Possible to Jog in Canadian Rockies?
 

Just returned from vacation and am starting to plan summer 2015. I have to have something to look forward to! I am thinking about the Canadian Rockies, but my husband is an avid runner, and we just did a trip to St. John where he was not able to run because of dangerous roads.

We will be doing lots of hiking, but he does not get the same endorphin release on a hike as on a run. Are there places in Lake Louise/Banff/Jasper where it is safe to run, i.e., quiet roads and not much chance of meeting a grizzly?

Welcome!

You can certainly jog in the Rockies, but the viability depends on where you are in the mountains. Trail running is more popular given the paucity of 'flat' areas and wide roads/sidewalks in the mountains :o)

In Jasper, you could run around the streets in the townsite and on the local trails. The latter would require decent shoes - probably trail runners as opposed to regular running shoes (better tread). And bear spray.

Lake Louise really has little to no options - it's just a cluster of hotels and narrow roads with no sidewalks. There are some trails in the townsite, so you could trail run. However, the trails are frequented by bears, so can be closed. It also is very crowded in the summer, so going at a running pace could be difficult.

In Banff, you have plenty of options in the residential area and along the river. Lots of trails.

Anywhere, however, he would need to carry bear spray, especially in Lake Louise/Banff and earlier in the season. This year, there are have been quite a few bears right in the middle of Banff, Lake Louise and around Jasper. So you have to pay attention to warnings/closures, carry spray and make plenty of noise.

kgsneds--thanks so much for your detailed reply. We are thinking of visiting in July. Any fewer bears at that time? Trail running with bears around makes me nervous. Would he have to worry about bears in the town of Jasper or in the residential area or along the river in Banff?

I am assuming the bears in town were black bears? We were in Whistler a few years ago, and my husband was told not to worry about black bears when he was running. They were very used to people and just ignored them. Is that true in the Canadian Rockies?

I'm smiling at this question as I used to run in those areas when I was in the area for work. It was a little nerve wracking.

Dgsneds has much better information than I do. But I do want to suggest your husband not run listening to music. I can't believe how many people I see doing that in bear areas.

Usually the bears start moving up to higher elevations as the snow melts and food sources become available. This year everything has been a little late. So I wouldn't stop being cautious in July.

There are both black and grizzly bears in all three locations. Certainly have been bears all through Jasper, and as I said, there were a number of bears RIGHT in the middle of Banff this year. One walked right through the main park when it was full of people.

Most tend to want to avoid humans, but some have been aggressive, so you want to avoid any situations of contact. If they feel threatened, they will not ignore you. Which is why it's important not to wear headphones, make plenty of noise, run during daylight hours and carry bear spray. (I don't know about Whistler, but that advice is dead wrong for the Rockies - black bears are often more curious and can be more dangerous).

As to trail running - no more problematic than jogging in the town since bears are everywhere.

Hmmmm... So what is the bear situation like in September?

And this is a really dumb question, but what do you do with bear spray? Do you spray it on bears if they get too close but before you faint from fright? Or is is something you spray on yourself like bug repellent? And how effective is it?

I run a lot in the foothills near Jasper. When in more remote area where meeting wildlife is possible I always carry bearspray and use bear bells too. The bearspray would be used by spraying it into the face of an aggressive bear. It is a cayenne pepper spray and you really don't want to get it on yourself if you can avoid it. Having said that I have never ran into any animals more dangerous than deer. If you are in Jasper in the Summer months many of the trails have a lot of people on them too, reducing the risk of surprising a bear.

Thanks, lunabug. I think I will get myself the bells and the spray.

I am traveling alone so other than talking to myself, I guess the bells will be the best way to keep the bears at bay.

I've done a lot of traveling in the US Natl. parks where there is always the possibility of running into bears, but not really the likelihood -- altho' once in Glacier NP in Montana,I went on a hike on an uncrowded trail and when I got back to my car there was a pile of bear scat right near it.

Meeting up with bears sounds a lot more likely in Canada, however so something tells me I might be wary of venturing away from the beaten path.

Don' bother with the bells. Research actually suggest they may attract black bears who are curious about the sound. They are jokingly referred to as 'dinner bells'. More 'human' sounds are better - talking, singing, loud footsteps or other rattly things.

Bear spray is the best, then bear bangers.

Human presence also doesn't necessarily keep bears away. There have been plenty of bears in well trafficked areas this year. They will go where the food is...

Well, if I sing, I'll be sure to scare them away, as well as any humans nearby, too.


What are bear bangers?

And if anyone is running in Alaska:

"Coltrane repeated Alaska mantras: "Travel in groups, make a lot of noise, carry bear spray," she said. "Also, do not wear anything that might impede your ability to hear, like earbuds.""

http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/troope...uling/26829642

A bear banger is a sort of 'gun' that shoots blanks and makes a loud noise. That and whistles are also recommended to scare bears away. FWIW I still think bells are a good idea when you are quietly running through the bush. It never hurts to alert a bear that you are in the area rather than to run up to it and surprise it.

Thanks, lunabug.

Now, those of you who live in the area, or have traveled there, have you ever run into a bear on a path or on the road, etc.,?

If so, how did you handle it? And I'm glad you're here to tell about it. :-)

Unfortunately after reading everyone's responses, my husband put the kibosh on this trip. He only gets one big vacation a year, and he loves running too much to be worried every time he goes out that he may run into a bear. I made him promise that we will go when he retires, and we have more time to travel. Thanks though for taking the time to respond.

Sounds like he's turned bearish on the Rockies.

Ha! Ha! :)

I have to say it made me laugh to think of him heading out for a run weighed down with bear spray and a bear banger, as he sang while running.

Digbydog if the Digby in you name refers to Digby in Nova Scotia I must smile as my BIL comes from up the road in Bear River.

Did anyone mention cougars? I can get over the bears. Cougars make me really nervous.

Digbydog, these comments have me rethinking this vacation also.

I was hoping to do a lot of hiking but I'm not sure I want to venture out on the trails if there's a strong likelihood of running into a bear.

I do want to see the Canadian Rockies before I die but I don't want to die doing it.

What to do!? What to do?!

My husband was training for a marathon when we visited and he ran everyday. He ran on the streets before breakfast. I can't see that there would be any problem running the streets before the traffic gets bad. We stayed at Paradise Lodge and cottages and there was a great run right down the street to Lake Louise. We stayed at Patricia Lake in Jasper and the road was a great place to run.

This is such a gorgeous and wonderful area to visit. I think he would love running here.

Colduphere--our dog is named Digby for Digby, Nova Scotia, but we don't live there. We had just been to N.S. for vacation right before we got him.

Panecott--we have run into bears while hiking, and it sort of takes your breath away, but hiking scares me less than running does. I feel like a runner looks like prey, and it's hard to make a lot of noise running by yourself, not to mention that you are by yourself. While hiking, you can make a lot of noise, and let them know you are coming, so that they take off.

Linda--you are making me rethink things. My biggest fear is that I talk him into going, and then he is taken out by a bear. I would never forgive myself. Just got back from lunch with a friend who just returned from the CR, and she was so disappointed that she never saw a bear.

While I have hiked a fair bit in the Rockie Mountain Parks, I haven't seen a bear on a trail, only off roads.
I found it interesting that, a few years ago, expert advice changed from 'playing dead' if attacked by a bear, to actually fighting back as hard as you can - if you are attacked by a bear acting predatorially, rather than defensively (e.g. a mother bear protecting cubs). But it may not always be obvious, which bear is after you.
One thing about hiking with dogs, they can scare a bear away, or bring one right to you!
I have a niece living in Banff, who hikes and runs various trails around there. Last I heard, she has had no bear incidents.... and prefers to keep it that way!

There are plenty of people who live in Jasper, Banff and Canmore who jog regularly and are still alive & uninjured. Certainly, this year especially, there have been a number of bear-human encounters, but almost none have resulted in actual contact, and the couple with contact this summer only been very minor injuries.

I have jogged in Canmore, but stayed on streets or townsite trails with good visibility where it would be hard not to see something from a long distance. I've also biked a little bit on trails, but brought bear spray.

Honestly, I wouldn't be dictating a vacation based on a tiny chance of bad bear encounter. There are places to run (and a few days with no running won't hurt anyone), and if you carry bear spray and are aware - and keep an eye on bear reports to avoid any really high risk areas - it's just fine.

Good point Kanunu. When we first started canoeing 35 years ago the theory seemed to be that bears weren't out to kill you. They wanted to get away as much as you did. Then there were a couple of awful bear attacks in Algonquin Park where it seemed the bear was out to kill. I noticed this year in the material available in the park that the advice is to fight back if it looks like a predatory bear.

Now if only the bears wore labels.

If I'm driving straight from Calgary Airport to Lake Louise, where can I buy bear spray?

And another dumb question (please remember I'm a city girl) --if you spray a bear in the face, how long is that effective? And once you spray, do you run away?

I am sure they sell it in Banff. We always stop there on our drive to Lake Louise. Good place to walk around, pick up wine, beer, a few groceries, have lunch.

We carried bear spray in Alaska but when we were in the Rockies, we never carried it. If there was bear activity, you were advised to hike in groups of 6. At Moraine Lake, there was a chalkboard where you could list your name and find other hikers to join you. We just didn't do hikes that had bear activity when it was just the two of us. There are lots of other hikes. We also saw hikers that were hiking with music playing. I imagine that was to let bears know you were coming.

If hiking alone(always let someone know where you are hiking) I would carry bear spray. You carry the spray on your belt. We test it first. Just make sure the wind is not blowing your direction. My husband tested it quite a distance from me and I still got a taste of it. It is like pepper spray. It stings your throat and makes you cough. If you sprayed it, the bear would run.

I'm sure you can buy bear spray at Wilson's right in the 'mall' at Lake Louise.

There is info and video on using bear spray here: http://www.wildsmart.ca/bearspray.htm

For Moraine Lake, you need a group of 4. Elsewhere you are fine in smaller groups, and I've hiked along without any issues.

Honestly, I'd avoid playing music - hikers go out to enjoy nature, not listen to someone else's music. I find it very irritating to be forced to listen to someone else's music when I'm hiking or climbing out in the mountains. Nature's soundtrack is just fine!! If you can't leave the iPod behind, don't come hiking (with the exception of using earbuds at night in a hut to drown out snoring!).

Thanks, Linda and kgs.

If there's bear activity reported on any trails, I'll probably just avoid them. I just don't want to be the first one to report bear activity on a trail!!

Funny, when I hiked in Alaska I was more afraid of moose than bears.

Do they have any ranger-guided hikes in the parks?

Parks Canada guided hikes:
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/edu/guide.aspx
This is probably the first time I have heard of anyone more afraid of moose than bears - especially grizzlies! Moose attacks are very, very rare, I suggest. Actually, so are bears, or even sharks, for that matter, but one does have to be intelligent about protecting yourself - just like in 'the big city'!
Some years ago, our 3 night stay in Lake O'Hara campground was cancelled due to a bear 'attack'. A woman was hiking alone, making no noise, and climbing up a steep area on a trail. She came around a big boulder, surprised a bear right there, who swatted her, and ran. As they helicoptered her out for stitches, she was pleading with them to leave the bear alone - it was HER fault, for surprising it. Apparently that area is too small to sustain grizzlies, but they sometimes pass through.
Often, Parks Canada will close a trail down, if there is bear activity. Signs are prominently posted.

kanunu, when I was in Alaska about 6 years ago the advice about bears was still to "play dead".

Not that I ever thought I could really do that - I have no idea what I'd do - but they told us that moose will charge and outrun you and can stomp you to death and it just seemed that you might have a chance against a bear but not against a moose.

Oddly enough, a year or two later in the Tetons, several moose were spotted behind some trees by the road. A lot of cars were parked and many people were standing along the road watching them, and I joined them watching for about 15 minutes. But it was not a face to face encounter.

Thinking back, if it had been bears, I probably would not have exited my car. Maybe the other people would not have done so either.
Thanks for that link. Unfortunately I will arrive on 9/16, too late for the guided hikes.

kgs, I just had a chance to watch the bear spray video - it was good and very helpful. I'll watch it again before I leave. Thanks for the link to that site.