Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: Riding Banff Gondola Up Sulphur Mountain

Posted byAbPosted inADHD, adoption, Banff, FASD, outdoors, Parenting, summer, travelTags:, , , ,

The big picture view always puts the small details into clear perspective.

On Day 3 of our family trip to Banff in early July, we took the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain.

As it’s a popular spot, we reserved a timeslot ahead of time online to minimize the wait to board.

As someone who gets antsy of heights, I felt a tad nervous inside the gondola during the 8-minute, 700 metre ascent up the summit.

T took it like a champ. 😊😆

It was a rainy day so the visitor center at the top of summit, 2.3 km above sea level, was packed.

But the views were so worth it!

Even on a misty gray day, the scenic view of six mountain ranges and the town of Banff and the Bow Valley below were breathtaking.

Sulphur Mountain was Banff’s original weather station and visitors can take an easy 1.1 km boardwalk hike from the visitor center to Cosmic Ray Station, which provides additional panoramic views along the way.

Looking at these photos again make me long to visit again one day soon.

These mountains have seen so much over time.

Looking at them, in pure awe, reminded me of how small we are in both size and our time here.

It reminded me how simple life is for the wildlife that we spotted along the way.

Like this outgoing chipmunk – do you see it?

Or this family of mountain goats that passed by the visitor center.

Family, including found family, is true wealth.

We descended from Sulphur Mountain around lunch time and enjoyed lunch back in town.

We then took a short nap in our hotel before heading back out to enjoy the beauty of Banff.

There is no mountain high enough that the hubby and I wouldn’t climb for T.

We are thankful that on this parenting journey, we get to climb those mountains, figuratively and literally, together with T.

Soaking in the views at the top are so much more meaningful when we’re together.

Explore our Banff Trip

50 thoughts on “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: Riding Banff Gondola Up Sulphur Mountain”

  1. Just lovely, Canada is blessed with these beautiful scenes – love it,maybe one day I’ll get to visit Canada, including Banff, and yes, animals tend to keep life very simple, while us humans have to go around complicating everything. Being out in nature and simple beauty is very grounding, much needed 💚

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      1. 🙏 Canada is in a league of its own ✨ I heard about a glass/all window train that goes through the rockies I think, with amazing scenic views, and all the blue lakes, just gorgeous…..not to mention Niagara. I’ll be truly spoilt if/when I get to visit 💛🇨🇦

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    1. Thanks Betsy. I wish I was back there right now. 🙏 And yes, we really are here for a spec of time. To think that these mountains have been here for life before humans. Just amazing to think about.

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  4. great line: There is no mountain high enough that the hubby and I wouldn’t climb for T.

    I love your travel post and how you so cleverly intertwine them into stories of T

    Banff is on our bucket list and your photos and essay only make me want to go more. By the way, love the chipmunk!!! V

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    1. Thanks Vickie. 😊 It’s fun when we see the connections between the experience of travel and life itself.

      I do hope you get to visit Banff one day. It is so beautiful and it is even more stunning in person than the photos. 💕

      Yes, the chipmunk was so cute!

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  5. hi ab – I loved hearing you speak on Vicki and Wynne’s podcast. You are such a loving father and advocate for T, and you are so lucky to have found each other. I have worked with young children for many years, and know that they all have their own gifts and challenges, and you are the epitome of embracing that within him and traveling through life together with compassion, humor and grace. Your optimism is palpable and I can’ wait to read more.

    Beth

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    1. Hi Beth, thank you listening to the podcast. I’m very thankful to Wynne and Vicki for the opportunity to share awareness.

      We are very lucky to have been connected together as a family. It’s not easy and I can guarantee I’m not always the most patient nor calm in the chaos of the moments but we do our best to live life with humour and hope and heart. 💕 Very nice to meet you!

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  8. I remember when I took a cable car in Jakarta with my parents when I was little, I was excited about it. But my mom was clearly nervous. Now my much older self can relate to her. 😆The incentive to take one of those gondolas in Banff is clearly better. Despite the rainy weather, the views from the summit are still spectacular!

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    1. Such a fun memory, Bama! 😊 It does feel helpless in those small vehicles, eh? But also nice to look back at these memories spent with loved ones.

      The views atop Sulphur Mountain was so beautiful and I wish to go back one day maybe when T has a family of his own!

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  12. Despite the weather, the views still look beautiful. And hey, taking a gondola up sounds way better than hiking given the miserable weather. It’s amazing how spending time in nature, especially the mountains, helps put everything into perspective.

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    1. We had thought about doing the hike up instead of taking the gondola and as we rode the gondola up and saw the steep trail below, we were sure glad we didn’t! 😂

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  13. Six mountain ranges?? That is amazing!! Love the picture of Bow Valley (I presume) that is letter boxed by clouds. Spectacular even on a gray day.

    Ain’t no mountain high enough that you wouldn’t climb for T – that is so good. Yes!

    And I love the cheeky chipmunk too. Great pictures and post, Ab!

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    1. I got to do a mountain climbing post, Wynne, except I chested and took the gondola. 😆

      Yes, the view below was of the Bow Valley. Even on a grey day, it looked other worldly. 💕

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    1. Thanks Jane. We are so blessed to have such a diverse landscape in Canada. We’re hoping to do Newfoundland next summer and I’d love to drive and explore the flat prairies one day too! 🙏

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      1. Hi Ab! Your explanation of FASD and the associated processing challenges on the Heart of the Matter podcast today got me thinking, as I had some similar symptoms to T due to mold exposure and the associated brain inflammation.

        I was curious, so I did some poking around on PubMed and found that “ethanol-induced glial neuroinflammation likely contributes to the pathogenesis of FASD”, or in other words brain inflammation due to early alcohol exposure contributes to symptoms, and that “plasmalogens play a protective role and can prevent inflammation”.

        My doctor credits plasmalogens with rebuilding my brain and helping me regain executive functioning, and they may also be helpful for T. There’s not tons of research and it’s a bit cutting edge, but it may be worth learning about. I’m also happy to share my experience or do some more digging for research to present to T’s doctor for an opinion.

        I use over-the-counter Prodrome Sciences Prodrome Glia (softgels or oil in food) with coupon JWHITCOMB25 for 25% off. It’s pricey, but it’s really been life-changing. If brain inflammation is a contributing factor in some of T’s day-to-day challenges, plasmalogens or other things that can reduce brain inflammation may be helpful to him and, by extension, you.
        https://prodrome.com/pages/plasmalogens

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      2. Hi Erin, a belated thank you for sharing this thoughtful and very detailed comment. How fascinating!

        I will have to read up more on this.

        FASD research and treatment is still a fairly young field. For instance, it was in recent years that choline supplementation was recommended as a way to help attenuate behaviour and memory deficits associated with FASD.

        As you know all too well from your experience, so much of brain related injuries have to do with chemistry and such.

        While FASD is a lifelong disorder, there certainly can be ways to help manage symptoms and it’ll be exciting to see how treatments change over time with more research.

        Thanks again and I will read up on this further. It is much appreciated!

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      3. You’re very welcome!

        How interesting! So, phosphatidylcholines (“choline”) are the precursor to and converted into plasmalogens, so it makes that both could prove beneficial in alleviating some symptoms. In essence, both promote cellular membrane integrity, meaning that the lipid cell wall can better support the normal cellular functions, including taking in nutrients and excreting waste.

        Based on your conversation with Wynne and Vicki, FASD sounds to be far more common than I ever imagine, so I hope that means there will be more research and treatment options on the horizon. It’s hard to think about how many people are struggling without the support T has through you, your husband, and his teachers.

        If you’ve not tried choline, it’s safe, low-cost, tasteless, and may be helpful to T. I use Life Extension brand Lecithin dissolved in water. It’s used as a stabilizer in cooking, so you could also add to various recipes.

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      4. Thanks Erin. We do include choline supplements for T through his multivitamins. And we try to have him eat choline rich foods but to no avail as he’s so picky. 😆😝

        FASD is the leading preventable development disability with 4% of the population affected. Might even more as some people don’t report having drank while pregnant for a variety of reasons. You will likely have known someone with it growing up too!

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      5. That’s great!!! Hopefully, it’s helpful. Gosh, I feel like all kids go through the picky phase LOL.

        Wow, I believe it. My mom’s best friend’s adopted son was born addicted to drugs, and I would bet alcohol was also a factor. Some of the physiognomy traits associated with FASD lead me to suspect a few other people I know have also been affected; however, maybe the good news is they’re all high-functioning and successful so I think it’s a challenge that people can learn to manage well. I’m certain with loving support, the likelihood is even higher. 😊

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      6. Yes, unfortunately drugs and alcohol go often hand in hand. T was also exposed to marijuana and crystal meth in the womb. Heavy stuff! I have to remember this when we have challenging moments and also be thankful for the many moments of joy and successes we also have.

        I do think nurture and love make a huge difference. And so does external supports. They do have to be early interventions, if possible, to make the best impact. 🙏

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      7. I know he has his challanges, but it really is incredible what’s he overcome, even as a newly-born baby. From what I’ve read, you’re providing the perfect balance of high expectation and grace when things don’t go as planned, as well as support in all areas of life. T is a FASD success story in the making. 🥰fasd

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