Just returned from Lake Louise and Jasper. On several days, the smoke from fires in Washington was very noticeable. The smoke was particularly bad on the 19th when we hiked in the Valley of Ten Peaks (Moraine Lake)--the Ten Peaks were hazy when you viewed them from Sentinel Pass. However, it was clear and beautiful when we drove down the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Calgary on the 25th.

Just to give everyone a heads up, an article in one local paper implied that smoke from fires could be around off and on into October. The smoke wasn't so bad that anyone should cancel their trip, but it was very noticeable at times.

Husband just returned from one week hiking in Lake Ohara area and reports no smoke there.

The following caption is from a photo in the Rocky Mountain Outlook (a Canmore newspaper):

"Heavy smoke obscures the view of Banff as seen from Mount Norquay Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 22). The smoke in the Bow Valley is travelling up from blazes in Washington State, and Parks Canada officials say it could continue right through to early October."

Website for paper is www.outlook-rockies.ca/. See article about controlled burn in Sept near Baker Creek.

Wow! I've just read your info abt the Washington smoke and the coming burn near Baker's. I've been planning a trip to that area for the past year almost. And have wanted to see the Rockies for as long as I can remember. We'd be going from Banff to Lake Louise-- right past Baker's, had intended to stop for lunch-- precisley on the day of the planned burn. I'm now thinking that it doesn't make much sense to go forward with this long-anticipated trip. For one thing, my husband has some (minor)respiratory problems (he's in his late 70's), and it just doesn't seem to me to make much sense to spend an enormous amount of money and lots of time (included the dreaded time in airports, etc) to visit an area that will be under considerable "wraps." (plus Johnson Canyon closed, sigh) I'm going to need to cancel in the next day or so if there's to be any hope of getting back our deposits. And I guess I'd lose out pretty badly on the airline part. In short, I'm hoping to get more input about all this. E.g. the Baker Creek thing seems for sure, is that correct? And I guess that'd mean we'd have to skip that whole pretty parkway-- and that Banff and Lake Louise could be all smokey. Just don't know what to do! (except be mightily disappointed)

This is very worrying. Any more up-to- date reports or more dates of planned burnings would be appreciated.