Only 5 days left to submit your best photo or video and enter our 2009 Experience The Mountain Parks Contest!

Did you check the wonderful prizes you could win?

To the new vacation planning Web site!

To HelloBC, the official travel planning Website where you’ll find lots of great information!

Leonardo DiCaprio has been spotted shopping at Cascade Plaza in Banff yesterday.
Some scenes of a new movie called “Inception” were shot in Kananaskis Country, during the past two weeks at the former ski resort called Fortress Mountain. According to some sources the shots were done as of yesterday. So we guess he and the crew are taking some time off now. The plot of the movie is not known yet and the movie will be out by the summer of 2010.
Yahoo! Another movie shot in the Canadian Rockies!

Some other big stars are part of the distribution though like Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine. Did you see one of them in town? Let us know.
Get a look on IMDB website or on the actual movie website.
Talking about filming in Alberta, you wonder whether we’re talking filming Alberta or filming in Alberta.
Watch this video –below– put together by the Alberta Film Commission and you’ll be surprised by the number of movies shot in Alberta and by the incredibly wonderful landscapes -and people- one can find. So let the stars talk about filming in Alberta!

Following on my previous post about avalanche awareness, there are some avalanche courses you might want to check.
Each year an increasing number of skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and climbers venture in the backcountry. Each year we regrettably count new people dying in avalanches.
Avalanche skills training courses exist and are essential first steps to safe winter backcountry outings. Those courses are provided by qualified Canadian Avalanche Association professionals.
There is even a snowmobile-specific course. The College of the Rockies Invermere Campus is proposing courses including avalanche terrain recognition, avalanche climatology, snow stability evaluation, alpine touring practices, avalanche accidents along with search and rescue techniques. These courses are not only geared towards professionals but also to outdoor enthusiasts looking at safety first.

Two courses – Avalanche Skills Training Level I – are already lined up and available:
So far this program was offered by Fernie Campus only but not Invermere Campus.
We checked their website but no information was given regarding this particular training course at the Invermere Campus.
So you’re among the first ones to know, we hope you’ll be the first ones to register to help you go through a safe winter.

Course #1:
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Friday, December 18, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm and
Saturday, December 19, 2009  from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Course #2:
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Friday, February 19, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm and
Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Cost is $185 and includes reference book. Students will require their own beacon, probe and shovel. Class size is limited to 16.

To register or for more information, contact the College of the Rockies at 250-342-3210.

I heard some weeks back the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA, not to confuse with the CAA, Canadian Automobile Association though) was about to re-launch their Web site. If you’ve never been there, and are planning some backcountry trip, this is a web site you’ve got to visit, and learn from. So I checked back from time to time. A few days ago it finally appeared new, well only the public and professional sections have been re-visited so far. This is a huge repository of info! I would not recommend it unless you’ve got at least 30 minutes in front of you. You can browse for hours…which might not be a good thing I admit. I got lost a couple of times and tried either the site map or the search engine to find my way back! Not a good sign, signage you might say. But don’t forget as it’s all about avalanches, you’ll easily get buried under one, information. So as I said, if you know your route, perfect, you’ll get confirmation there; if you don’t, stay calm, grab a coffee, warm up, make sure you’ve got 2 hours in front of you and prepare your outing! Indulge yourself, you won’t be deceived!
Another thing — see the video teaser above –, there is a Canmore video production company posting some neat awareness and educational videos on their Web site. Excellent initiative I thought. They say they’ll transfer this material to the Canadian Avalanche Association Web site some time at spring next year. Anyways you can get a look at it here.

So, I grabbed two videos I wanted to show you. They come from this website. I found these videos worth sharing and I liked the concept of this website. Go get a look for yourself.

This one is called “Inverse Grading Ruby Mountains, March 2005“, by Tom Waclo. (That’s an avalanche control mission~ndrl)

This other one is called “Climax Avalanche” and is about an avalanche control mission in New Zealand going bigger than expected.

8 days already passed since our last blog post.

But we’ve been pretty busy working on some new nice additions to this website. So if you haven’t come for some days, you’ll find some Kananaskis Country web cams here, 18 Kananaskis Country panoramas here, virtual tours to the Canmore Nordic Centre, and Kananaskis Country here.
As well, we’ve been updating the photos gallery of the submissions to the 2009 Photos/Videos Contest. Don’t forget to submit before December 15, 2009! There are some incredible prizes to win.
Next to come, loads of content, so stay tuned, come back every day or better, change your browser home page to www.ExperienceTheMountainParks.ca so you’ll know what’s happening live!
And you might want to follow Bob through his Twitter account, see what he’s up to. He’s got more to tell you. Bear in mind though, this chap moves fast and knows what’s happening all around!
What you can do too is comment on every single page of this website. You can also start a post on our forum. You just need to register.
Last things, you can place some classifieds, let us know about  your events, or check what’s going on around, it’s all free!
Want to get exposure, think you can be a good contributor?
Look at all the great people contributing to this community! We’re adding new names to this list almost daily.
Get in touch with us, once again it’s all free!
Any idea(s), wish-list? Let us know, and we’ll try to make it happen.
Remember, it’s YOUR website. Read our manifesto.

What started out as a realization has become a new book for one of our contributors, Carol Patterson, President of Kalahari Management, a Calgary-based ecotourism company.

“When you visit Canada’s parks with your eyes, your minds and your hearts open, you realize that you aren’t the same person you were when you left home,” Carol said. “I realized some time ago that travel had changed me. The scenery, the adventures, the people I met, the places I stayed all changed me for the better.”

This idea of being changed by travel stuck with her, and last year she decided to develop the idea. She began writing and collecting travel stories for what became “Reinventure: How Travel Adventure Can Change Your Life“, published in November of 2008 by Trafford Publishing of Victoria, B.C.
“Reinventure is not your average book of travel stories,” Carol said. “You won’t find lists of sights to see or restaurants to visit. It’s a collection of stories on how travel has transformed people and the communities they live in. Some are earth-shattering epiphanies, while others are just small adjustments; but the common factor is that if you travel with an open mind and an open heart, change is inevitable.”

“Reinventure:  How Travel Adventure Can Change Your Life“ contains 41 stories recounting Carol’s adventures and the adventures of others, with stories varying from a ghostly visitor, to an ancient hotel, to Carol finding herself on the edge of Kootenay National Park confronted by a furious deer intent on protecting her young. The stories vary from poignant to hilarious; but, in introducing each one, Carol often returns to the book’s theme of positive change through travel adventures.

“That change is not limited to people,” Carol said. “It can apply to places as well. Becoming a travel destination can have a profound effect on an area, a change that can be positive or negative, depending on how it is handled.”

Carol has taken the concept of Reinventure explored in the book and developed it into a website –  www.reinventuretravel.com.

On the website, visitors can learn more about the concept, find ways to create your own Reinventure, take a quiz on whether or not you’re ready for a Reinventure, and contribute your own Reinventure stories.

Carol Patterson heads Kalahari Management, an ecotourism consulting firm in Calgary, Alberta. As a business consultant and conference speaker, she travels for work. When she’s not working, she travels for fun.  To learn more about Karen, check out our contributors page.

I just came across an article in the Calgary Herald referring to the “unusual” questions people are asking when coming to the mountains.
This list has been compiled by Stu Back of the Banff Lake Louise Tourism Bureau. So here is an excerpt of this article with just the questions asked, have fun!

1. Are the animals with collars tame? (These animals have been fitted with tagged collars because they have had incidents with people. It is important to stay a safe distance away from wildlife.)
2. We are going into British Columbia. Do we need to change our money into Euros?
3. Can we drive our car onto a glacier anywhere? (Not to our knowledge, but you might enjoy a trip on the Ice Explorer across the Columbia Icefields.)
4. Do we need snow tires or chains to drive to Lake Louise in July?
5. Where are the igloos and the Eskimos?
6. If the Columbia Icefield melts before we get there, can we do a different excursion?
7. Can you see polar bears at the Columbia Icefield?
8. Can I walk around P.E.I. in a day?
9. Can I get from Vancouver to Toronto by driving in a day?
10. At what elevation do the deer turn to elk?
11. How much does that mountain weigh?
12. Is this all natural?
13. While working at the (Banff) Gondola on a rainy day I was asked to turn the fog off at the top so they could see.
14. While working at the Gondola, I got asked when we release the animals so they can start feeding them. I had to remind them that this wasn’t a petting zoo, the animals are wild and come out when they please — and please don’t feed them.
15. Where’s that place where I can see the bear in the cage? Can I get a photo with him?
16. If I see a bear when I’m hiking, can I just keep walking past it?
17. Can you guarantee wildlife sightings?
18. Where is the rocky mountain?
19. What’s the best trail to take a bike on to see a cougar?
20. Where are the animals kept at night?

Bonus Question: Where can I find a wife?

Have you got one you’d like to share? Please send it to us.

What would your answer be to educate these visitors? We take our knowledge for granted, don’t we?

We are a health conscious society especially here in the Bow Valley. We know a healthy and attractive body is the result of several factors. Nutrition, cardiovascular exercise, resistance training, Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi are a few of the better-known and employed elements that positively change the human physique. Not to mention all our local outdoor activities. There is one aspect of physical change that often goes overlooked.

Take a look around you today and you may notice a shocking scenario – poor posture..

We all focus on diet and exercise, which are very important, but often we neglect our posture. Consider the person who has a good diet, exercises regularly, but has very poor posture. The image is one of sickness, not health. Poor posture can spoil an otherwise positive approach to the care of the body. Beyond just the appearance, posture can affect overall health.

At one time or another I suspect you have been told to “stand up straight…watch your posture”. Hopefully, you have taken that advice. You will look better and have more energy if you do. There is much more to posture than most people realize. Your posture is the position of your ligaments, muscles, spinal bones, and the condition they are in.

A large number of adults and kids are sitting, standing or walking incorrectly to the extent that they could be creating problems without knowing it. Without good posture, your overall health and total efficiency may be compromised. The long-term effect of poor posture can affect the bodily systems (such as immune, respiratory, digestion, circulation, elimination, muscles, joints, and ligaments), a person who has poor posture may often be tired or unable to work effectively or efficiently.

How you carry yourself when at school, work, relaxing, or playing can have big effects on your health. Did youknow that just fifteen minutes of reading or typing when using the wrong position exhausts the muscles of your neck, shoulders, and upper back? “Strain issues, such as neck strain, low back pain or carpel tunnel syndrome are the most common effects of bad posture,” says Dr. Kristine Fortuna, assistant professor for the department of orthopedic surgery at Temple University in Philadelphia. “These come from overuse of the muscle.”

What Does Poor Posture Look Like.
While most of us can point out someone else with bad posture, we may not realize it in ourselves. Even if we do, we may not do anything about it. “People are aware of easy arm and wrist stretches they can do at the desk. But they don’t pay so much attention to their head’s jetting forward and their rounded shoulders,” said Dr. Al Wu a Chiropractor in Virginia. “I see lots of people with cervical thoracic strain and it’s very much related to sustained poor posture at the computer.”

Poor posture can come from many sources, including incorrect sitting and standing habits, obesity, pregnancy, an improperly arranged work environment, not enough flexibility and weak muscles. Signs that you may have poor posture include:

• Slouching and hunching your shoulders over
• Holding your head and neck forward and/or down
• Arching your lower back too much
• Commonly carrying a heavy purse or backpack on one side of your body
• Sitting on a wallet in your back pant’s pocket
• Holding a phone receiver between your neck and shoulder
• Slumping forward while seated

Good Posture Affects Your Overall Health.
Why should good posture be achieved and maintained? There are several reasons to maintain good posture: Not only do you appear taller but many posture enthusiasts claim that correct posture can instantly make you look 10 pounds lighter. In fact, without proper posture you can never achieve the flattest stomach and smallest waist possible. Compare to someone who is slumped over in his or her chair working to someone sitting tall, the difference is obvious.
Several studies have been done on posture and self-esteem / confidence. The studies have found that those who sit, stand and walk tall exude greater confidence and self-esteem. They also received more promotions at work. They stand out among crowds or groups of people. They generally have greater concentration and mental ability, usually a result of less pain and fatigue from poor posture. Correct posture exudes a more confident, competent, vigorous, youthful appearance.
Correct posture allows you to be able to use your muscles more efficiently, because your bones and joints are in proper alignment. This will result in less pain, sprains, strains, and fatigue, as your body will require less energy to move around. It will prevent your spine from becoming fixed in an abnormal position. Which can lead to constricted blood vessels and nerves, over-stressed muscles, discs, joints and organs. Correct posture can lead to optimal organ and muscle function for maximum energy, biomechanics, endurance, and vigor.
How to Check Posture.
Stand with your back to a wall. If your shoulders, butt and back of head are all touching the wall without forcing, then your posture is correct. A better way is accomplished with a partner. Both should wear shorts and either no shirt or a sports bra. Now from the front you should see that they are looking straight ahead, ears are level, shoulders are level, hips are level, knees are level, toes are straight ahead or slightly turned out.
From the side their posture requires you to use a plum line to align their earlobe over the middle of their shoulder, over their hip joint, as well as over a point roughly an inch in front of the ankle joint. Draw that line mentally; then line their body up accordingly. Shoulders should be back and down, with the chin and chest slightly up, and the waist tucked slightly in. Any deviations equal postural distortions.
Adapt Good Posture Today.
While it will take time to adapt your body to naturally assume good posture assuming you have strayed from it, you can use these tips to improve your posture today. With a little perseverance, your posture will be back on track and, remember, modeling proper posture is essential to ensure that your kids have good posture, too!
Good Posture Tips While Sitting.

• Keep both feet flat on the floor (if your feet cannot reach the floor, adjust the chair or use a footrest)
• Align your back with the back of the chair
• Don’t slouch or lean forward
• Adjust the chair so your knees are even with your hips, or slightly higher, and your arms are at a 75-90 degree angle at the elbows
• Keep your shoulders straight
• Choose an ergonomic office chair with good back support
• Get up often and stretch
• Use a an elevated document holder to limit looking down while at the computer

Good Posture Tips While Standing.

• Keep your weight on the balls of your feet, not your heels
• Let your arms hang naturally by your side
• Keep feet about shoulder-width apart
• Don’t lock your knees
• Keep your head level and in line with your neck and spine, not pushed forward
• Keep your shoulders upright and stand up straight

How’s Your Sleeping Posture?
Your posture while you sleep can make a difference in your sleep quality and your health. “Sometimes poor habits are the cause of a poor night’s sleep. Other times, it is because people sleep in a posture that puts a strain on their bodies,” says Michael Wiles, dean of the chiropractic program at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minnesota. What’s the best sleeping posture? The two best sleeping positions are the fetal position, on your side with your knees drawn up with a body pillow between your knees and arms and a little pillow under your neck, or on your back with a slight pillow under your knees and neck. These positions support the natural curves of your spine. Sleeping on your stomach may be the worst sleep posture, as experts believe it can increase back pain by exerting pressure on joints in the spine, especially the neck and low back.
Posture is the window to the spine and good health. If posture is out of balance, then the spine is out of balance, putting unhealthy pressure upon your disc’s and nervous system. Activities as subtle as sleeping, standing or walking abnormally; too more obvious traumas like emotional stress, work, auto or sports injuries, and even the birth process itself can result in spinal imbalance. Your spine is the most important factor affecting your posture. In order to have the best possible posture (and health), your spine has to be in the best possible condition. If you have an extremely bad posture and a history of back injuries or backaches, it will be good to
visit your local chiropractor for a professional assessment. He/she can advise you on how to better take care of your back and improve your posture.
The fastest way you can improve your health and appearance is by paying attention to your posture. Straighten up and start enjoying the benefits that good posture provides–today.

By Dr. Jason Young

We’re very excited to count Dr. Jason Young as one of our contributors. See our contributors page here.
Dr. Jason Young is based in Canmore.

Dr. Jason Young received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College after attending Springfield College and Colby-Sawyer College.
Dr. Jason practices chiropractic medicine in accordance with the belief that healing comes from within. He believes that the condition of a person’s structure dictates how well his or her body will function and feel. Dr. Jason works to rejuvenate their health by recognizing each person’s unique differences. He believes that educating his patients is a critical aspect of restoring their health. His knowledge, compassion and experience have resulted in success with increased patient quality of life.
Dr. Jason believes when there is interference within the body compromising its ability to maintain and heal itself, pain and ill health can result. Dr. Jason works to find that interference, remove it, and allow the body to return to optimal health.

The 2009 Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival is coming up, October 31, 2009 to November 8, 2009, don’t miss it!