Where Locals Hike in the Canadian Rockies : Premier Trails in Kananaskis Country, Near Canmore and Calgary

"Premier Trails in Kananaskis Country" describes the authors' picks of interesting trails in the provincial parks south and east of Banff National Park, near Calgary, Canada. Kananaskis Country gets much less publicity, at least outside Calgary, than the justly famous and much older Banff National Park. For those who have already "done" Banff and Lake Louise, this guide opens up a new, and in its own way, hugely worthwhile area for exploration by hikers. The guide offers descriptions of 41 separate hikes (some of which are interlinked) in Kannaskis Country. The Copelands have rated the hikes by degreee of difficulty from easy to challenging. The assignment of rating seems based in part on how difficult the terrain is to traverse, as well as the distance involved and the relative altitude gain. The Copelands are admittedly experienced and very fit hikers. This middle-aged author and his wife, moderately fit and used to the 3,000 to 4,000 foot peaks of the Chugach Range in Alaska, tried three "easy" hikes and found them all very doable as half day hikes under at least average weather conditions and without technical assistance. The guide includes information on what is unique or special about the terrain associated with each hike, whether an especially good view of the Continental Divide or the chance to cross a beautiful Alpine meadow. The level of detail includes, in some cases, what time of day may provide the best viewing (many valleys and high cirques in Kannaskis Country may be in shadow in the morning or the afternoon, depending on their orientation). The selection of photos provide some sense of scale for the terrain. The sketch maps included in each chapter don't provide much detail for routefinding, especially in areas without well-established trails; we heartily endorse the use of the Gem Trek maps recommended by the authors as a necessary supplement. The guide includes much useful commentary on wildlife, weather, and other potential hazards in the Canadian Rockies, as well as some sound recommendations on equipment. The latter will be especially useful for hikers who may not have seen many days with 30 degree temperature ranges and weather that runs the full gamut of sun, shower, and snow in a single half-day hike. This guide is highly recommended for hikers visiting the Canadian Rockies west of Calgary and looking for "where the locals go."