On the Top of Sulphur Mountain, plus shots of my favorite Mountain Cascade

Going up Oct. 2012, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 58mm, f4, 1/30sec. ISO1600

Taking the ride up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in Banff National Park Alberta, is always a wonderful experience. The mountain was named in 1916 for the hot springs on its lower slopes, where after a long day trekking it’s great to sit and relax in Banff “upper hot springs pool”.

I went to the summit using the gondola many times, summer, late fall, the view is always astonishing no matter how many times you see it, so vast and beautiful, nature to his best.

Last time I was up was in late October 2012 a very cold and snowy morning, I remembered being in my car waiting for the gondola to open, it was the last week end for 8:00am early ride up.

It was so cold so miserable, it was the first time that I saw that parking lot completely empty, I had my doubt about going up in this kind of weather, it can be very nasty up there, but I decided to do it anyway.

I was the first one up, going up just after the employee’s, just before getting in my own cabin one of the staff on ground told me, that I will be very happy, that the view up there was amazing.

When I go up Sulphur I always bring my heavy sturdy tripod, my best camera body plus a backup and at least 3 lenses, my Canon 16-35, Canon 24-105, and 100-400.

I was alone in the cabin during that October ride to the summit, I was ready to shoot, it was not an easy situation, early morning in a snowy day, sitting in a moving cabin, means I needed to boost my ISO to 1600 and try to minimized camera shake, but at least I was by myself, having the freedom to move side to side in the cabin.

I took shots of the ascension, and just before getting to the summit, passing through the thick cloud, I got one of the most exciting view, I was bouncing inside the cabin like a kid, I couldn’t believe the beauty in front of my eyes, how lucky I was to be the first up, means having time to take a lot of shots, without the regular tourist crowd.

I passed 2h by myself, it was extremely cold, but exhilarating probably the best time I ever experience up there.

Couldn't believe my eyes what an amazing view, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 32mm, f4, 1/60sec, ISO1600

On the top of Sulphur, view of Cascade Mountain, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 24mm, f9, 60sec, ISO200

Extremely cold but so magnificent, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 28mm, f9, 1/6sec, ISO200

Cascade my all time favorite, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 67mm, f11, 1/60, ISO200

 Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 28mm, f14, 1/60sec, ISO200

I added some of the summer shots that I took to give you an idea of the summer view, I also added shot of my favorite mountain “Cascade”, Cascade is the mountain you see from the town of Banff is a landmark, you can also see the other side of it coming into Banff National Park from the east gate, the shot I took from that point of view was from my car, you are not authorized to stop at that location, and is doesn’t give credit to the feeling you get when you see it from that side, every time I drove on that road and I see that amazing Mountain, I feel very small, this is for me the most impressive piece of rock in the world!

Summer day on top of Sulphur, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 16-35 at 20mm, f14, 1/40sec, ISO200

View of Summit Upper Terminal an elevation of 2,281m (7,486 ft) Canon 5DMarkii, Canon 24-105 at 67mm, f13, 1/25sec, ISO200

 Late Summer Valley View, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 65mm, f13, 1/100sec, ISO200

Cascade overlooking Banff Town site, so massive, very impressive, Canon 5DMarkii, Canon 24-105 at 58mm, f13, 1/50sec, ISO200

Cascade Banff Landmark, Canon 5D Markii, Canon24-105 at 45mm, f9, 1/50sec, ISO200

Cascade East Side Gate View, from my car, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 105mm, f10, 1/100sec, ISO200

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