The Canadian Rockies

12/17/2023

It's never to early to begin planning for a 2024 camping trip to the Canadian Rockies!

For information about reserving a Canadian Rockies national park campsite in 2024 we recommend these pages:

https://thecanadianrockies.com/banff-national-park-campgrounds-2024/

https://thecanadianrockies.com/jasper-national-park-campgrounds-2024/

https://thecanadianrockies.com/yoho-national-park-camping-2024/

https://thecanadianrockies.com/kootenay-national-park-camping-2024/

https://thecanadianrockies.com/waterton-lakes-national-park-campgrounds-2024/

08/24/2023

Read Alberta releases a monthly list of the ten bestselling books by Alberta publishers, with data collected from independent bookstores through Book Manager.

It's always nice to see our books on the list, but July 2023, was special, with Summerthought books holding the top 3 positions:

1 A is for Alberta
2 Canadian Animals for Kids
3 Canadian Rockies Trail Guide

The full list is here: https://readalberta.ca/recommendations/bestsellers/alberta-bestseller-july-2023/

07/05/2023

The Book Publishers Association of Alberta just released a shortlist for the 2023 Alberta Book Publishing Awards. Great to see our Canadian Rockies Trail Guide shortlisted for Regional Book of the Year, with winners announced in September. All shortlisted books are listed here:

On this page: About the Awards 2023 Shortlist Past winners About the Awards As the critical middle piece of the storytelling process, Alberta book publishers enrich and sustain the cultural and social landscape of our province. Releasing a range of quality titles each year, they bring Alberta’s St...

05/22/2023

Thanks to CBC for the profiling the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide. 50 years and still going strong!

When hikers head out to the mountains this long weekend, many will reach for a well-worn copy of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide. Here's the story of how the guide came to be.

01/13/2023

Mindy Johnstone will be at Cafe Books signing copies of her new book A is for Alberta between noon and 3 pm Saturday January 14.

And yes, there is a page dedicated to Canmore for the letter Q. Locals will know why!

01/07/2023

The inevitable has happened - Moraine Lake Road will be closed in 2023 to all public vehicles. We rode the ROAM shuttle from Banff a few times last year and the service was quick and inexpensive. What will be disappointing to many is that the first shuttle of the day won't reach the lake until 8 am, so (except for late fall) there will be limited opportunity to photograph the famous Moraine Lake sunrise (although there may be private charters allowed on the road earlier. You could also bike to the lake (a 30-km round trip).

The Parks Canada press release is here: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/parkbus/louise/renseignements-sur-le-stationnement-parking-information

12/05/2022

It was a great turn out for the official launch A is for Alberta, with friends, family, and many others stopping by Banff Good Earth Coffeehouse to help celebrate the launch of MIndy’s first book. While Mindy was busy signing copies and selling original prints from the book, everyone enjoyed wine, snacks, and catching up on a cold Banff evening.

11/23/2022

This Sunday afternoon, come help celebrate the publication of Banff artist Mindy Johnstone’s first book, A is for Alberta!

WHERE: Good Earth Coffeehouse, Banff
WHEN: 4pm to 6pm Sunday November 27th

Stop by Good Earth Coffeehouse from 4-6pm to congratulate Mindy, get your signed copy, purchase prints, and enjoy free refreshments.

11/02/2022

UPDATE: Congratulations to Maya W for winning the package. Maya has been using our books and maps for many years, but tells us she desperately needed the updated versions!

If you're looking for something to do this snowy weekend (4-6 November, 2022), consider taking in the adventure documentaries at the Banff Film & Book Festival, hosted by the Banff Centre.

And while you're there, stop by the Gem Trek Maps and Summerthought Publishing booths at the Festival Marketplace to enter for a chance to win:

- 1 set of 20 Gem Trek Maps
- Gem Trek merch
- a selection of Summerthought books

Total value is $400. Winner will be chosen by a random draw at conclusion of the festival.

10/26/2022

Brazen Restaurant, in Banff's historic Mount Royal Hotel, opened earlier this summer, and last week welcomed media from across Canada to sample their modern twist on traditional Alberta dishes. Albertan-grown mushrooms, skewered ginger beef, and cocktails from local distilleries were highlights leading up to the main event - coffee-crusted striploin from Southern Alberta's Cudlobe Angus https://www.facebook.com/CudlobeAngus

Banff has seen a bunch of new restaurants open in the last couple of years, with Brazen definitely one of the most memorable. So we highly recommend checking out their menu and making reservations: https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/dining/brazen/

08/08/2022

Beach day at Mt. Assiniboine 😎

05/23/2022

A beautiful day in Kananaskis on the May long weekend - feels like spring!
Video taken at Porcupine Ridge which can be found on the
Gem Trek Canmore Kananaskis map
https://gemtrek.com/product/canmore-kananaskis-map/

03/23/2022

This is Boo, the resident grizzly at the Grizzly Bear Interpretive Centre at Kicking Horse Resort in Golden BC. For 20 years Boo has been popping his head out in spring.🥰

03/18/2022

It's that time of year again!

The first bear of the year has been spotted in Banff National Park! 🐻 👀

Our Parks Canada Resource Conservation Officers have received the first bear report of the spring.

Remember, be prepared and always be when you are visiting Banff National Park. Pack bear spray, stay on trail, keep your pets leashed and be aware of your surroundings. Sometimes bears can leave “clues” to their presence like tracks or s**t.

Spot a bear? Make sure to give them lots of space and report your bear sighting to Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470.

For more on bear safety, please visit: http://ow.ly/Bb5P50Im3VG

03/13/2022

A lovely day for a hike to the Inkpots at Johnston Canyon. This ptarmigan did it's best to look big and fierce...came off more fluffy and cute I'd say 😊




www.gemtrek.com

03/10/2022

A beautiful night in January for a skate on Lake Minnewanka.🥰

04/23/2021

The snow-sun-snow weather pattern is fairly typical for April in the Canadian Rockies, but this week has been especially stark, with temperatures reaching 18 degrees one day, followed by snow the very next.