As we sat at our campsite near Two Jack Lake in Banff National Park roasting marshmallows on the campfire, my kids started talking and I learned things about them that I didn’t know before.
With no cell service, no TV and no computer, there was plenty of time to disconnect from technology and reconnect with each other, which was pretty much the point of the trip.
Two Jack Lake is one of the prettiest camping spots in the Canadian Rockies and on this particular evening the water on the lake was so smooth we could see a perfect reflection of the surrounding mountains on its glimmering surface.
Rumour has it that the lake’s name was the outcome of a poker game lost by the first park superintendent, George Stewart, but today the lake is a sure bet for those looking for a spectacularly scenic campground.
Camping is a great Canadian tradition, but for many people the idea of setting up a tent, building a fire and sleeping outdoors seems more like an episode of Survivor than a real vacation. Until recently, I fit into that category. Our family had not been on a real camping trip since our youngest child was in diapers. Back then it just took one ugly incident featuring a temper tantrum and a sippy cup torpedoing through the air to convince us that camping wasn’t really worth the effort.
But as my children got older, I started to think about camping again. There is no better way to get close to nature and to each other than a family camping trip. It’s also cost-efficient.
And with the Canadian Rockies right in our backyard, Albertans have some of the best campgrounds in the world to choose from. People travel from all over the globe to experience the rugged mountains, crystal clear lakes and glacier-carved valleys that make up the birthplace of Canada’s national parks and we only have to drive a few short hours to enjoy that natural beauty.
That said, after more than a decade without a family camping trip, there was some resistance to the idea. It takes a lot of work to have a good camping experience and my husband was concerned that we didn’t have enough sleeping bags, tents, cooking utensils and other equipment to manage a camping trip with all four of our almost grown children. What he didn’t know is that Parks Canada and a local tour outfitter have made camping in Banff an easy prospect — even for non-campers.
Parks Canada just constructed 10 oTENTiks at Two Jack Lakeside Campground in Banff National Park. The name is a takeoff of the word “authentic” and the units are a cross between a tent and a cabin. Each unit sleeps six people and comes with mattresses, electrical outlets, a wood stove, pots and pans, a table and chairs, a propane barbecue and a fire pit.
Also new this year is a private camping rental service that can provide a family of six with everything they need to have a successful camping trip. Bactrax camping rentals will even set up the tent and take it down for you, so camping can actually be a no-muss, no-fuss vacation.
We were fortunate to be among the first to try the new oTENTiks at Two Jack Lakeside Campground and we also took advantage of the new rental service. The weather was perfect for our first night of camping and as we sat around the fire visiting and joking with each other, I decided that I wouldn’t wait another decade to do this again.
If Parks Canada could find a way to guarantee sunny skies for all camping trips, we’d be out there every weekend.
Camp food made easy
A successful camping trip almost always includes plenty of great food. Besides the typical hotdogs, hamburgers, sandwiches and trail mix, two must-have items for our family are tin-foil dinners and s’mores.
Tin-foil dinners — Also known as hobo dinners, the beauty of these meals is that all the prep work is done at home and each camper makes their own meal in advance. Layer pre-cooked meat (chicken, hamburger, steak), veggies (carrots, peas, corn, onion, tomatoes) and thinly-sliced potatoes (may use hash browns or tater tots) on a thick slice of aluminum foil. Spread the sauce of your choice (ketchup, tomato soup, barbecue sauce) on top of the meal and top with cheese. You may also wish to place a few slices of bacon on top of the meal. Seal the edges of the foil tight and wrap with a second layer of foil.
Store in a cooler and cook on the coals of the fire until the dinners are thoroughly warmed and the vegetables are tender.
Many variations of these meals are available including gourmet concoctions such as tinfoil peach cobbler and seafood surprise.
These are best cooked on the hot coals of a bonfire, but you can also cook them on a barbecue.
For great recipe ideas, visit www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/07/30-delicious-tin-foil-dinners.html.
S’mores — A s’more consists of a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker. If you don’t have access to a bonfire, try making s’mores by wrapping them in aluminum foil and cooking them on a medium hot barbecue grill or a toaster oven for one to two minutes on each side.
If you go:
• The 10 oTENTiks in Banff National Park are located at the Two Jack Lakeside Campground and are on a first-come, first-served basis for 2013. In 2014, they will be added to the Parks Canada reservation system along with an additional 10 oTENTiks in Jasper National Park. It costs $150 per night to rent an oTENTik. A tent site will cost $27.40 per night. For more information, visit the Parks Canada website at www.pc.gc.ca.
• BacTrax is a rental company that can provide you with almost anything you might need for a successful camping trip. For $50 per day, you can rent sleeping bags, liners, cookware, cutlery, dishes, a cooler, chairs, a lantern, kettle and a coffee press for up to six people. If you wish to add a tent and sleeping pads, it will cost $25 per day. BacTrax also offers a setup and pack down service for an additional charge, which means you can arrive at the campsite and have your tent already set up. For reservations or information, visit www.campingbanff.com.
• There are other private tour operators that also offer a no-muss, no-fuss camping set up. A personal favourite is Sundance Lodges in Kananaskis. For $84.50 per night, you can rent a trapper’s tent or a large tepee with beds for four people. They can also supply bedding, cooking utensils, a camp stove, towels and other supplies for an additional charge. For more information, visit www.sundancelodges.com.
Debbie Olsen is a Lacombe-based freelance writer. Follow Debbie’s travels at www.wanderwoman.ca. If you have an interesting travel story you would like to share, please email: DOGO@telusplanet.net or write to: Debbie Olsen, c/o Red Deer Advocate, 2950 Bremner Ave., Red Deer, Alta., T4R 1M9.