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BEAR IN MIND

Hiking Know How

Beginners Tips and Advice

If you are just starting to get out into the world of hiking, here are a few things to consider before you’re ready to get out into the wild:

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  • In order to be ready, plan your trip beforehand. Take into account weather, trail difficulty and conditions, road conditions, and travel plans.

  • Most Banff National Park trails have daily reports on avalanche conditions, road closures, and important notices, and can be found on the Parks Canada website here.

  • It is good to pick a day when the weather is expected to be nice and comfortable.

  • Know what trail you want to hike, where it is located, and how to get there before you go.

  • Bring along a suitable hiking backpack to carry water, snacks/meals, extra clothing, bug spray, ect. (Check out “What to Pack in Your Backpack” for more items you may need).

  • Make sure that you know the difficulty of the trail. Note the length, elevation, and duration of the hike and prepare your hiking backpack with the necessary equipment.

  • Wear appropriate clothing and footwear based on the weather and your hiking location (keep in mind that higher altitudes may be colder).

  • Know that it is not uncommon to spot wildlife and that respect and space should be given to all wild animals at all times.

  • Keep in mind that if you are planning to hike within a National Park you will need to purchase a park pass beforehand either online or at the toll booths before you enter the park. For more information on park passes and where to purchase them, check out the Canada government website here. For more information on park pass pricing and other park fees visit the additional information here.

Safety

Important Information to "Bear" in Mind

Unexpected events may happen at any time in our lives and it is good to keep in mind the following information when you are out adventuring:

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  • Do not hike alone. It is always a good idea to bring along a friend or family member for good company and just in case of an emergency.

  • Keep your distance from wildlife and do not interact with them. There are many different species of animals that live within the Rocky Mountains, it is important to remember not to interfere with their natural life cycle. This includes feeding, touching, or approaching an animal. Some animals may feel threatened and react in a defensive manner when approached, to avoid harm, please give the wildlife space.

  • The mountains and surrounding areas are known as bear country and it is important to keep bear spray on you at all times when hiking (and know how to use it). Make noise when travelling along, whether that is talking to your friends or singing a song. For information on what to do if you see a bear, please read “Oh My God, It’s a Bear!”

  • Although it can be tempting to jam out to some of your favorite tunes while hiking along, using headphones or listening to a speaker will decrease your awareness. It is always important to remain vigilant in case of emergencies and music can potentially block out important audio information such as the noises of wildlife nearby or the voice of another hiker. 

  • Be aware of other potentially dangerous wildlife. Bears, mountain lions, moose, elk, big horned sheep, and deer can all present a threat to humans, especially during mating, nesting, and birthing seasons.

Emergency Contacts

Who to Call in Emergency Situations

In case of EMERGENCY,

call 911 or satellite phone (403)762-4506.

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To report bear sightings and encounters, 

call Parks Canada Staff at (403) 762-1470.

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The closest hospital is Mineral Springs Hospital in the Banff Town Site located at 305 Lynx Street, Banff, Alberta; (403) 762-2222.

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Emergency Services Information: http://banff.ca/index.aspx?NID=173

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Oh My God It's A Bear!!!

What To Do If You Encounter Wildlife

The chance to see wildlife when hiking in the mountains is not an uncommon occurrence. Elk, deer, big horned sheep, bears, wolves, and cougars are just some of the larger animals of the 53 documented mammal species living within Banff National Park. Although some are more common than others, it is important to remember the following:

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  • Give all wildlife no matter how big or small, space. 

  • Respect any and all wildlife you encounter by not interacting or approaching them. Some animals may feel threatened and react in a defensive manner when approached, to avoid harm, stay at an appropriate distance away from them.

  • NEVER feed the wildlife. Artificial feeding promotes dependency on humans and encourages them to approach and move into populated areas in search for food. This can be both harmful for the animals and dangerous for humans.

  • Always have bear spray on your person (not in your backpack) and make sure you know how to use it BEFORE going out.

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Some animals are more dangerous than others. Bears, elk, and cougars can be a potential threat and may be spotted throughout the park, forcing areas to be closed if there is a threat to human safety. Elk are especially dangerous during mating (August-September) and calving (May-June) seasons. 

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It is beneficial to pay attention and follow steps to avoid an encounter, but in the event that you spot a BEAR while hiking remember to:

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  • Remain calm and immediately stop.

  • Ready your bear spray just in case the animal approaches and if it has not noticed you slowly and quietly back away.

  • If it has noticed you, remain calm, do not make loud and aggressive noises, speak softly to indicate you are not a prey item to the bear, back away slowly while making yourself look big, and do not drop your hiking backpack as it can provide protection.

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If the bear attacks in a DEFENSIVE manner, use your bear spray and if the bear makes contact with you PLAY DEAD. If the attack lasts longer than a few minutes the bear may have starting acting as a predator and so start to FIGHT BACK. 

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PREDATORY attacks are very rare. If a bear is actively stalking you along a trail and attacks, try to escape into a building, car, or up a tree, all the while FIGHT BACK and DO NOT PLAY DEAD. 

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For more information on bear safety please read the Parks Canada safe travel page here. 

Report all bear sightings and encounters to Parks Canada staff at 403-762-1470, when it is safe to do so.

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For more information on elk safety please read the Parks Canada safe travel page here.

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For more information on cougar safety please read the Parks Canada safe travel page here.

If you see a cougar or fresh signs of any carnivore activity, please leave the area immediately and call the Banff Park Dispatch at 762-1470.

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To learn more about wildlife safety and wildlife watching in Banff National Park, including safety tips, conservation, and identification, visit the Parks Canada Website here.

What to Pack

Hiking Necessities

It is always a good thing to be prepared when hiking no matter how hard the hike may be. Some typical items found in a hiking backpack may include:

  • Water

  • Snacks/Meals

  • First Aid Kit

    • Band-Aids of Varying Size

    • Antibacterial Spray/Wipes

    • Gauze

    • Scissors

    • Medical Tape

    • Pain Killers

  • Bear Spray (Make sure it is easily accessible)

  • Cell Phone

  • Bug Spray*

  • Sunscreen*

  • Compass

  • Whistle (Often found integrated into the clip on the chest strap of hiking backpacks)

  • Tissues

  • Lip Balm

  • Extra Clothing*

  • Camera

  • Binoculars

  • Rain Gear*

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* = Weather/Season dependent

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Always remember to bring an extra sweater of jacket in case of weather changes and/or emergency situations such as being stranded for a night. 

 

When hiking, there is not always access to proper garbage disposal but it is important to respect and keep our environment clean. It is convenient to bring along a small bag for you to store any garbage you accumulate through your trip until you can dispose of it properly.

Words of Wisdom

Tips from the Just Roam Crew

From our own experiences during the hiking for the Just Roam project, here are some of the Just Roam team’s tips and recommendations:

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  • If you’re planning on trying to get out and hike more than a few times, invest in a good pair of hiking runners or hiking boots.

  • Although the hike may not gain elevation on the trail, it may be higher up than normal to begin with and may be colder. Moraine Lake for example can be quite chilly on a cloudy day. This is also something to keep in mind when thinking about trail conditions. Mountains and canyons stay colder for longer periods of time, for our experiences, we found that Sundance Canyon had snow through the spring as well as the summer.

  • It is a great way to stay motivated when you go hiking with people that encourage you and keep a similar pace.

  • Take more food, water, and clothing than what you think you need.

  • Go to the washroom before you leave on the hike.

Additional Info

Information from Parks Canada

The government of Canada has established the Parks Canada Agency to help provide and distribute information about Canada. The following links can be used to find more information on various aspects of hiking:

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