Backpacker Buzz

Get a glimpse of life as an HI wilderness hostel manager. From Jasper's The Skinny

Up the Maligne Valley, tucked away next to the river, is a little one-room wood cabin. It’s small and quaint, and has a serene garden beside it – a nice place to sit on a summer evening with a good book and listen to the river water trickle through the rocks. But as I walk up to the cabin, I hear something emerging from the open window that doesn’t quite fit with the tranquil scene… thundering electric blues! This is the home of Volker Schelhas, local naturalist, outdoorsman, and longtime hostel manager at HI-Maligne Canyon Wilderness Hostel. Read more »

First mission in Banff – watch the gold medal match! Read more »

Check out these mountains!!! Read more »

 Just a place I dropped into and liked… Read more »

Well….. what would you do with your last night??? Read more »

Even during the Olympics, the mountains are about white gold – POWDER! Read more »

Earlier this month, the International Youth Hostel Federation announced that HI-Lake Louise Alpine Centre and HI-Edmonton have received their HI-Quality certification, ranking them among the best hostels in the world. Read more »

I went along to see the Women's pairs start their Olympic battle on the ice - it was simply amazing to be so close... Read more »

 It’s possible to pack quite a bit into one day in Whistler!! Read more »

On Saturday it was time to move on…and what a first few days and nights it’s been! Read more »