| You have your summer holiday booked to the | | | | walking trails which don't require boots and suitable |
| magnificent Canadian Rockies - now what? There are | | | | footwear such as trainers would suffice. High heels |
| a number of things to remember when visiting the | | | | are only suitable in the cities so leave those at home! |
| Canadian Rockies in the summer time. I have | | | | 8) Backpack: Bring out a backpack with a breathable |
| provided 15 tips below: | | | | mesh as it is more comfortable in warmer |
| 1) Passport: If you are travelling from outside of | | | | temperatures when hiking. |
| Canada, even from the U.S., you now require a | | | | 9) Knowledge: One of the main attractions in the |
| passport to enter Canada. You don't need to | | | | Canadian Rockies is the wildlife. A the name indicates, |
| pre-arrange your visitor visa from some countries. | | | | these animals are "wild" so give them plenty of room. |
| For more information on which countries require you | | | | An animal as small as an innocent ground squirrel can |
| to have a Visa, visit Canada Immigration and | | | | give you a nasty bite. In the National and Provincial |
| Citizenship | | | | parks there are large fines if you feed the wildlife as |
| 2) Airport hand luggage: Make sure you don't pack | | | | you can do the animal more harm than good. |
| any sharp objects in your hand luggage if you are | | | | Know what to do if you have a bear encounter and |
| travelling to Canada by air. Most airport websites | | | | be prepared for a much rarer cougar (or mountain |
| have information on what you should pack. | | | | lion) encounter. These can happen quite close to |
| 3) Sunscreen: You will be at higher elevations in the | | | | most Rocky Mountain townsites. Visit the Parks |
| Rocky Mountains which means you will be closer to | | | | Canada guide to safety and conservation and contact |
| the sun and it's harmful rays. Lake Louise is at 1,536 | | | | the local information office before you head out into |
| m (5,039 feet), it is the highest permanent | | | | the back country for bear sightings. If there is a bear |
| settlement in Canada (Banff is the highest town) so | | | | in an area, avoid that area.During the summer months |
| make sure you slip, slop, slap! (Slip on a shirt, slop on | | | | in the Canadian Rockies, the bears love to feast on |
| sunscreen and slap on a hat!). | | | | the buffalo berry bush. The berries are bright red |
| Remember areas like the tops of your ears and the | | | | (but can also be bright orange). Know what these |
| underside of you chin and nose if you plan to go | | | | plants look like and if you are in an area with a lot of |
| onto Athabasca glacier. | | | | these bushes, make plenty of noise or turn around. |
| 4) Moisturiser: The air in the Canadian Rocky | | | | 10) Preparation: Be prepared for everything. Health |
| Mountains is very dry and you will notice this straight | | | | care is expensive here if you don't have travel |
| away. Avoid dry ski irritations by using moisturiser in | | | | insurance with medical coverage. If you injury |
| the mornings and evenings. There is now a range of | | | | yourself in the back country, you may need to |
| moisturisers such as product lines just for men. Don't | | | | helicopter to fly out so insurance a must. |
| pack these in your carry on luggage as they may be | | | | 11) Camera: Have plenty of memory if you bring out |
| taken of you (see point 2) | | | | your digital camera and remember your charger. |
| 5) Clothing: Make sure you bring out a good | | | | 12) Phone: If you are bringing in your mobile phone |
| breathable waterproof just in case. Alberta is the | | | | from outside of Canada, be sure to contact your |
| sunniest province in Canada, but west coast locations | | | | telecommunications provider and ask to have the |
| are much wetter. | | | | "international roaming" function turned on. Check the |
| Bring out a breathable fleece too - we have been | | | | rates before your leave as using your phone in |
| known to have sleet and snow on the mountain tops | | | | Canada can be costly. |
| in August. This is rare but does happen. Mountain | | | | 13) Travel adapter: If you intend to bring out any |
| weather can change suddenly so be prepared and | | | | electronic equipment remember to bring out a travel |
| the weather is usually cooler on the mountain tops. | | | | adapter. Purchase this in your country of origin as |
| Swim gear is recommended too as some hotels have | | | | buying one in Canada may be hard to find to fit your |
| pools and there are hot springs to soak in! | | | | plug. |
| 6) Water: A light weight water bottle is a must as | | | | 14) Credit card: Credit cards are accepted |
| you need to get in the habit of continually sipping | | | | everywhere and usually there are no minimums. Make |
| from a water bottle. The higher altitude means you | | | | sure you contact your credit card provider before |
| will become dehydrated sooner and if you don't drink | | | | you leave so they don't treat Canadian transactions |
| plenty of water, you may find you develop signs of | | | | as suspicious and block your card. Remember your |
| dehydration such as a head ache. Avoid excessive | | | | pin to your credit card so you can withdraw money |
| alcohol and products with caffeine in them as these | | | | although you will be charged for a cash advance. Ask |
| can cause a 'diuretic' (water loss) effect speeding up | | | | your bank if you can use your card to withdraw |
| dehydration. Bringing out a bottle and refilling it each | | | | money overseas - this is usually the most economical |
| time is a much more friendly to the environment than | | | | way to pull out Canadian funds. Travellers cheques |
| purchasing plactic bottles as these inevitable end up in | | | | are not so common here - cash is king! |
| landfills. You can drink the tap water here and most | | | | 15) Itinerary: If you have had your holiday put |
| water sources come from glaciers so it tastes great | | | | together by a tour operator, keep your itinerary in |
| too. | | | | your carry-on luggage and keep the company's |
| 7) Footwear: If you intend to hike, make sure you | | | | toll-free or freephone number in your wallet in case |
| have some sturdy boots as the trails can be very | | | | you need to call. This also provides peace of mind |
| rocky. If you don't intend to hike, there are plenty of | | | | and support if you need it. |