Johnston Canyon IceWalk and the story of fools gold

Do you know the story of Johnston Canyon, and the great gold and silver swindle?

The year is somewhere between 1883 and 1885 and it’s a chilly night here in Silver City in the Canadian Rockies. We stand beneath the magnificent Castle Mountain, some 25km west of Banff, and are a collection of miners, railway workers and general mountain men looking for our fortunes.

Our local bar is the liveliest joint two days in any direction and it was on one of these nights that I seen many a men get taken for their hard earned dollars! In the bar, the music was playing, the drinks a flowing, when a man suddenly tripped across the floor. Just before the “thud” (that everyone was waiting for), one heard, a cling, a clang, and the sound of rolling gold! This naturally brought everything to a stand still.

“Hey mister, where did ya get that there gold?” one shouted. “Let me buy you a drink!” As the music started again and this “apparent” rich man was getting his drink on with some “new friends”, his lips started saying all kinds of crazy stuff.  "The gold came from my claim just a few kilometres away up this canyon.”

As more music played and more drinks flowed, the new friends purposed a share of the claim. For a handsome amount of money, here and now, they all could have a piece of the canyon. Win / Win for everyone, right!  The man gazed over his glass and agreed. All was well.

The next morning was different story though. Raging and looking for redemption, these “new friends”  were tearing the town apart looking for him. See, they spent all day in that canyon looking for gold and found nothing but stunning waterfalls, cool rock formations and outstanding scenery… basically, nothing you can pay a bartender with. Everyone knew there ain’t no gold in that canyon, those poor fools got taken for all they had in hopes of getting rich quick.

The history of Johnston Canyon may have included a crafty smooth-talker but there is no swindle in the beauty and adventure that awaits its visitors. From walking along side its towering rock walls (on steel catwalks) to staring up at a 30 meter (over 90ft) ice wall, anyone with two feet and a heart beat can enjoy this special sightseeing tour, it's one of Banff most popular winter adventures.