2016 was a yr of many firsts for me, of attempting new issues and having new experiences.
It was additionally the yr I really fell in love with winter, making it a selected a part of my journey plans. I really like nature and being within the mountains, and nothing compares to seeing locations like that within the coldest months, when every little thing is a white winter wonderland. Chilly is gorgeous.
And nowhere does winter higher than Alberta, Canada, particularly in January.
2016 was additionally the yr I felt my coldest EVER – a balmy -30° celsius (or -22°F) in Banff. That’s NOT one thing I’m seemingly quickly to overlook.
To be completely sincere right here, I fell in love with Alberta even earlier than I arrived. It was a straightforward promote. I had seen photos of it over time on Instagram, and it regarded so much like New Zealand (besides 100 instances extra excessive) that I knew I’d adore it.
And oh boy did it dwell as much as expectations.
Its onerous for me to choose a favourite second from my time in Canada in winter, but when I needed to selected, it most likely was after I went for a dawn hike in Johnston Canyon close to Banff, which additionally occurred to be the coldest morning I had ever felt to this point.
Colder than a witch’s tit, as we are saying within the South.
It had been a transparent, nonetheless evening stuffed with stars, white walker climate as I prefer to say. Shivers. Actually.
It was so chilly after I went to mattress that evening in Banff on the Buffalo Mountain Lodge, the snow exterior didn’t look actual. It was so nonetheless and chilly, the snow was so dry it sparkled, like nothing I had ever seen earlier than. It was so dry you couldn’t even kind a snowball with it. Excellent, good powder.
It was nonetheless darkish with just a few stars twinkling earlier than the daybreak gentle started on the horizon as I layered up in my heat, cozy cabin room and packed my digicam gear. Glancing at my cellphone, I nearly couldn’t consider it when it said-30° C. I by no means felt temperatures that chilly earlier than.
Try my publish about touring in excessive climates and never destroying your issues.
The chilly was dry with no wind so it wasn’t so surprising after I went exterior to get picked up by Discover Banff Tours. No white walkers or ice spiders, a great signal.
I used to be becoming a member of in on one among their guided tours of Johnston Canyon since I used to be touring alone, an iconic spot in Banff I used to be dying to take a look at. I made certain to go on their very first early morning journey so we had the canyon to ourselves.
When you can positively go to the canyon all yr unguided, I needed to be taught concerning the space and I needed to borrow the suitable gear for it in winter. The river and waterfalls freeze in winter, and the trail is lined in snow and ice which will get compacted down and much more icy with all of the guests strolling on it, and is tremendous slippery.
When you don’t want crampons, it is best to positively borrow some ice/snow cleats that slip over your sneakers, or are offered together with heat gear for those who go on a guided tour.
I wore two pairs of thick leggings, thick wooly merino socks, and my heavy responsibility winter Parajumpers Musher jacket. My breath froze on my hair instantly and all alongside the sides of my jacket, and my iPhone died inside seconds of my taking it out of my heat pocket.
I really feel like I must also take this chance to say that it’s NOT at all times that chilly in Alberta, I believe the same old January common is round -15°C, however as a result of it’s so dry, it’s way more bearable than a moist chilly. Ugh, not my favourite.
However I’ll say I cherished expertise the icy winter wonderland of Johnston Canyon in these temperatures as a result of it made it appear much more eery, nonetheless and mystical. The dry snow sparkled within the early morning gentle and the ice appeared probably the most insane shades of blue.
Didn’t take lengthy for me to start out buzzing the Frozen soundtrack behind the group. FREAKING magical guys! Let it snow!
I used to be at all times final as a result of I couldn’t cease taking images and ogling the superb ice formations. I had by no means seen something like that earlier than! Ice and frozen waterfalls that regarded like blue stalactites in caves, I used to be in awe!
In a single part you come out on the backside of a frozen waterfall, and you may nonetheless see the water tumbling down behind the ice in probably the most mesmerizing scene.
There are two sections of observe resulting in the higher and decrease falls within the canyon, and positively do each. For those who go on a guided tour, you may heat up on the prime with sizzling cocoa (YUS!) and maple cookies (OMG YUS I really like Canada!).
You’ll most likely get the prospect to even see ice climbers on the prime too, and may even exit your self for those who’re eager (it’s enjoyable however onerous).
We spent just a few hours wandering up and down Johnston Canyon and eventually made our means out simply because the solar started to climb above the steep cliffs promising a ravishing bluebird day in Banff.
It’s onerous for locations to dwell as much as expectations while you put them on a pedestal (like I’ve the tendency to do), however oh man, did Johnston Canyon and Banff dwell as much as the hype!
I’d return in a heartbeat!
The place’s the coldest place you’ve ever been? What temperatures? Do you get pleasure from winter journey? Would you go to a frozen canyon like this? Spill!
