and I we should be able to give you lots of tips - but you won't see them all in a week, so let us know where you are starting, and how you are travelling.


    And expect wildlife, at least around Jasper. I do not know what impact the wildlife corridors around Banff highway have had.

    ann

    My Galleries     My Photography BLOG
    Ramblings About Me
  • beabatesbeabates Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
    edited March 14, 2005
    Here's my initial plan:
    I am flying into Calgary and renting a car. I suppose up the Trans Canada highway is the way I will travel. My goal is to see as much of the Southern part as tine allows. Actually its not that I want to see it all, I will be traveling alone so I can take my time, get off the main road and get my pictures. I plan to start very early each day and shoot until very late. I have reservations about 30 miles from Banff so I hope to use it as my central point to work from.

    Any and all information or suggestions would be very much appreciated!

    Brad.
    Ann McRae wrote:
    Between Tim and I we should be able to give you lots of tips - but you won't see them all in a week, so let us know where you are starting, and how you are travelling.


    And expect wildlife, at least around Jasper. I do not know what impact the wildlife corridors around Banff highway have had.

    ann
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited March 15, 2005
    Hi Brad

    Well, Tim lives in Calgary and so is on Banff's doorstep. I am in Edmonton, and so am about 31/2 hrs drive from Jasper. Until you are here, it is hard to imagine the enormity of this place. We've just returned from soccer provincial championships - in Lethbridge - a 6 hour drive from here and still in our province.

    Anyway, if you are staying near Banff you have lots of potential places to see.
    Here is a link to my gallery from a vacation 3 years ago now - 8 days or so, I believe, starting in Kananaskis Provincial Park and travelling to Golden B.C and on to Jasper:
    http://www.pbase.com/canadian_ann/rockies

    and from my recent trip to Jasper this Feb.:
    http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/gallery/394852

    Lake Louise is a must see, I love to do various day hikes in Kananaskis Park, really the list is endless. Have a look at the pics and feel free to ask more questions.

    ann

    My Galleries     My Photography BLOG
    Ramblings About Me
  • ShakeyShakey Registered Users Posts: 1,004 Major grins
    edited March 15, 2005
    Well first of all stay off the Trans Canada as much as possible if time is not an issue.
    Sometimes you need to take it if your destination requires you to take it and the views are spectacular as well. However there are better routes.

    Lets start at Calgary. You can take numerous routes to get west . Lets explore the obvious
    Highway 1 aka the Trans Canada. Calgary to Banff it is four lanes of 110 posted speed limit -140 km real world speed freeway to the Rocky’s Fast until you reach the Banff Gates then it is a more moderate 90km.

    Alternatives, take the 1A through to Canmore more scenic slower but more twisty road.

    Take Highway 1 to the Highway 40 turn off and go through Kananaskis to Secondary route 762 (The Smith Dorrien Spray Lakes Trail)
    Link here
    http://www.canmorekananaskis.com/sightseeing/Maps/smith_dorrien_spray_trail_map.html

    This route takes you by Barrier Lake along the Kananaskis River past Olympic venue Mount Nakiska to the upper and lower Kananaskis Lakes where you turn on to the gravel road 762, which takes you a back route to Canmore. Here you will see wildlife and the road is very good as gravel roads go. Here is a picture of Spray Lakes.
    7445130-M.jpg

    Now if you are not in a hurry you can elect to stay at some of the fine lodgings in Kananaskis Village and day trip from there. Lots of hiking and other outdoor pursuits.

    Anyhow I am digressing. Back to Smith Dorrien trail which ends up or starts depending on which way you go, over the town of Canmore and when I mean over I mean over.
    A windy gravel road precariously carved into the mountain winds its way down to Canmore (Banff park gates start at the west end of Canmore). Not too many tourists know this road and it is well worth the diversion. And any regular car can easily drive this route.
    Here is a link to a very nice site of a Local Photographer that will give you some ideas of what you can expect.
    http://majosrnik.erbak.com/

    Okay that’s enough for now take a boo at the links I provided and If you are interested I can outline many more side routes or must sees. Feel free to email me emailtotim@shaw.ca
    I am not too knowledgable about Jasper but I am sure Ann can fill you in on that Jewel of the Rockies.

    Cheers

    Tim
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