I've visualized my perfect home on wheels about a hundred different ways over a hundred different weeks. My pages of electronic notes on the subject [Evernote - my weapon of choice] hold plans from the high-end build of a mid-90s commercial Defender 110 with rooftop tent to throwing a blow-up mattress in the back of a rusted-out Craigslist find. Perhaps even rescuing a used Gelandewagen from the valet life to bring it back to its roots could be the best blend of city comforts and off-road potential? Saying I'd been thinking about it for years might be a hackneyed old saying, but it would also be true.
Read MoreThe First Roll: Leica Minizoom in San Francisco
Buying a camera as a gift for your girlfriend/fiancée/wife/etc. is the way to do it. Just trust me on this one. I’ve been gifting her (myself) cameras for years.
Confession: I’ve purchased four (yes - 4) digital cameras over the past few years as gifts for my now fiancé, and subsequently, sold each of them to fund the next until I (we) had my precious Leica Q2 in hand. I guess this is more of a brag than a confession - but don’t fret - I maintain, and she would concur, that she is also getting some great use out of them along the way. In December, I decided to kind-of start the cycle over on the film side of things and work my way up to a Leica M6/M7 and/or a Mamiya 6/7ii. Enter the Leica Minizoom 35mm point and shoot.
Leica & Schnitzel | Radhaus Restaurant, San Francisco, CA | Shot on Leica Q2.
I was lucky enough to grab this Leica (my second) for Liz as a Christmas gift off Craigslist from the daughter of the original owner. It’s been a great companion over the last month as I dip my frostbitten toes (you know, Minnesota in the winter) back into the film world for the first time since I was a shutter happy eight-year-old pulling the camera off my parents' necks on hiking trips in the Canadian Rockies.
Now, there will more to come from me on what it means to me to shoot film and why it’s something that I’ve reverted to, but for now, I’m just going to share some images we made during the first few days of 2020. I may even do a write-up specific to my use of the Minizoom in the near future, but I’d like my writing focus to be more on the practice of making photographs vs. reviewing gear. There’s plenty of that out there, already.
Below are some of my favorite images and thoughts from the first roll of Portra 400 that I put through the Leica Minizoom - from beautiful, San Francisco, CA.
Top Hikes in Banff & Yoho National Parks: A (Foreign) Local's Take
A Brief Intro to Riipples in Banff
My family first set foot (boot, more accurately) in Alberta and BC, Canada back in the early 1970s. The story goes like this — my parents left Madison, Wisconsin to catch some mountain air down in Colorado, USA. This was one of those road trips without a real end in mind. Note to self/reader: go take one of these unplanned, no end-date trips. You need it even more if the first thing that came to mind when writing/reading this was an excuse why not to.
In Colorado, they met a well-traveled man that suggested they follow the Rockies northwest to Banff National Park. In short, he was stoked on it. They left the following day and, ultimately, fell in love with what the area had to offer. After driving the ‘old road’ (more on that another time) down near Peyto Lake [pictured below] and stopping to drink in the perfectly still, Cool Blue Gatorade lake, they agreed that they would never see a sight as beautiful, regardless of how long they continued to drive. They put tires to pavement and made the long haul home.
Peyto Lake (Shot on Disposable, 1990s)
Since this first trip to Banff and its neighboring parks, my family has returned often. I’ve made 22 trips in my 24 years of life. I grew up in my dad’s pack on the trails before I could walk. My first vivid memory as a child was hiking on Mt. Robson on my 5th birthday and stopping for a re-fuel of pull-string lunches (type that one in the Google machine). I’ve had the best times of my life in these parks and hope to continue to share them (responsibly) with family, friends, and s̶t̶r̶a̶n̶g̶e̶r̶s̶ soon-to-be friends, alike.
I hope that the above gives me some credibility for what I type below…I made this site as a place to organize photography, explore design, and relax by putting my thoughts on paper — and I have no idea what it will become (if anything). Tips for Banff is a common ask that I hope this serves to quench, so I guess this is the right place to start.
Lake O’Hara, Yoho National Park (Shot on Film, 1990s)
The Recos
Let me start by noting that this post contains only a sliver of what’s out there. These are simply my favorite hikes and strolls in Banff/Yoho National Parks. Treat this primarily as a launchpad for continued research. Have in-depth questions? Connect with me. Happy to talk [click ‘iinfo’ above in the menu].
Top Hikes for Sight-Seers (lower difficulty)
Consolation Lakes, from Lake Moraine (Banff) - a short 3km hike from Moraine Lake, this is a great early morning or evening option that I enjoy mixing in on a rest day. It’s well-paired with watching a Lake Moraine sunrise and climbing ‘the rockpile’ as you need to arrive very early to be allowed entry and grab a parking spot (I recommend before 6AM in the busy summer months).
Big Beehive, from Lake Louise (Banff) - avoid this hike if your goal is to find solitude on the trails and experience a wild, remote feel. Otherwise, it’s an absolute classic that starts at Lake Louise and provides access to alpine tea houses and a number of extended routes (Devil’s Thumb, Plain of the Six Glaciers, Mount St. Piran, etc.). After the hike, enjoy a great cocktail or local craft brew at the Alpine Social in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to reward yourself…the nachos are also top notch.
Lake Peyto (Banff) - photos of Lake Peyto are plentiful in every corner of the interwebs to say the least. The overlook is frequented by tour buses and travelers driving north to Jasper National Park. The lake is named for a WWI veteran, trapper, and early Banff National Park warden that is worth reading into [also recommended: Bill Peyto Cafe at the Lake Louise Village Hostel]. A little known parking lot and path down to the lake exists, which starts on the old road that my parents drove back in the ‘70s. I can’t say more about this one…but if you find it and decide to take this remote stroll, bring your bear spray. Or try to ride a furry tractor. That works, too.
Helen Lake (Banff) - the hike to Helen Lake is just under four miles (6km) each way and provides beautiful views of both the Bow Valley and Crowfoot Glacier. Time it right, and this one will be a favorite for wild flower-lovers. There are a number of options to extend this hike if you want to push beyond Helen Lake. This is well-paired with a visit to both Bow Lake and Lake Peyto as far as proximity goes.
Johnston Canyon (Banff) - closest to the town of Banff, Johnston Canyon boasts catwalks affixed to limestone cliffs and is one of the most popular walks in Banff National Park. I recommend arriving early or making it an evening affair to avoid the traffic, especially if you’re hoping to photograph the canyon and it’s ‘secret cave’.
Lake Peyto (Shot on Disposable, Mid 1990s)
Top Hikes for the Outdoorsy (medium difficulty)
Anything in the Lake O’Hara Back-country (Yoho) - if you take my word for anything, listen here: this is the good stuff. My favorite hike in the Lake O’Hara Back-country is taking Wiwaxy Gap —> Huber Ledges —> Lake Oesa, but you can’t go wrong. I’m considering a write-up on the many methods to get into this area, but I’m torn on whether I should release it as it’s a traffic-controlled site and beautifully preserved. For now…this high-level reco is all you get.
Larch Valley & Sentinel Pass, from Lake Moraine (Banff) - as far as accessibility goes (i.e. the opposite of Lake O’Hara), this is my strongest recommendation. The start from Lake Moraine to Larch Valley is a gradual, beautiful rise that is best during the fall months when the larch trees change from green to a crispy, burnt auburn-orange. The prime offerings, here, are grandiose panoramic views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks that simply can’t be beat. After passing through Larch Valley, hikers can elect to trudge the ‘Z’ path to the top of Sentinel Pass, amplifying the valley views at the gate of the SW ridge summit to Mt. Temple [more below in the advanced section].
Paradise Valley & Sentinel Pass, from Moraine Lake Road (Banff) - on the road to Lake Moraine, there’s a pull-off parking lot that is the entry point to Paradise Valley. This is the most remote option in the immediate Lake Moraine and Lake Louise areas that offers access to a back-country camping ground, rushing water at the Giant Steps, icy-blue lakes at the base of Mt. Temple, and Sentinel Pass. The climb from Paradise Valley to Sentinel Pass is much more difficult than its cousin on the other side of the pass (from Larch Valley) as it requires some scrambling. Bonus points if you’re down to put them both together and get a taste of each in one long day-hike (requires multiple vehicles, or hitchhiking back to whichever is the starting point).
Mount Fairview, from Lake Louise (Banff) - the climb to Mt. Fairview (the first mountain to the left when taking in the view out over Lake Louise) is tame and beautiful until you reach ‘the Saddleback’, at which point it becomes a bit more of a grind to summit. If you’re looking for a true “summiting” experience, this is a great place to start as there is a relatively well-defined trail but gives you the opportunity to work on your scrambling chops. Fairview, at just under 10,000 feet, boasts incredible views of the north face of Mt. Temple, Victoria Glacier, and a drop-off down to Lake Louise and the Chateau (among its other surroundings).
Iceline Trail, from Takkakaw Falls or Emerald Lake (Yoho) - it’s time to take it from Alberta to BC and give Yoho some love. It’s hard to argue with Banff, but I’ll go hipster for days and pick Yoho as it’s slightly less-traveled and feels more wild (or just because it owns O’Hara). There are many ways to approach the Iceline (from Takkakaw, from Emerald Lake, full-loop, part-loop, etc.) but regardless, you’re going to get a lot out of this one. The views of Takkakaw falls are unmatched.
Larch Valley, and Valley of the Ten Peaks from Sentinel Pass (Shot on Disposable, 1990s)
Top Hikes for Mountaineers (experienced scramblers only, or guided) [wear a helmet]
Mount Temple, from Moraine Lake (Banff) - Mt. Temple is one of the highest altitude summits in Banff at almost 12,000 feet. This is a climb that has multiple routes, but the most ‘pedestrian’ of them is: Moraine Lake —> Larch Valley —> Sentinel Pass —> Temple SW Ridge to Summit. I’ve now summited this one on two occasions, once sherpa-ing my upper 60 y/o parents through scrambling routes that amounted to a 14-hour day (they’re beasts). The death-toll on Temple is upwards of 10, so steer clear unless you are experienced or you do plenty of pre-climb research (requires some hands-on climbing).
Abbot Pass, from Lake O’Hara (Yoho) - I finally spent a night at Abbot Hut [1922] in summer of 2018, just a week before the hut was closed indefinitely due to soil erosion at its base. It was one of the better days of my life, despite getting rocked by a hail storm while scrambling up the pass and all of my co-hikers wanting to murder me in cold blood (but they loved me once we made it). Sitting on the border of Banff and Yoho National Parks, the Alberta and BC Provinces, and at the continental divide - this is just about my favorite place in the world. You can feel (and read about) the years of mountaineering history within the walls of the hut - a base camp for summiting historic Mt. Victoria (at the end of Lake Louise) and Mt. Lefroy (responsible for the first recorded mountaineering death in North America: Phillip Stanley Abbot).
Tower of Babel, from Moraine Lake (Banff) - Tower of Babel is a relatively short, all-out scramble through a gully that kicks off near the Consolation Lakes trailhead. It is best-approached at the break of dawn with fat snacks and a thermos of coffee in your pack to enjoy at the top, looking over Lake Moraine. It’s both a stunner and an absolute sleeper (but also a grinder). Wear a helmet because rock fall is common.