New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
BANFF AND ENVIR0NS.
Lfany Interesting Points in the
Canadian Rockies.

&NftLNAA@ BtOAAtios
C11at the Canadian Rockies have their pictu-
soue places in greater proportion 70 others IS
denied. and one Of the supremely beautiful
strfcts IS Bsnff. where one is able 70 rest and
the glory of the place and its environs act as
blessed palliative for the wear and tear Of
pdern life left behind.
first impressions are lasting, then the first
preston Of Banff is enough n thrill the soul
stole. Here, where Nature has been so gen
IS in her gifts. one can understand the truth
what has been read concerning this great
phitheatre Of tremendous peaks. whose pres
e appalls. whose origin belongs to chaos and
ose heritage is the eternal.
was a wise act on the part Of Canadian leg
tors 20 create the great national parks at
III and other districts, for in choice OF loca-
h they are the finest in the world. covering as
ey DO an area Of nearly six thousand square
lies. Within these limits are the beautiful
alley OF the Bow, the matchless Lakes in the
ouds and beyond the Great Divide the Won
|rfui Yoho Valley and the great stretch Of
luntry lying 70 the west and south But in the
ighborhood and envirous Of Bsnfs there Is the
me of the sublime. the towering heights that
AIRED themselves in some terrible CONFUSION
ON the darkness into light
Considering that the Canadian Rockies are
ithln easy reach Of the larger cities Of the
United States. It is only natural 70 expect a
rowing influx of tourists. The scenery has been
magnetic. and each year sees greater number
of sightseers. II is in these splendid parks that
The Canadian Pacific Railway Company has
erected excellent hotels. which models of lux
llry and comfort These resorts are reached only
by the cornpany's railway and its direct connec-
tion. the 500 Pacific, from St Paul TO Mime
apolis.
At the meeting of the waters Of the rapid run
ming Bow and Spray rivers is the Banh House,
one of the worlds great mountain resorts and
the favorite rendezvous Of tourists from all parts
OF the world
The environs Of Banff are justly celebrated,
and among the great attractions are the Natural
Sulphur Springs. about mile and a half from
the hotel at which the government has erected
comfortable bathing houses The Cave to
which. like the Basin. the public is admitted
free, is entered by tunnel from the lower side
OF the mountain. In the Spray River Valley,
beneath the hotel. rapids eighty feet wide at
the confluence of Spray and Bow rivers. The
Hot Springs Sulphur Mountain eight
hundred feet above Banff Hotel. from which the
hotel baths are supplied. The drive TO Lake
Minnewanka is in much favor The lake IS six
teen miles long. with a width OF from one to two
miles. on ~ is a launch. which can be char
II ay be procured. this being favorite resort
! for anglers. Another beautiful drive is that
Iaround the Bow Valley, in full view Of Bow
fFalls-distance about seven mies-skirting the
base OF Mount Rundle 10 the banks of the Bow
River
Some Of the sights of Banfrs environment may
be enumerated as follows: The sun Dance
Canyon. "A remarkable cleft in the mountain.
Tunnel Mountain the drive on this mountain
is the finest in the park distance seven miles.
IT is spiral drive, known as the corkscrew. and
leads along the side of the mountain at an alti-
tude Of over ave thousand feet. The summit
may be reached either foot horseback by
good trails The drive TO Anthracite; boating
on the Bow River: inspection of the National
Park Museum. the observatory and Bankhead
coal mines.
Buffalo Park is a large corral of 1000 acres,
IN which is a great herd of buffalo and bands
of elk, moose. antelope, deer and Angora goats.
This park is on the way to Lake Mnnewanka,
and well repays a visit.
one Of the charms Of Banff is mountain climb
ing. Tunnel Mountain, lying between Cascade
and Rumble mountains on the east side of
the Bow Fails, is an easy walk for the most
unambitious climber. Sulphur Mountain either
by way Of Hot Springs up the northern end,
is not a difficult climb. and offers a splendid
view Of the whole Bow Valley. Both Rumble
and Cascade mountains are steep enough to
afford hard work, but both have been ascended
frequently, easy routes having been found by
the Swiss guides On Cascade Mountain
some fine fossil beds Behind Stony Squaw
Mountain is a sharp. lofty pinnacle. This is
Mount Edith, affording Z. splendid dolomite
climb equal 10 anything in the TNyrolese Aims
and within easy reach Of Banf
Twenty miles south Of Banff along the Spray
Valley, is the Matterhorn of the Rockies-Mount
Assiniboine, sheer pyramid of almost vertical
rock, towering high above vast glacial fields and
other lofty peaks, which has only been ascended
once, IN september, 1901. 'the height of this
great mountain is IL 500 feet Its northern
slope represents three perpendicular faces ice
glazed, overhangtng and precipitous attaining
an angle Of 80 degrees where the three faces
converge into the final spire The west side is
a beetling buttress. down which avalanches pour
al the year. The east side Is sheer precipice
the south walled masonry.
The excursions from Banff during the tourist
season are Of daily arrangement, thus enabling
guests 10 visit the most interesting points with
out any loss OF time. Guests also find amuse-
ment in lawn tennis golf billiards. bowling
etc, in addition TO driving, wheeling fishing
boating, bathing and mountain climbing
Apart from the unrivaled scenery OF Banff
its valuable mineral waters and other attrac-
uons II has 10 be noted that its air has a great
tonic effect on those whom the strenuous life
or uncongenial climate has enfeebled. The sum-
uer climate Of Banff is free from extremes the
mean reading is 54.6 degrees. which implies de-
ightful weather during the tourist season At
mn II is possible 10 indulge the dolce far
niente state in such d way that the purified
mountain atmosphere becomes the elixir Of the
gods, and the tourist returns TO the whirl and
rush of life with renewed vigor and a brighter
outlook upon the world and its toiling masses