Holidays in the Rocky Mountains:
The Rockies Wildlife Tour

Predeparture Information

Partial Document Only

This document contains information on:

1. Traveling Responsibly
2. Local Social and Environmental Issues
3. The Areas We Visit         
4. Travel Information
5. Preparing for the Tour
6. Once You Arrive in Vancouver

Below is an excerpt from our pre-departure package:

1. Traveling Responsibly

At Midnight Sun Adventure Travel, we define responsible tourism as travel that takes into consideration the 'triple bottom line' issues of:

• Environment: travel that minimizes negative environmental impacts, facilitates awareness of key issues and, makes positive contributions to the conservation of biodiversity, wilderness, natural and human heritage.
• Social/Cultural: travel that respects culture and traditions and fosters authentic interaction and greater understanding between travelers and hosts.
• Economic: travel that has financial benefits for the host community.

During the course of the Rockies Wildlife Tour we stay in national and provincial campgrounds and locally owned accommodation. We also frequent local shops for meals, supplies and crafts. These practices facilitate a high degree of contact with locals and ensure that the economic development our business brings goes directly to local businesses, park authorities and communities.  As an integral part of the holiday experience, we work closely with local people and rely upon their knowledge of the environment and local culture. We discourage the purchase of disposable water bottles during the tour and encourage our guests to drink from water canisters in the van. During our walks and hikes we ask you to be vigilant about keeping to the trails and avoid treading on sensitive terrain.

2. Social and Environmental Issues

During your vacation travel in the Rocky Mountains, your guide will provide insight into the social and environmental issues that impact the areas we travel. The most important issue facing the Rocky Mountains is that of wildlife preservation.

The Rocky Mountains, including Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, and Yoho National Park, are home to several endangered and threatened species.  Due to the rapid development and commercialization in and around the Rocky Mountains, species such as the Grizzly Bear, Gray Wolf, Black-Footed Ferret, Burrowing Owl, and Pitcher’s Thistle have been added to the endangered species list.  Other species, including the Woodland Caribou, Bull Trout, Bald Eagle, and Canada Lynx are now considered threatened species.  

There have been ongoing issues in the Rocky Mountains with the amount of development and commercialization threatening local species.  However, in 1997 it was announced by the Federal Government that no new land will be available for commercial development in the parks.  This will help to prevent any further damage to the animals and plants residing in the area from being done.

The Rocky Mountains are also host to wildlife corridors, which are protected routes that allows animals to move safely between areas of suitable habitat.  They are typically narrow, funnel shaped tracts of land that sit in valleys between developed areas.  The Rocky Mountain wildlife corridors span from the Northwest Territories to Colorado, with a bottleneck in Banff due to over-development.   Banff national Park is now working to ….