Rick Yoshimoto and Chris Thralls both made the journey from the San Francisco Bay are to sample a bit of ice climbing in Banff with Mark. We had a good 2 days, starting with Johnston Canyon and finishing with Louise Falls.

A climber a Johnston Canyon. This canyon is such a beautiful spot that many guided hiking groups walk the pleasant mile or so of paved trails just to look at the ice and waterfalls. The ice climbers are always "on stage". It is a great place to practice with everything from mellow low-angled ice to desperate pillars, and all in a wonderful, easy to get to setting.

Rick and Chris, after our climb of Louise Falls.

Another view of Johnston Canyon. We did this fun, more easier-than-it -looks route just before this group. The climbers on the pillar is friend and colleague Jorg Wiltz.

Louise Falls. The pillar was in very fine shape this year with near vertical ice, but wonderful hooking. We climbed 2 pitches to the cave to the right of the pillar, then finished up with two more short ones.

Rick starts the first pitch of Louise Falls. We often like to begin this climb on the far right edge, climbing in this scenic alcove surrounded by pink and orange quartzite.

Chris tops out on the pillar pitch. Lake Louise can be seen in the background. If it were just a bit less snowy you could see the Chateau Lake Louise at the far end of the lake.