Too often we take the easy road. Nicely paved, without shortcuts and many times without any excitement.
During our last Banff visit, we took one morning to leave the paved trails and hike up the mountain through the woods. It was a sunny day, perfect to spend it outside.
Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.
~Henry Van Dyke
Trees provided a little bit of protection from the sun and heat. It was very calm and quiet hike. The only sounds we heard was the wind, creaking trees, and birds.
The trail we took was actually made for mountain bikers. However, we only met three of them the whole way through. The trail was very steep in some areas and not very smooth. I admire anyone that is brave enough to bike there.
As the woods are the same, the trees standing in their places, the rocks and the earth... they are always different too, as lights and shadows and seasons and moods pass through them.
~Emily Carr
There was a few shortcuts the way and narrow trails that led god knows where. Since we didn't want to get lost we stayed on the main trail.
In a forest of a hundred thousand trees, no two leaves are alike. And no two journeys along the same path are alike.
~ Paulo Coelho
I grew up in mountains and walking in the woods was not such rare occasion for me as it is now. I am not saying I miss the life I used to have. Just some aspects of it. City life suits me much better now.
After an hour of walking in weird directions (see above) we noticed this beautiful view:
Soon we realized we are quite hungry and tired. It was time to walk back to the town of Banff. There went another half an hour and we were done!
Enjoy your weekend :)