Day Five - Jasper to Banff

The last day of our Moose Tour came to an end back in Banff. We didn't do quite as much as we might have as the weather was really horrid until lunchtime but we still visited Tangle Creek which was a little group of waterfalls with a little climb alongside to get right up to it. It was quite slippy on the way down so a bit of teamwork was required to get everyone back down in one piece.

We then stopped by Waterfowl Lake for a few pictures but not for long, again due to the weather, before heading to the next spot where there was the option for a two hour hike up a steep hill. It was actually snowing at the top of the hill which says how cold it was up there.

We'd only really seen a few chipmunks and squirrels over the five days which we were a little disappointed at and the chances of seeing a bear now seemed pretty remote. On our final journey heading back into Banff, our tour guide said he'd spotted one out the window so we all jumped out of our seats while he turned the bus around just up the road. Unfortunately though, by the time we had turned around he had long gone and that was the end of that.

Or so we thought, as ten minutes down the road we saw a load of cars parked up on the verge and driving very slowly down the main highway. As we slowed down too, we caught a glimpse of a black bear just off the side of the road. We quickly rummaged for the camera but he walked off back into the forest behind and were we once again left feeling deflated. After a couple of minutes though, he came back out from the trees and strolled along the side of the road. Many people were out of their cars and didn't seem too worried though 99% of bear attacks are in defence of territory or their young, so they were probably pretty safe anyway. We managed to get a few pictures of him and it was a really amazing moment to see a wild, free animal living it's life as it should, rather than stuck behind a cage for the paying public to gawp at. The highlight of our day and probably our whole tour which has come to an end this evening in Banff. We'll stay the night here with a dip in the hot springs just South of the town in the morning before heading for Calgary at lunchtime.

Day Five Highlight - Seeing a black bear in the wild

Tangle Creek

Waterfowl Lake

Black Bear in the wild