🚁 Soldiers Fall Into Crevasse

Good morning, Bow Valley!

If you're anything like us, we hope you've got a litre of eye drops sitting on your desk this morning to survive the Bow Valley smoke. 

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

THREE CANADIAN SOLDIERS INJURED IN ATHABASCA GLACIER TRAINING ACCIDENT

What's Happening? Three Canadian soldiers were injured after falling about 20 metres into a crevasse during a glacier rescue exercise on the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. The soldiers were participating in a specialized mountain warfare course when the accident occurred. All three survived and were airlifted to hospital, and the Canadian Army says an investigation is now underway.

A High-Risk Exercise. In a statement to Bow Valley Insider, Major Bradley Roy, senior public affairs officer with the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, said the July 17 exercise was part of the Complex Terrain Leader Course, where members of the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre were conducting scheduled crevasse rescue training.

The three soldiers were travelling together as a rope team when they fell into the crevasse. All three were injured but remained stable and responsive before being airlifted to hospital in Jasper. The Army has not released an update on their conditions, citing privacy concerns.

The Rescue Was Part Of The Plan. Major Roy said the exercise was intentionally designed to simulate one of the most dangerous situations mountaineers can encounter. Because "crevasse rescue training of this nature is inherently high-risk," experienced, qualified rescue personnel were embedded with the exercise specifically to respond if a fall occurred.

Those built-in safety measures proved critical when the accident happened. Roy said the protocol "allowed for the rapid recovery and medical care of the affected members" before they were flown to hospital.

Why Train On A Glacier? The Complex Terrain Leader Course prepares soldiers to lead operations in mountainous and glaciated terrain where conventional movement techniques aren't sufficient. The Athabasca Glacier is crossed by deep crevasses that are often hidden beneath snow bridges, making rope travel and specialized rescue skills essential for anyone operating on its surface.

An Investigation Is Underway. Major Roy said the Canadian Army is investigating how the incident occurred to ensure training procedures "are safe and observed." The Army has not said what caused the fall or when the investigation is expected to conclude.

Read our full story

THE BOW VALLEY'S MOST UNDERRATED CONCIERGE SERVICE

Most people spend months planning their mountain getaway, only to spend the first few hours of their vacation grocery shopping, picking up supplies, and running errands.

Vacay Essentials was created to solve that problem.

Owner Karen provides a personalized pre-arrival concierge service for visitors staying in Canmore, Banff, and surrounding mountain communities. Guests can arrive to a fully stocked fridge, cold beverages, special occasion decorations, travel essentials, or even custom requests already waiting at their accommodation.

The service has become particularly popular with larger groups, families, and celebration weekends where coordinating groceries, drinks, and supplies can quickly become a logistical headache.

But Karen isn't just focused on helping guests. She's also looking to partner with local property managers, resort operators, and vacation rental hosts who want to elevate their guest experience without adding extra work for their team.

Interested in exploring what working with Vacay Essentials is like? Fill out this quick form, and Karen will be in touch

_{*Presented by Vacay Essentials.}

THE DIGEST

• 🔥 Quick Response Stops Canmore Wildfire. A small wildfire near Canmore's wastewater treatment plant was quickly contained Wednesday after several people on the Bow River spotted smoke and called 911. Firefighters, supported by a helicopter that dropped six loads of water, held the blaze to roughly two by 10 metres. There was no threat to the nearby wastewater plant or powerlines, but with wildfire danger still rated very high, officials say quickly reporting smoke remains one of the best ways to stop small fires from becoming much bigger ones.  

• ‼️Smoke Sticks Around, Relief Expected Later Today. If you're reading this from the Bow Valley, you don't need us to tell you it's smoky. Environment Canada says the smoke drifting in from southern B.C. and Washington is expected to improve by Friday, though air quality can change quickly with shifting winds. A heat warning also remains in effect, with temperatures in the low 30s through the weekend. If you're reading from elsewhere, we posted a short video along Highway 1 yesterday. On a clear day, Mount Rundle dominates this view. It was completely hidden.  

• ⚠️ Earthquake Detected at Ghost Lake. An automated seismic station detected a magnitude 2.3 earthquake 55km east of Canmore Tuesday morning. The event has not yet been confirmed by seismologists, and no one reported feeling it. For context, earthquakes below magnitude 3.0 are rarely felt, making this the kind of quake most people would sleep through. If you did notice anything, you can report it to the Alberta Geological Survey. Alberta has already recorded 20 earthquakes this month, all but one below magnitude 3.0. Explore them here. 

• 🐟 Native Trout Making a Comeback. Parks Canada is reintroducing threatened westslope cutthroat trout to mountain lakes and creeks, including Helen Creek, as part of a 10-year recovery plan. The native fish once ranged from Banff to Calgary but declined after non-native trout were introduced. To make room for their return, Parks Canada first removed invasive brook and rainbow trout from several lakes. The goal is to eventually establish self-sustaining populations that no longer need human help.

Thinking About Partnering With Us?

Here’s what Canmore Family Eyecare had to say:

➡️ Fill out this quick form and let’s see if it’s a fit

GRIZZLIES ARE REDISTRIBUTING ACROSS THE ROCKIES: WHAT A 12-YEAR STUDY FOUND

What's Happening? A 12-year study found the grizzly bear population across much of the central Canadian Rockies increased slightly between 2012 and 2023. But the bigger story is where those bears are living: grizzlies became far less concentrated near paved roads while becoming more common in remote areas. 

A Shift Away From People. Using nearly 12,000 grizzly bear detections from 711 remote cameras, researchers estimated that grizzly bear activity-centre density fell by 56% within four kilometres of paved roads, while increasing 37% farther away.

An activity centre is the area around which a bear organizes its home range. The findings don't mean bears have disappeared from roadsides, but they do suggest fewer bears are choosing to centre their lives near the transportation corridors and communities where people are most active.

"The grizzly bear population in our study area increased slightly over 12 years, yet the density of activity centers declined sharply near paved roads," the researchers wrote.

Why It Matters. The study covered a 15,512-square-kilometre region spanning Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks, along with surrounding areas including the Bow Valley. Over the same period, park visitation increased by about 30%, from 3.3 million visits in 2012 to 4.3 million in 2023.

Researchers say the roadside decline likely reflects a combination of bears being killed in collisions or other incidents involving people, such as the grizzly cub struck and killed by a train near Protection Mountain earlier this year, and bears shifting their home ranges away from human activity. The study could not determine how much each factor contributed.

Building On Earlier Research. The findings reinforce another recent study covered by Bow Valley Insider, which found roads, towns and other development are making it harder for grizzly bears to move across the southern Rockies. That research also found roadside vegetation can attract bears even as traffic and human activity make those same areas more dangerous.

The Bigger Picture. Researchers say the findings are encouraging because the regional grizzly population appears stable or growing slightly. But numbers tell only part of the story. Even in protected areas, bears are increasingly concentrating farther from roads and busy visitor areas, suggesting human activity continues to reshape how they use the landscape.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Valbella’s Food Truck Is Serving Lunch. If you didn't know, Valbella has a food truck serving lunch every Thursday and Friday. Today's menu includes an Elk Boulevard Burger with gin-garlic-herb aioli, chicken miso-peanut ramen, a jumbo veal bratwurst, and more. It's a pretty convincing excuse to abandon whatever lunch you had planned. 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. Valbella, Canmore.*

• New Beer, Throwback Beats. Grizzly Paw is throwing a launch party for its new Fruitronic Strawberry Kiwi Sour, celebrating 30 years in the Rockies with live DJs spinning '90s and 2000s house music. Expect free samples, $2 off Fruitronic all night, and plenty of summer patio vibes. 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Grizzly Paw Beer Garden, Canmore. Free.*

Saturday

• Give Your Weekend Reading Stack a Glow-Up. The Friends of the Canmore Library Summer Book Sale is packed with thousands of gently used novels, cookbooks, kids' books, mysteries, memoirs, and hidden gems priced from just $0.50 to $2. Every purchase helps support library programs. 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Canmore Library. Free.

Sunday

• Run, Then Grab a Coffee. Looking for an excuse to get outside and meet new people? The Sunday Social Run Club meets outside Lovely Ice Cream for a relaxed, all-paces run through Canmore. There's no pressure to keep up, just show up, run your own run, then stick around afterward for coffee. 8:00 AM. Lovely Ice Cream, Canmore. Free. 

LAST CHANCE TO JOIN OUR SCRAMBLING SKILLS CLINIC

Today is the final day to register for our 2-Day Scrambling Skills Clinic.

If you've been thinking about taking your hiking to the next level, this is a chance to learn alongside just six participants with the expert team at Leviathan Mountain Guides.

Over two days (Aug. 8-9), you'll learn rock movement, belaying, rope systems, terrain assessment, and mountain decision-making before applying everything on a guided scrambling objective in Kananaskis.

You don't need climbing experience, but you should already be comfortable hiking and have the fitness for a full day in the mountains.

If your goal is to feel more confident when the trail gets steeper, this clinic is designed to help you build skills you'll use for years.

Registration closes tonight.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🌸 35% Off Flowers, Shrubs, and Hanging Baskets. If you've been meaning to freshen up your yard, deck, or balcony, now might be the time. Wendy's Garden Centre is holding an end-of-season sale, with 35% off all flowers, hanging baskets, and shrubs while supplies last. Whether you're filling in a few empty spots or grabbing one last burst of colour before summer ends, you'll find plenty to choose from across from Elevation Place (map). Open daily 9 AM-6 PM (5 PM Sundays), rain or shine.*

• 😋 The Snack That Became A National Treasure. You know those crunchy orange Cheezies that seem to show up on every Canadian road trip, camping trip, and hockey tournament snack table? Somehow, they've become the inspiration for an original Canadian musical. The Cheezie Musical has arrived at Canmore's Carter-Ryan Theatre, telling the underdog story behind one of Canada's most iconic snacks. It's quirky, proudly Canadian, and audiences are loving it. Get tickets here and use code BOWVALLEYINSIDER for 15% off.*

• 🍽️ Inside the Story of Sauvage Restaurant. What does the Bow Valley actually taste like? In the latest episode of The Overheard Podcast, Chef Tracy Little shares how growing up hunting, fishing, and foraging shaped one of Canmore's most celebrated restaurants. She also opens up about responsible foraging, appearing on Top Chef and Chefs vs. Wild, and the realities of running a restaurant in the Bow Valley. 

• ⚠️ Kananaskis Isn't Quite Back to Normal Yet. The cleanup continues across K-Country after June’s flooding. While many roads and popular areas have reopened, some trails, backcountry campgrounds, and day-use areas remain closed as crews assess damage and begin repairs. Additionally, a bear warning is in effect around Mount Kidd RV Park due to multiple black bears in the area. If you're heading out, check Alberta Parks advisories before you go.

• 📺 Could Your Canmore Home End Up on HGTV? Love It or List It West is casting homeowners across Calgary, Cochrane, Canmore, and surrounding communities for its new season. If your home no longer fits your life, you could score a professional renovation, expert real estate advice, and a starring role on one of HGTV's most beloved series. Applications are now open.

CIVIC NEWS

• More One-on-One Support for Bow Valley Families. Canmore's Family Connection Centre will receive $503,450 a year in provincial funding over the next two years, expanding services for children, youth, and families across the Bow Valley. The funding will bring the Home Visitation program under local delivery, extend youth services up to age 24, and shift more support toward intensive one-on-one care. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, July 24th, 2026, 5:00 PM: DJ Tenax.  Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Friday, July 24th, 2026, 9:30 PM: Colin MacDonald.  Location: Tavern 1883, Canmore. No Cover.

• Saturday, July 25th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Halo.  Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. $5 cover.

SPORTS

• A Huge Weekend for Mountain Athletes. Don't be surprised if the trails and Nordic Centre are busier than usual this weekend. The Rockies 24 brings mountain bikers from across the region for a full 24 hours of racing, while the Canmore Quad challenges trail runners to summit Ha Ling, EEOR, Grotto, and Lady MacDonald in a single day. If you're wondering how runners will reach Ha Ling and EEOR with the Spray Lakes Road closure, we're wondering the same thing. Based on Alberta Parks' closure map, the most likely option appears to be accessing the peak via the Riders of Rohan Trail from Highline Trail, which sits outside the closed area. 

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Monday, 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.