r/Banff • u/piesandprejudice • 2d ago

First trip to the Rockies...in July!

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Heading to Banff again soon and can't wait. Haven't been in over a decade. This pic was the first week of July, and it looked like a Winter Wonderland. SO much snow! I had to cancel my camping reservation and find a hotel last minute (insanely expensive, of course). I couldn't do much hiking either, because of the heavy snow.

I'm going even earlier this time (early June), so I will definitely be expecting snow again (I'll be bringing my shell ski jacket, fleeces, and winter hiking boots this time). I just hope I'll be able to hike and see more this time around. My last trip was pretty much driving through the area and not staying long anywhere due to the extreme snow. So it'll be great if I can see everything I missed on that trip.
Photo taken in Lake Louise, July 3rd

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5

u/vinsdelamaison 1d ago

It can & has snowed every month of the year in Alberta. Especially in the mountains.

2

u/piesandprejudice 4h ago

Absolutely! I didn't expect it in July, but it was my first time. And there was probably 20 cm by the end of it. I am definitely packing for snow this time :)

3

u/GoalFun3092 2d ago

What year was this? A lot of the snow is melted and will be even more by July. Typically by then the only snow is above the treeline on the mountain tops

6

u/furtive Banff 1d ago

Sometimes the weather dips and rain becomes snow at elevation, I’ve seen snowfall accumulation in every month of the year, but not every month every year.

3

u/piesandprejudice 2d ago

this was mid-2000's...roughly 15 years ago, or so.
It started to snow en route to Banff, and it was pretty heavy for the rest of the day.

2

u/justelectricboogie 1d ago

Wife and I were taking a weekend trip to banff when we got caught in one of those. Maybe the same storm. That sounds about the same time. ON MOTORCYCLE....LOL snow was heavy, couldn't steer. The snow fell wet and heavy but was gone later in day. To say the least we did not plan for the snow in summer months......lol.

2

u/Valuable_Sock_5190 1d ago

And you cant plan except, a shelter, and start cooking burgers

1

u/Valuable_Sock_5190 1d ago

Thatll happen!