Few people have spent as much time in the mountains, and know them as intimately as Chic Scott. As a historian, writer, and ski pioneer in the Rockies, Chic has gained extensive knowledge and wisdom about the mountains he calls home. In the latest installment of “Three Things I’ve Learned,” Joanna Croston profiles Chic’s contributions and taps into the wisdom of this Rockies legend.

Nature is our greatest teacher. Charlie Russell learned this over a lifetime, as a child on his father’s ranch just outside of Waterton Lakes National Park, as a rancher himself, an eco-tourism leader in British Columbia and, most famously, living among grizzly bears in Russia. Sky England interviews Russell, now 74, about his life’s work and what the natural world has taught him.

Mountains make the greatest teachers and provide us with countless opportunities to contemplate, question and learn. As a climber, member of Canada’s 1982 expedition to Mt. Everest, ACMG/IFMGA guide, Summit of Excellence Award winner, and beloved member of the Rockies community, Lloyd “Kiwi” Gallagher has had many such moments. Turning 80 this year, Kiwi shares what he’s learned throughout his many decades spent in the mountains.

Bear spray easy to access on the outside of your pack? Check. Hiking with friends and making noise? Check. Dog on a leash? Check. You’re well-prepared for recreating in bear country. But, what will you do if you actually encounter a bear? A bear biologist gives us her best pointers.

It’s no secret that in the Canadian Rockies we find one of lower Canada’s largest and unfettered wilderness areas. It’s also right at our fingertips. Outdoor aficionado, Andrew Hardingham, gives us four great reasons to lace up our hiking boots, and his best recommendations for wilderness experiences in Banff National Park.

It has been 140 years since bison roamed free in Banff National Park. But, this month, all that has changed as a small herd of Plains bison was translocated from Elk Island National Park to Banff. With the help of Bison Belong, an organization dedicated to the animal’s reintroduction, we put together a timeline to put this recent success into context.

Hike into Berg Lake with the lofty height of Mt. Robson and tumbling glaciers towering above you, and you’ll be wondering why you’ve never been there before. Mt. Robson Provincial Park is a backcountry hiker’s paradise, with the biggest, wildest and most diverse terrain the Canadian Rockies have to offer. The hiking here is rigorous, but the rewards are as huge as the mountain that makes the region so famous.

The Iceline Circuit is considered by many to be a jewel of Yoho National Park, and for good reason. Not only will you find waterfalls, glaciers and wildflowers around every turn, but this region is rich with the history of Swiss Guides and the CP Rail. Whether you complete the 20-km circuit in a hard-earned day or break it up with a backcountry campground or ACC Hut, there are several ways to enjoy this little slice of Yoho paradise.

With its turquoise waters, towering peaks, hanging valleys and larch forests, Lake O’Hara is beloved by all those who know it. The near-mythic beauty of this pocket of Yoho National Park will bring you to your knees. If that’s not enough to make you plan a trip, you should know that Parks Canada has restricted access to a handful of busloads each day. Plan ahead and you’ll be among the eager beavers enjoying one of the most impressive and crowd-free spots in the Canadian Rockies.

If you’ve ever been to Lake Louise Ski Resort, you may have wondered what lies out of sight just beyond the slopes. Whatever you’re picturing, it’s all that and more. The Skoki Region offers some of Banff’s premier multi-day hiking, backpacking and camping experiences. Trips are easily customized by linking various campgrounds, or tacking on exciting scrambles and side-trips. Don’t forget your camera as the mountain passes and alpine lakes on this trip will have you filling up your memory card in no time.

Traversing three alpine passes, lush forests, lunar scree slopes and heavenly wildflower meadows, the 55-kilometre Rockwall Trail in the Kootenay Valley is a Rockies hiking gem. Along the route, hanging glaciers and waterfalls burst out of the Rockwall itself, a 900-metre-high rampart of limestone and dolomite that looms over the trail for much of its length. Enthusiasts can hike the whole trail in two days, taking an overnight break at Numa Creek Campground (20 km), but a four-day trip gives more time to enjoy the epic scenery.

Some trips are about the destination, others are about the journey. The backcountry trips that stick with us most are the ones that captivate us every step of the way. A hike connecting North Molar Pass, Fish Lakes and Molar Pass (also known as South Molar) is one such unforgettable adventure. Expansive alpine meadows, impressive rock headwalls and encircling peaks will have you spinning round and round in slow-motion 360’s as you soak up the infinite views.