{"id":3827,"date":"2013-06-16T17:00:14","date_gmt":"2013-06-16T17:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.com\/?p=3827"},"modified":"2013-05-31T17:21:38","modified_gmt":"2013-05-31T17:21:38","slug":"hiking-johnston-canyon-banff-national-park-alberta-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/?p=3827","title":{"rendered":"Hiking Johnston Canyon: Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>During Spring Break in March, Paul and I were able to take some much needed time off. \u00a0We decided that the short drive to Banff was going to be our destination. \u00a0We are super lucky to be so close to a world destination. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Going to Banff during Spring Break is a risky choice. \u00a0The weather might be awesome- or you might be in a blizzard, wishing you packed your parka. \u00a0The town might be packed shoulder to shoulder with tourists- or you could be rubbing elbows with the locals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>We were able to get a good deal on a condo close to town and thank goodness it was only the two of us, as I don&#8217;t think there would have been room for even Ruby to join us! \u00a0It was super tiny and dated. \u00a0But, we decided to make the best of it (since we didn&#8217;t plan on being in the room much anyway) and we got out on a couple of great hikes. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uzwpRPOr30A\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>One of the hikes that we chose to start out on was the famous Johnston Canyon. \u00a0Now, this is basically a walk along a canyon but it is very beautiful and worth it. \u00a0Paul is a TRUE hiker . . . he wants to be out in the woods, stomping through the forest, establishing his own path, so this was definitely not his idea of a good time!! \u00a0But, he sucked it up and we were able to get a good video out of it!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3546.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3843\" title=\"Johnston Canyon Board Walk\" src=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3546.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3546.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3546-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The canyon is natural stunning beauty. \u00a0There are a number of stopping points along the way for great pictures and views of the water, below and above. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As you hike, you follow the canyon upwards, toward the start at the waterfalls. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3416.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3842\" title=\"Johnston Canyon Hiking\" src=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3416.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3416.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3416-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The waterfalls at this time of year were frozen and the ice is so beautiful. \u00a0The giant icicles hang individually and in giant groups.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3594.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3846\" title=\"Johnston Canyon Ice Falls\" src=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3594.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3594.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3594-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Though you aren&#8217;t supposed to, we climbed over the railing and jumped down on to the frozen creek bed to get some cool pictures of the frozen falls. \u00a0We weren&#8217;t the only ones rebelling against the boundaries . . . many others did it too. \u00a0In fact, a tour group guide scoffed at us and informed us that just days before the falls had broken off right onto where we were standing. \u00a0Oops. \u00a0Won&#8217;t do that again!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3647.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3839\" title=\"Johnston Canyon Banff Ice Falls\" src=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3647.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3647.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3647-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But, if we hadn&#8217;t jumped the rail, we wouldn&#8217;t have gotten these cool pictures!! \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3621.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3837\" title=\"Johnston Canyon Ice Falls Hike\" src=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3621.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3621.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3621-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After the first lookout point of the falls, you can continue another couple hundred feet up to a higher lookout point, and as shown below, it is the start at the top of the falls.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3714.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3841\" title=\"Johnston Canyon Upper Falls\" src=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3714.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3714.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3714-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The one thing about Banff is that it is close to all of the city folks in Calgary, which we small-towners like to call the &#8220;yuppies&#8221;(with love of course!). \u00a0Being from the small, albeit hick town that we are from, we are used to coming across animals on the trails that we hike. \u00a0We&#8217;ve seen deer, elk, sheep, goats, and horses, but something we&#8217;ve never seen before is a pig. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Being on a hike near Banff was the last place that I ever thought I would see a pig. \u00a0A pet pig. \u00a0With a leash. \u00a0Yes, some people (yuppies) were on the trail, with their PET PIG ON A LEASH! \u00a0I&#8217;m all for a pet pig given the proper place and environment, but it was freezing cold outside and we were on a hike! \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The man yuppie carrying it, came down the trail with the pig inside his jacket, and set it on the snow\/ice to have a look around at the lookout point. \u00a0The woman yuppie was embarrassed that the pig had pooped (in the man&#8217;s jacket?) and decided that she needed to clean it&#8217;s bum with the snow. \u00a0So the poor pig, standing on the freezing snow, had it&#8217;s bum wiped with the frozen snow! \u00a0It was totally howling\/snorting\/whining, the poor thing.<\/p>\n<p>Is this story too good to be true? \u00a0Check out the picture of the event below. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3683.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3840\" title=\"Hiking Pig\" src=\"http:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3683.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cookiescupcakesandcardio.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/DSC_3683-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>All kinds of people make the world go &#8217;round, right?<\/p>\n<div class=\"addtoany_share_save_container\"><div class=\"a2a_kit 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