Setting out for the Canadian Rockies, a view of the Rockies from Calgary NE, 36th Street and Country Hills Blvd, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
I visit Banff National Park regularly, and each visit is different. Fortunately, I have become more observant over the years, and this adds to the adventure. For that, I have to credit my daughter Nurin — she sees things that I would most definitely bypass. For example, on this most recent trip, November 24, 2023, I observed a man doing pushups on snow at Cascade Pond about 150 metres from where I was standing that I would have otherwise missed; also a snow covered picnic table, #42, with an incredible view of the mountains, and a raven picking on ice when it realized my hands were empty of food. I find visitors very friendly and full of tips. At the Hoodoos on Tunnel Mountain Road, a lady who passed me told me that I had just missed the spectacular sky by a minute. Yes, one minute the colours are there and the next they are gone. This is particularly the case with twilight photos, both in the morning at sunrise and in the evening at sunset. Banff has quite a bit of snow; in Calgary it feels as if Navroz — the Persian New Year, March 21 – is just around the corner. And, officially, the first day of winter is December 21. The temperature at both locations was about the same, 0 or -1 Celsius. The skies were blue. Unfortunately, as has been the case in recent months, my Olympus camera failed on me, and I relied on my aging iPhone to capture most of the photographs that are shown on this page. And to all my readers and friends, if you are in Calgary, I’ve found an Afghan “food paradise” where I decided to stop for a delicious light meal — a Tandoori Chicken Kabob Bowl — after my beautiful day trip to Banff. Check out Taj Kabob!
A driver’s view of the Canadian Rockies ahead, from Cochrane/Bragg Creek exit, on Hwy 1, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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A view of the Canadian Rockies from Hwy 1, A& W/Petro Canada parking area, Cochrane/Bragg Creek exit, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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A mountain view at Cascade Pond, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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A man takes a break from his trail walk to do some pushups on snow at Cascade Pond, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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A view of Cascade Mountain from its namesake pond, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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Icicles, Cascade Pond, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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Cascade Pond, a view of the mountains from snow-covered picnic table #42, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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Snow covered Johnson Lake, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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The canal connecting Johnson and Two Jack Lakes on the Minnewanka Loop road, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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Two Jack Lake on the Minnewanka Loop road, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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Tourists from Vancouver enjoy stunning mountain scenery at Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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The Hoodoos lookout point, Tunnel Mountain Road, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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A raven picks on snow at the Mount Norquay lookout point, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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A view of Banff from Norquay lookout point at sunset; Mount Rundle at left, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos
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A panel display at Vermillion Lakes describing Mount Rundle, Banff National Park, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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Vermillion Lakes at sunset with the iconic Rundle Mountain and an almost full moon. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
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A food paradise on Calgary’s Country Hill Blvd, November 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
Date posted: November 25, 2023.
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Still beautiful snaps and commentary. Thanks for sharing.