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It’s almost time for the annual Headbanger festival in Radium Hot Springs! “What is headbanging?” you ask. No, it’s not heavy metal music. Instead, this festival celebrates the bighorn sheep that literally bang their heads against each other each fall. This tradition is part of the fall rutting season. Bighorn sheep live and roam freely in Radium, and this festival November 2-4 is a great opportunity to see the action.

Photo Courtesy of James Anderson

The bighorn sheep are the highlight of the weekend, but don’t miss the engaging presentations from Parks Canada. The weekend also includes a workshop on smart phone photography, a hike, and an art class. Refer to the details below for the complete schedule and prices. Registration closes Friday, October 26, so sign up soon!

Oh, and did we also mention there will be food? Check out the menu below to see what tasty treats are planned for the weekend.

Of course, you can also explore the charming town of Radium while you’re there. Soak in the hot springs, relax as you gaze at the beautiful mountain scenery, or take a walk on the Sinclair Canyon hiking trails. Radium is always a fun town to visit, and the exciting Headbanger Festival is just one more reason to love it.

The summer 2017 Kenow Mountain Wildfire burned 19,303 hectares within Waterton Lakes National Park – just over onethird of the park’s area. As a result, about half of Waterton is presently closed to public access. Fire is a natural and required element in this landscape. While Parks Canada regroups and nature rejuvenates, you still have opportunities to enjoy time in Waterton, where mountains and prairie meet.

Bison Paddock – To reach the viewpoint, follow Hwy 5 and Hwy 6 to the north boundary of the park. The 300 m viewpoint trail is wheelchair accessible.

The fescue grass and wildflowers of the Bison Paddock prairie are a remnant of the natural vegetation of the northern interior plains where, in 1790, as many as 60 million bison roamed. The accounts of white explorers describe having to wait days for migrations of the animals to pass. When horses and rifles appeared on the bison’s range, the species was subjected to a senseless slaughter. Settlers burned habitat and ploughed it. Diseases imported by domestic cattle also took a toll. By 1890, the population of the plains bison had dropped to 1090. The decimation was a tragedy unparalleled in Canadian history. Coupled with white settlement and the creation of reserves, the eradication of wild bison spelled the end of traditional ways for First Peoples of the plains.

Walking Coyote saved the plains bison from extinction when he captured animals in southern Alberta in 1874. He sold some of these bison to two ranchers in Montana. In 1907, the Canadian government purchased 716 bison from the captive Montana herd. Descendants of these animals now constitute the exhibition herd at Waterton, established by Parks Canada in 1952. The herd typically numbers between 12 and 20. As the Kenow Mountain fire advanced in September 2017, Parks Canada evacuated the bison. The fire destroyed the handling facility. It is not known when the bison will be returned, but the grasslands, naturally regulated by fire and in full view from the viewpoint, will soon recover.

Waterton Lakes National Park

Kootenai Brown’s Grave – John Kootenai Brown epitomized the “wild west” of the 1800s. He served with the British Army in India and prospected for Cariboo gold. He ran whiskey, and serving as a Pony Express rider, his pre-Waterton life was an encyclopaedia of adventure. Brown first saw the Waterton Lakes in 1865. He returned three years later to settle near the mouth of Blakiston Creek, the first of five locations where he lived in what is now Waterton.

Brown’s idyllic life of guiding and trapping ended in the 1890s. He witnessed the demise of the bison. Increasing numbers of visitors began to threaten other wildlife. Ranchers pressured the government to set aside land in 1895 – the Kootenay Lakes Forest Park Reserve, the forerunner of Waterton.

At the age 71, Brown became the park’s first employee and guardian; a position he held for three years. The park’s area was then increased thirty-fold requiring a younger man in the patrol saddle. Brown was buried in 1916 where this trail ends, on the shore of Lower Waterton Lake, between the graves of his two wives, Olivia and Isabella.

Access the trail on the east side Hwy 5, 3 km south of Hwy 6, 5.4 km north of Waterton Park village. The path leads gently downhill for 500 m through fescue prairie. There is a bike lock-up at the trailhead.

Chief Mountain Highway – The 22.5 km drive along Chief Mountain Highway between Hwy 5 and the US border offers panoramic views of Waterton’s front-range peaks.

The highway skirts the eastern edge of the park, and forms part of the parks boundary. The landscape is a mosaic of grassland and wetlands; the kettle lakes provide important habitats for ungulates and migratory birds. At km 15.4, you may stop at Chief Mountain Overlook, which grants an impressive view of the Waterton Valley to the northwest, and Chief Mountain to the south. Further south, the highway crosses the Belly River.

Nínaiistáko is the Blood (Kainai First Nation) name for Chief Mountain. It means, “mountain that stands apart.” It’s an apt label; the mountain’s east face rises 457 m above the plain and dominates the landscape. Chief Mountain is at the leading edge of the Lewis Thrust, one of the larger on Earth. It slid 140 km during creation. In geologic terms, Chief Mountain is a klippe – the remnant of the eroded, leading edge of the thrust sheet. The peoples of the Blackfoot Confederacy consider Nínaiistáko a sacred place. If you plan to enter the US at Chief Mountain Border Crossing, ensure you have proper ID.

By: Graeme Pole

The 2017 Kenow Wildfire impacted Waterton Lakes National Park areas and facilities. To find out what is currently open and closed in the park, please visit pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/waterton/visit/ideale_best

Our annual photo contest includes a “Voting Category” where readers can vote for their favourite photo. We recently heard back from the winner of the 2016-2017 fan favourite contest. Katherine Kelly had received the most votes for her photo below:

“Baby’s First Family Vacation” by Katherine Kelly

Katherine won a 2 Night Getaway to Kananaskis Country at Nakoda Resort & Casino. After using part of her prize package, she wrote to us with this update:

We took the trip two weeks ago (march 23-24) and used the prize vouchers. Thank you!!!!! My husband had a business trip to Calgary so we were able to escape the Texas heat and experience Calgary snow.

We enjoyed our 2 night stay at the Stoney Nakado resort and their buffet dinner + two breakfasts. The manager of the place actually hung out with my husband two nights in a row. He is American and always on the lookout for Americans who go up there. He asked how we ended up at his place, it’s usually only Canadians that go there. My American husband told the guy about your contest. Thank you again for the prize! We will use the helicopter voucher later since there was no expiration date on it. Thank you!!!!!!!!

Kat Kelly

We’re so glad to hear that Katherine and her husband enjoyed their getaway! Thank you to Nakoda Resort & Casino for their sponsorship and helping to make this amazing prize a possibility.

Stay tuned for details on our 2018-2019 photo contest, now housed on our Experience Travel Guides website.

At noon on Tuesday April 10th, 2018,  Bob Harris Met with James Anderson (pictured on the right in the photo below) the winner of 12th Annual Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest, at the offices of Banff Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort in Calgary, where Jason Tamagi (pictured on the left), their Director of Sales & Marketing presented James with his prize package.

James won the coveted Judges Gold Medal for his entry, appropriately titled “A Touch of Gold” (pictured below)

Mr. Anderson’s prize includes:

• 3-night stay in a Premier Room at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge
• Complimentary Gondola Tickets
• 2 –hr Hosted Trail walk for 4
• $100 gift card

Although Sunshine Village is well known for its skiing, there are lots of great things to do there year round. Since the ski season lasts until May 21st, you’ve still got time to hit the slopes. Other resorts are closing for the season, but there’s over a month left of Sunshine’s spring skiing.

For anyone seeking a thrill, you’ll want to visit Sunshine’s Wild West ski run. The terrain is so variable that it doesn’t open every year. Thanks to this season’s great snow, the extreme freeride zone is open for all you adrenaline junkies!

No matter what the slope conditions are, you can attend the Untracked Concert Series on the weekends. Your Sunshine Spring Pass is your all-access pass to the Rockies’ coolest events like these concerts. Performances from the Darenots, The Static Shift, Middle Coast, Micheal Bernard Fitzgerald, and Bust and the Bass are all coming up.

We received a number of fabulous entries in our 2017-2018 Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest, and we’re pleased to announce the winners! The winning categories include the Voting Category and the Judges Category, and we also want to recognize the Honourable Mentions.

Voting Category Winner

Our readers chose “Morning in the Clouds” by Tricia Reid as the Voting Category winner. This photo has a striking other-worldly quality, and it received a total of 602 votes.

We’re sending Tricia two Ultimate Explorer Passes courtesy of Brewster (now known as Pursuit) for her prize. Each pass has a retail value of $192 and will provide Tricia with access to four of the iconic attractions in the mountain national parks:

• Banff Gondola
• Banff Lake Cruise
• Glacier Adventure, and
• Glacier Skywalk

“Morning in the clouds” – by Tricia Reid

Judges Category Winners

Our First Place Judges Category winner features a breathtaking combinations of textures and colours. Congratulations to James Anderson for winning! His beautiful photo, “A touch of Gold” captures Mount Lougheed as a backdrop to the Bow River lined with golden trees of fall.

The grand prize is a Sunshine Village Getaway (with a retail value of approximately $1,500!) It consists of:

• 3 nights in a Deluxe Room for a family of 4
• Dining Room(s) Gift Certificate
• Gondola Passes for 4
• Interpretive Guided Hike Sunshine Meadows

“A touch of Gold” – by James Anderson

The second place prize goes to Kananaskis Creek, submitted by Moe Haimour The vivid red colours make a striking contrast to the white snow. We also love how the rushing water contrasts with the sharp texture of the pine needles.

Moe has won a Dream Getaway to Radium Hot Springs. The Radium Getaway prize package consists of:

• 2 night stay at Cobblestone Creek Cottage & Lodging Co
• Pool Passes for Radium Hot Springs
• Round of Golf for 2 people mid-week at the Radium Course

“Kananaskis Creek” – by Moe Haimour

Our judges chose “Not enjoying the ride” for the third place prize. Tony LePrieur took this striking wildlife photo, which captures an owl holding a gopher mid-flight.

We’ll send a couple of rafting gift certificates left (each valued at $100) to Tony for his prize.

“Not enjoying the ride” – by Tony LePrieur

Honourable Mentions

Lastly, we want to acknowledge our two honourable mention entries. These photos also capture the essence of the beauty and adventure found in the Canadian Mountain parks, and they deserve recognition, too.

The first Honourable Mention is “Lake Louise from a different angle.” Gabriel Fiorenzano took this photo depicting the challenge and excitement of ice climbing, along with the beauty of snow-covered Lake Louise.

Lake Louise from a different angle” – by Gabriel Fiorenzano

Our second Honourable Mention is “Smokey Sunset at Pyramid Lake,” by Christine Newman. This serene scene shows canoes resting on a dock at the end of day, and has beautiful blue, yellow, and orange colours.

“Smokey Sunset at Pyramid Lake” – Christine Newman

Thank you again to everyone who entered and voted! Stay tuned for our 2017-2018 Photo Contest. Meanwhile, we encourage you to enter the Calgary Photo Contest, which is open until May 1, 2018.

We have some terrific prize packages lined up for the winners of our Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest, but we decided to award a bonus early bird prize. We did a random draw of all the entries submitted by Sunday, February 4, and the winning entry is…Hiking Outside Banff.

Hiking outside Banff – Heather Parsons

Congratulations to Heather Parsons, who took the winning photo! We’re sending her 4 adult day passes for Sunshine’s current ski season. Thank you to everyone who has already entered the Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest! The contest closes February 28, so be sure to enter soon for a chance to win a getaway to Sunshine Village, a getaway to Radium, and more. You can submit an unlimited amount of entries.

Remember to vote for your favourite entry, too!

Enter our Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest by 11:59 pm MST on Sunday, February 4 to win four adult day passes for Sunshine’s current ski season! We’re offering this surprise early bird prize in addition to the other prize packages that we’ll be giving away after the contest ends on February 28.

Skiing at Banff Sunshine Village

Sunshine’s ski season is in full force right now. During the past week, Sunshine Village got over 63 cm of powder-licious snow. Twenty cm came down on Monday night alone! You won’t want to miss the opportunity to win ski passes for this fabulous ski season.

Entries are unlimited, so submit as many photos of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks as you like!

Enter our Experience the Mountain Parks Contest soon to win one of our amazing prizes, including a Sunshine Village Getaway. The contest ends on February 28, so submit your entries as soon as possible for more opportunities to win the Reader’s Choice award. There is no limit to the number of photos you can enter.

Our publisher Bob and his wife at Sunshine Meadows

As a special bonus incentive for entering early, all the contestants who have entered by 11:59 pm MST on Sunday, February 4th will be entered in a draw to win 4 adult day passes for Sunshine’s current ski season. Each ticket has a retail value of $99.

Each photo taken in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks will be considered for the Judges Award Grand Prize. This incredible package will make for a memorable vacation. It includes:

Sunshine Village Getaway

• 3 nights in a Deluxe Room for a family of 4
• Dining Room(s) Gift Certificate
• Gondola Passes for 4
• Interpretive Guided Hike Sunshine Meadows

About a $1,500 value to be given to the prize winner in the form of a letter or gift certificate. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to win a getaway to this scenic, peaceful destination.

Take time to enjoy a quite moment at the Monarch Lookout. Photo Courtesy of Dan Evans.

We’re pleased to announce that the winner of our first-ever Mountain Parks Selfie Contest picked up her prize this week! Tricia Read stopped by The Camera Store when she was in Calgary on Tuesday. As the Grand Prize Winner, Tricia received a Nikon D3400 camera (valued at $649), courtesy of The Camera Store. We’d like to express our hearty appreciation to The Camera Store’s store continued support for our photo contests over the past 12 years.

2017 EMP Selfie Winner Tricia Read with Ron Bubnich

Check out The Camera Store’s Boxing Day sale from 9AM – 5 PM Tuesday, December 26 for some great deals on your own gear. In addition to having a huge sale on major brands, they will also hand out gift certificates valued between $10 and $500 to the first 50 people in line. For extra festivity points, wear your Christmas PJ’s or ugly Christmas sweater. If you do, you’ll also be entered into a draw for a boxing Day prize pack!

Thank you to everyone who entered our Photo Contests and Selfie Contests in 2017. The Dinosaur Trails Photo Contest, the Calgary’s Parks ‘n’ Paths Photo Contest, and the Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest and are all still open. Enter them for the chance to win other great prizes! Here’s a bonus tip: the first two contests also feature prizes from The Camera Store!

Tricia Read’s 2017 winning entry: “Big smiles”