I slept in just a little longer than my roommate at the Hostel which was around 10:30. The only plan I had was to relax at the hot springs which I did for a good 4 hours today. The Banff hot springs area is $7 but it is only one small pool. In every way except one, the fantastic view of the mountains, Radium hot springs is a superior facility to the Banff hot springs. If you had to choose, go to Radium!

After a long soak I walked over to the gondola up Sulphur Mountain. There is a 6 kilometer hike or $29.95. I chose the Gondola. I know, this is weak but my head was still a little sore from the Black Label lager they had on draught. At $3.50 who’s complaining right?

The ride up the mountain is well worth the price as you have sweeping views of the valley surrounding Banff. Once up top you have almost a 360 degree view of all of the mountains from the Gondola building which has three observations levels. This area is not your typical park either, it has fenced in wooden decks around the building and over the ridge to the Solar Flare hut. They also have a cafe and restaurant with big windows to enjoy the view from inside but the best views are from the Cosmic Ray hut. I guess this keeps tourists from being eaten or thrown off the side of the mountain.

I first went around the circumference of the station at the main level where you exit the Gondola. There is a railing all the way around except on the back part where there is a gate to get to the hiking trail. I went down and took a few pictures of orange moss or lichen and tree with its roots clawing at the rocks for a foot hold in the winds.

I came back and went around the front of the building and saw a pack of mountain goats digging at the soil and trying to get at something under the building. There were some little ones but when it came to food they had to fend for themselves since one of the adult goats was a grump and butted one of the little ones.

I went back inside to have a look from the observation deck near the top of the building. There really aren’t any bad views but this literally has no man made obstructions in your view. They had various cities and there distance as the crow flies. The first one I saw as I walked onto the deck was St. John’s at 4,467k East North East 70.3 degrees. There were a few others from Canada but also from around the world including Toyko and Mexico City to name a few.

I grabbed a Bison burger at the cafe, only $12 with a pop and no fries, to fuel up for my 500 meter journey to the Cosmic Ray hut. It was so strange how the decks are built around trees and rock as you make your way over. On the other side a nice lady from South Dakota offered to take my picture without me even saying a word. She was super nice and patient – thank you.

Over on the other side is a totally unobstructed view of the entire valley. I was also completely alone. The hut itself was only one little room about 8 feet across with a coal stove, bed and a machine for capturing the data. No bath room or running water and I bet it would be very scary in a storm as you are perched on the peak of the mountain which is just a rocky crag.

Back at the cafe I ordered a beer and waited for the sun to get lower in the valley for some more photography but around 8:30 clouds blew in and covered the area in about 10 minutes. They aren’t kidding about whether changing in a minute. Basically without a compass you could easily get lost in the mountains when something like this happens.

I rode the Gondola down and watched as the public bus left the parking lot – damn! I decided to walk back to Banff which I think is a few kilometers but I decided to hitchhike as I walked. The first car by picked me up and drove back me to town to the Safeway food store no less. I picked up some supplies for tomorrow and called it a day. I love this country!