Day 9: Banff Two Ways

Dichotomy Day

Bob & Lisa Climb a Mountain in Banff

We began our day up bright and early, ready to hit the mountain on the Via Feratta climb.  When we got there we found that there were 4 tables of hikers and we were at the wimp table.  That worked out fine-- as in the end the 2.5 hour wimp hike ended up taking me 3 and was all I could manage.

So, our guide first got us all suited up with a harness, lanyards with carabiners for attaching to the cables, hats, and gloves.  (Note that Lisa fit the default equipment while Bob needed the XL size harness.)

We then rode the ski lift up to where our climb would begin.  Here we are on the platform all geared-up and ready to go.
All Geared-Up and Ready to Climb

After an initial steep climb up a winding path (see below) we attached to our first cable and began the climb up the mountain.
The Easy Part: Walk up the steep, windy path with no handrails

I was the slowest in the group, so Bob brought up the rear so that I would not be left behind and so that someone who loved me would be the first one to see it if I fell.
Lisa on the Cable

My favorite part of the whole climb (and the real reason I wanted to go in the first place) was to traverse this rope-and-board bridge.  The view was fantastic, but I was too busy holding on to get my camera out and shoot down.  Our guide took this shot of me and Bob on the bridge:
Lisa & Bob on the Bridge

Here we are climbing some more:
Bob and Lisa Scaling the Mountian

And here is Lisa taking a rest at the first break point:
Lisa Resting Aside an Awesome View

Bob took this picture from the top while Lisa was taking that rest.  The view was certainly worth the climb (though we did get similar great pics from overlooks we drove to-- just sayin').

Looking Down on Banff

Slowly but surely we made our way through the rest of the course-- and though it was not anything I was used to, it was actually great fun. (Note to Natalie: You would love this!  They are all over Europe, and scattered across Canada, but haven't really caught on in the US yet.)

So, how high up did they really go?  Well, we started at the top of the ski lift, so pretty far, but not quite as far as the non-wimp climbs.  This pic gives you an idea:
We Were There

Final score for the Via Feratta climb:

Lisa: 3 broken nails, 2 scraped knuckles, 2 bruised and skinned knees, 1 bruised thigh

Bob: 2 hour nap when we got back to the hotel

M: Saved the day by refusing to lock the trunk when Bob tried to leave his backpack with the keys in it inside.


After lunch, a shower (Lisa) and that nap (Bob), we took a totally different approach to the (late) afternoon and evening.  We headed over to the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity.

This is a combination conference center and arts center where students from all over the world, working in different types of visual and performing arts, come to study and perform.  (It is a bit like a Chautauqua in Canada-- and we were in Week 7 of the summer program.)

We started at their small art gallery and walked around the campus a bit.  I particularly liked these benches.

Cool Bench Art at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity


We then headed over for a free experimental music concert put on by students and faculty.  It featured the work of Pauline Oliveros, who was supposed to be artist in residence that week, but unexpectedly died last year.  So, they did the program in homage.



There were musicians from 13 different countries performing-- though I think the dissonance and cacophony of the "deep listening" experiences did not enable us to really enjoy what these musicians could do.  However, Bob did admire the considerable skill required to perform these very difficult pieces.

We had a light early dinner at the arts center pub-- which I'm sure was better and less expensive than anything we would have found in touristy downtown Banff. (The musicians ended up there after the concert too-- so we apparently found the "it" place.)

Tomorrow we head over to Jasper.  Until then...

--Lisa


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