Banff Mountain Film Tour: Two fathers and two sons on a bikepacking tour

I was amazed by the film. I've ridden many parts of the route myself. With a gravel bike, tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat. I can't imagine how the team consisting of two fathers, two sons, mountain bikes, a bike trailer and lots of luggage made it up the steep climbs.

Emil and Karl

But from the beginning. The Banff Mountain Film Tour is, surprise surprise, a film tour with very different films about the mountains and mountain sports. This year's Banff tour has seven films in its programme. One of them is called Emil and Karl. Subtitled: Small tyres, big mountains. It left me with great amazement and a pleasant smile.

The film accompanies Jakob and Konstantin on a bikepacking tour with their two-and-a-half-year-old sons Emil and Karl. Yes, you read that right. The boys were two and a half years old when they set off on their first bikepacking tour. They had to cover 180 kilometres and 6000 metres of altitude in six days. Emil and Karl were allowed to ride sometimes on the bike, sometimes on their backs and sometimes in a trailer, while their dads pushed the heavy bikes with their luggage and kids up the mountains.

It's been a few days since I saw the film. But just thinking about riding up the steep climbs of the tour with so much luggage and a trailer - without an engine, of course - makes me shake my head. I've been there. I know the climbs.

The mountains were by no means the only obstacles that the team of four had to overcome. Naps, tantrums and poo breaks with the most beautiful views were also part of the challenge, eliciting at least a smile from the spectators.

My recommendation: Buy a ticket for the Banff Mountain Film Tour.

Tickets and dates Banff Mountain Film Tour