"We call it the Purcell stair climber" exclaims Kevin Blades, a veteran mountain hiking guide at Purcell Mountain Lodge. The approach to Porcupine Ridge, our goal for the day, is certainly steep at times but with high alpine scenery that's in the world-class category, it's not a hardship to be hiking here, even if it means I'm sucking wind at times. In fact John and I reveled in the fact that we were able to…
Every year, John and I book cross-country ski trips into backcountry lodges in an effort to make the winters fun and enjoyable. Our most recent trip took us to Sundance Lodge in Banff National Park, just days after the winter solstice. The lodge has primarily been used in the summer as a place to stay while on horseback trips. But, with a recent change in ownership, there's a push now to welcome visitors throughout the…
If you want to make the most of a long, snowy winter one of the best things you can do is visit backcountry lodges in BC and Alberta. I'd also suggest these lodges in summer as world-class hiking destinations. Nothing beats walking out the front door to start a hike. Embrace the seasons it is what I say. And what better way to embrace whatever Mother Nature throws at you than to visit one of…