I don't know if it is too late, but here goes...

1)
One of the most popular (and worthwhile) hikes is the Plain of Six Glaciers Experience at L. Louise.

The first time I did it, I didn't know I'd be going on a hike. I saw a sign by the edge of the lake:
"Tea house 6 km", and decided to walk by the side of the lake and see how far I got.

Pretty soon I was intrigued by the scenery and its changes, and was hooked. This is not one those
gruelling, boring hikes where not too much changes. One of my personal highlights was a meadow area
with Queen Anne's Lace about as high as an adult.

Eventually you wind up in high altitude tundra vegetation, and if you go past the teahouse (you don't
have to go too far past) you'll reach the end with just rocks, near the white cliff of snow and ice
that you can see from the Chateau. There, it seems almost evil, like H@ll frozen over...

Near the Tea House, there are a variety of exotic looking wild flowers.

This is not a 'backcountry hike', but the scenery and the changes are very interesting. It is quite
popular, as I mentioned - - you'll hear lots of German (not much Japanese, like in Banff) - - so you
won't be by yourself, except (recommended) maybe if you go past the Tea House.

This is at least a 4 hour round trip (if you savor it a little), but I could turn out to be 6 to 8
hours, depending on your interest and if you have slowed down with the years. It is only moderately
difficult, and not as brutal and punishing as many other hikes in the area (since a lot of it follows
the river and glacier up the valley). The most exasperating part is just before reaching the Tea
House ("Will we ever get there...")

A couple of hints: do not follow the trail to the * other * teahouse (Lake Agnes - very steep and
very boring), and, arrive at the parking lot by at least 10 or 11 AM to get a space without too much
waiting, and to get a reasonably early start on the hike, bring a camera (but nothing too heavy), a
medium sized bottle of water, and a light sweater or jacket, a walking stick can be helpful.

Ive done this hike a number of times (even half way up a couple of times in winter), but invariably
I seem to get back to the parking lot about the time it gets dark.

2)
The Buffet in the Grill Room at the Banff Springs Hotel for lunch or dinner. Also wander around the
back (or drive back a bit to get there by car) to look at the rapids, the golf courses with elk, etc.

3)
Also in Banff, there is the Sulphur Mountain Gondola experience...

4)
The town of Canmore is just outside the park gates, and there are lots more cheaper/more available
accommodations than Banff (which is only about half an hour away). Both Banff and Canmore are on
Priceline, but Lake Louise is not. This summer (7/23) I got a room at the Canmore Residence Inn
for $73 US by making a counteroffer on Priceline. Try to avoid the Gateway Inn in Canmore. I hear
the Drake Inn is very nice and quite reasonable in Canmore. If you stay in Canmore before going
into Banff, you could save one day's admission if you are paying by the day. The Grassi Lakes hike
is a nice little warm-up, across the highway from Canmore.

5)
I personally would't spend much time in Calgary.

6)
Take the 1A (old) highway from Calgary to Canmore (Banff), about an hour or less. It is much more
interesting. You can always zoom back on the Trans-Canada Highway to Calgary.

7)
The trip to Jasper is fairly interesting, at least till about half way. There is a great pass and
then the glacier further north.

8)
I'd probably pass into B.C. on one of the two main southern highways, and out the other, for a round
trip.

9)
Once in Banff park, I'd take the 1A in one direction, and the Highway 1 back in the other direction.

10)
The Johnston Canyon hike is OK (interesting), but this is where the non-hikers arrive by the busload.

Have a nice trip...


[This message has been edited by IJK (edited 06-30-2003).]