The Banff Mountain Festival

Winter is most definitely here. I arrived back in Calgary earlier this week after spending a lovely few days in Halifax, where the weather was mild, the fall colours were beautiful, and the air smelled like the sea. But in Calgary, a winter storm had come through, causing havoc on the roads, and casting a gloomy mood to the week. Winter was here to stay.

But alas, Calgary and the mountains are still amazing in the winter. Why stay gloomy when there’s so much to do! Case in point, the Banff Mountain Festival started today, so Robbie and I headed out to Banff to check it out. First on the agenda: wander Banff Avenue, get something to eat, and peruse Atmosphere. Then, it was off to the Banff Centre for the festival.  It was clear that Banff has quite the thriving arts and culture scene! I guess I never paid much attention to that before. We looked around the Mountain Art and Craft sale, and then waited for the “Photography on Foot” event, which was an exploration of mountain photography in and around the Banff Centre. Truthfully, after seeing some photos of the Birds of Paradise of New Guinea, we decided we were too cold and ditched the tour. Photography on Foot FAIL! But it was still a fun event. After taking some photos of our own and browsing through Monod’s and Atmosphere (again!), it was time to hit the road and head back to Calgary.

It was a short trip out to the mountains, but it did confirm one thing to me. I’m so fortunate to live so close to the mountains. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the mountains and the scenery are just gorgeous. The snow and fog among the trees and the mountain tops certainly add a completely different feel to the landscape. I think there will be many more winter adventures to come!

Author: rickohikes

Avid hiker, mountain lover and fitness enthusiast with insatiable wanderlust. Usually battling with an injury and my mental health, but I always persevere! View all posts by rickohikes