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12th October 2004.

Spray River Trail to Goat Creek; 19 km one way, total height gain 360 m (1,200 ft).

 

After ten days of beautiful Canadian scenery and weather, Banff National Park was the setting for a serious mountain bike ride. I hired a bike, helmet etc, for only twenty three Canadian dollars, approx eleven pounds, not a price you would find at home.  I took advice on the route to take and off I went to the start of the trail. The town of Banff is set amongst the majestic snow capped Rocky Mountains and the Spray River Trail starts at the splendour of the Banff Springs Hotel.

 

The path was wide, compacted and undulating and overlooked the clear water of the Spray River below. Dark green pine forests, with small patches of golden yellow stood below the blue/grey mountains and bright blue sky. The path climbed gradually, until it opened into a flat valley, where the junction of the Spray River Loop and the Goat Creek Trail started. From here the path narrowed and the surface changed to loose stone. The pace slowed as the path wound its way up the tree lined trail, crossing fast flowing stony streams, where the occasional animal trail dissected the track.  Most of the time, I was unable to see the mountain tops due to the closeness and height of the trees.  Bears, wolves and cougars live in these wilderness areas and the advice to cyclists is to make as must noise as possible to avoid encounters with the wildlife. So at the next river bridge, I strapped a bear bell onto my wrist!  By now I had covered approx 15 km and had only seen two walkers, not far from the start, so it was good to meet two fit females cycling down hill at speed.  A friendly word ensured I was heading the correct route, as only path junctions have directional signs. I was still surprised 2 km later to see a large sign, telling me I was leaving the National Park.  The path became a narrow single track and after 1.5 km I arrived at a car park, open hill side and a dusty dirt road which ran along the side of a still dark lake. A half km climb to the crest of the road afforded a stunning view of the valley below and the town of Canmore some 15 km away. The descent was fairly steep and tricky on such a loose surface and the only vehicle I meet left a large trail of dust behind it. I asked the motorist to take the essential dromaracc photo, and I snapped the mountain goats on the way down. At the Canmore Nordic Centre, site of the Calgary Winter Olympics, I found the Bow River Trail back to Banff.

 

The trail was again wide and compacted, but being downhill, was fast. The different courses for the cross country skiing, crisscrossed over and under the bridges on the way down. After 5 km it became very technical single track with, exposed roots, slippery rocks and a number of stone banks to cross. My legs were getting tired as it was tough going and after what seemed like many kilometres, two dogs coming running at me.  Worry changed to relief as three walkers came into view and they were able to tell me that the Banff golf course was only 1 km away. At last - smooth tarmac, as a road runs completely around the course.  Half the course had been closed two days before, as bear cubs were seen on the course meaning their mother would be close by. I followed the golf buggy paths, which flow along the edges of each golf hole and came upon a herd of 19 Elk grazing away on the longer grass between holes. The full splendour of the Bow River Falls came into view, with the roof of the Banff Springs Hotel glistening over the tree tops. It was a great day out and a great area for mountain biking, although I would have felt safer in a group and with a mobile phone. Distance covered was 52 km in three and a half hours. It felt like a lot longer - no watch as usual! I returned the bike and it was time for food and a long cool drink as the temperature had reached a very warm 18 degrees centigrade.