🎥 2.2M Views, 1 Kananaskis Stunt

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Last night Environment Canada issued a thunderstorm warning for Canmore and MD Bighorn. We also heard reports of heavy rain on the Trans-Canada (around 10pm) causing ponding near the Mînî Thnî exit. No new updates as of send time, so take care if you’re on the highways early this morning.

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

BANFF ELECTIONS: CAN BANFF HANDLE THE “PEOPLE PROBLEM”?

What’s Happening? The Bow Valley’s fall election season is already heating up, with “too many people in town” emerging as a defining issue for Banff incumbents and challengers. And today at 2 p.m., council holds the final public hearing on the Banff Community Plan, the 10-year roadmap for growth, tourism, and livability.

Tourism Tipping Point. Tourism keeps Banff alive, but locals are blunt: crowding is straining housing, roads, and day-to-day quality of life. One-third of residents say their quality of life has slipped in recent years, citing cost of living and congestion. On peak summer days, Banff’s population swells from 8,300 residents to more than 50,000 people.

Plan vs. Pressure. The draft plan doesn’t say “over tourism,” but it leans hard on tools to manage it:

• Managing people, not just buildings: Frameworks to define how many visitors Banff can handle, possibly by capping attractions, redirecting traffic to quieter areas, or shifting travel into shoulder seasons.

• A regional tourism council: A proposed “destination stewardship council” would unite Banff, Canmore, and Parks Canada on shared rules, from transit solutions to visitor capacity, instead of leaving each community on its own.

• Shifting away from cars: More Roam buses, shuttles to hot spots, and long-term projects like Calgary–Banff rail aim to cut the weekend gridlock that clogs town streets.

• Tracking limits: Monitoring thresholds such as housing vacancy below 3%, hospitals nearing capacity, or trails showing heavy wear so policies can adjust before things crack.

Tourism Industry Pushback. Business groups pushed back on early drafts of the Community Plan, warning the tone leaned too much toward reducing visitation. They argue Banff should affirm tourism as its economic engine, framing prosperity as balance, not constraint.

Why It Matters? The election and the Community Plan both hinge on the same question: how to keep Banff a world-class destination without overwhelming the people who call it home. 

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THE DIGEST

• 🔥 Moose Meadows Fire Held Near Banff. A wildfire sparked Saturday at Moose Meadows, 10 km west of Banff, grew to about two hectares before Parks Canada crews contained it. We happened to be on Highway 1 at the time and caught two helicopters scooping water from the Bow River (watch the video on our Instagram). Smoke was visible from Highways 1 and 1A, prompting a no-stopping zone. Classified as “being held,” the fire poses no risk to Banff or Lake Louise.

• 🧯 Porcupine Valley Burn Is Planned, Not Problem. After Saturday’s wildfire near Banff, some were quick to assume another blaze was out of control. In fact, Parks Canada intentionally lit the 3,300-hectare Porcupine Valley Prescribed Fire in Yoho. The goal: reduce future wildfire risk and boost habitat for grizzlies and whitebark pine. Closures remain in place. See the full map here. 

• 🤔 Disneyland of the Rockies. While we don’t usually run op-eds, this piece by Sarah Adams, Editor of the Queen’s University Journal, captures tensions front and center in the Bow Valley and ties into today’s top story. Banff, she argues, has traded wilderness for spectacle, turning into a glorified outdoor amusement park. From high-end shopping on Banff Ave to $36 parking at Lake Louise, Adams says the park has abandoned conservation in favour of commercialization. Her advice: skip Banff and find authentic Rockies experiences in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, or Alberta’s public land.

• 🐺 Wolf Warning at Two Jack Lakeside. Parks Canada issued a caution for Two Jack Lakeside Campground after wolves showed bold behaviour in the area. Visitors should secure food and garbage, leash pets, and carry bear spray. If approached, act aggressively. In 2016, a habituated wolf was euthanized at the same campground after repeated campsite raids.

• 📸 Banff Photographer on Finding the Shot. Paul Zizka says the secret isn’t luck, it’s time on the ground. He’ll stay in one spot for hours, waiting for shifting light or weather drama. He advises photographers to explore beyond roadside pullouts, move their feet for fresh angles, and embrace less-than-perfect weather for more compelling images. His new paperback, The Canadian Rockies: Rediscovered, is now out.

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SCRAMBLING SAFELY VS. SCRAMBLING FOR CLICKS

What’s Happening? Last week we warned about “scramble culture” going mainstream. This week delivered the receipts: a viral Serrail Ridge clip.

Quick Recap. Our guide source, Sebastian Taborszky, said many “scrambles” are actually unroped solos where a slip means death. Skills, not selfies, decide outcomes.

This Week’s Flashpoint A Calgary dad influencer left the standard line to tiptoe across a steep, exposed face while being filmed. You can hear rock sloughing underfoot and a joking “tell my wife and kids I love them.” Locals who know the ridge called it a pointless side quest, not part of the real route. The comments were split between awe, anger, and disbelief.

Why It Matters? The video has already hit 2.2 million views, proof that algorithms reward spectacle. The mountains, however, reward judgment. Those two systems are not aligned. 

How To Read Terrain Like A Pro:

• Language check: If a move has real fall exposure, it is not a casual scramble.

• Route discipline: Stay on the line. Side quests often add risk without adding views.

• Red flags stack: Loose rock, fresh snow or ice, no fall zones, tired legs, time pressure. One or two can be managed. Stacked together, they become a trap.

• Skill, then send: Learn rope systems and movement on exposed terrain before you need them.

News Update: Yamnuska. While not directly tied to scramble culture, the risks of the mountains were underscored this week when RCMP confirmed a man died after a fall on Mount Yamnuska on Sept. 3. The cause is still under investigation, and it’s unclear whether scrambling or climbing was involved. We’ll update you with more information as it’s presented. 

THINGS TO DO

Monday

• Monday Night Runs. This drop-in group welcomes runners of all levels for scenic trail runs, hill sessions, and light intervals in a fun, supportive atmosphere. No sign-up needed. 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM. Meet under the big Canadian Flag at the Nordic Centre. Free.

• Learn About Forest Bathing. Join writer and guide Margaret McKeon for an evening of reflection and reconnection with the natural world. This session begins with a presentation and guided meditation, followed by forest bathing along Policeman’s Creek. 6:30 PM. Canmore Library. Free. 

Tuesday

• Olive Oil & Balsamic Workshop. Discover the rich flavors and health benefits of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Learn how they’re produced, what makes them unique, and enjoy guided tastings. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Canmore Library. Free, but registration is required.

• Fairy Creek Documentary. Watch the rise and fall of the Fairy Creek blockade, Canada’s most significant act of civil disobedience. Through the voices of land defenders, activists, and loggers, it reveals the urgent fight to protect old-growth forests and the tensions that shaped this historic environmental movement. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $15.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎉 Banff’s Rose and Crown is Turning 40. Join the celebration on Saturday, September 13. Doors open at 4:00 PM with live music, DJs on the rooftop and back bar, and main stage headliner Zoo Lion from 9 PM–2 AM. Enjoy drink specials, complimentary snacks, and late-night pizza, plus a charity raffle with prizes like Lake Louise tickets, yoga punch cards, canoe rentals, and a $2,300 grand prize from Pursuit. $10 cover.*

• 🏞️ What’s Going On at Wasootch Ridge? Readers saw crews at the trailhead this week and asked us what was up. Alberta Parks is rerouting the start to protect limber pines. The new entrance has temporary signs, work is ongoing, but the trail is still open. So go ahead and have at ’er.

• 💦 Mist Mountain Hot Springs. We checked out Mist Mountain in Kananaskis this week. The video’s up on Instagram if you’ve never been. It’s a 6.6 km trail with 583 m of gain, so budget a few hours. And don’t worry, we’re not blowing up a hidden gem here. This one’s already well known. Our advice: hit it on a weekday at sunrise for some solitude.

• 🐶 Dog Rescue Fundraiser Update. We’re happy to share that Heart Mountain Rescue’s August 9th Summer Fundraiser was a huge success, raising $15,335.61. You may remember us talking about it back then, but just wanted to share final numbers with you.

• 🧘🏻‍♀️ Local Barre Studio Closing. WildHeart, known for its barre fitness classes (a mix of ballet, yoga, and pilates) and “Wild Bride” bachelorette parties, is shutting its doors after eight years. The Canmore studio’s last day of classes will be September 30.

• 🚧 Surprise Corner Platform Closed for Repairs. The upper viewing platform at Surprise Corner will be closed from September 8 to October 20 for rail, board, and stair repairs, as well as staining and maintenance. The parking area will remain open, but access to the viewing area will be limited. 

• 💧 Boil Water Advisory for Mînî Thnî. A water main break has led to a boil water advisory for the south leg of Mînî Thnî, including the Chiniki/Bearspaw Elders Lodge, Chiniki Post Secondary, Stoney Trading Post, and nearby homes. Residents must boil water for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or washing produce.

• 🚧 Bow River Bridge Repairs. Masonry and capstone repairs on the historic Bow River Bridge in Banff will temporarily close the sidewalk and east-side driving lane starting today (September 8), continuing on weekdays until around September 19. Work will then shift to the west side. One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open.

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Council Meeting on Monday. Banff Town Council will provide a progress update on Banff Housing Action at 2 PM, following the Public Hearing on the Banff Community Plan. Attend in person at Town Hall or watch online: Live Streaming.

• 800-Page Agenda for MD of Bighorn. Tuesday’s council meeting has a hefty agenda, including bylaw readings on the McDermid Lands Area Structure Plan. The plan guides future residential development near Ghost Lake while aiming to balance growth with the scenic, ecological, and cultural integrity that defines the Bow Valley.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, September 8, 2025, 10:00 PM: Monday Night Tunes w/ Tenax Location: High Rollers, Banff. No Cover.

• Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 10:00 PM: Jesse Peters. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• 5 Peaks Race at the Nordic Centre. The Canmore Nordic Centre hosted the 5 Peaks trail run this weekend, with kids tackling 1 km and 3 km courses and adults racing 7.1 km, 16.1 km, and 22 km routes. The event mixed tough climbs, singletrack, and big views with a lively start-finish atmosphere. Full results here.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Wednesday, same time, same place! 

Heads Up: We sometimes feature paid promotion from local businesses and organizations we trust. When you see a little asterisk (*), that means it’s a sponsored post. We only work with partners we think our readers will actually care about.