Adventure in the Canadian Rockies - Sat, Jul 20 2024

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed through the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for details; you will be given payment instructions after you sign up. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.



Adventure in the Canadian Rockies


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: Canmore, Alberta
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Jul 20 2024  7:00 am >> Sat, Jul 27 2024 10:00 pm
Registration Opens: Mon, Oct 2 2023 7:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Sat, Jul 6 2024 7:34 am
Event Duration:7 Days 15 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D6: Advanced (Exploratory)
Distance:57 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
RonnyJ (Call me Ron)
Email Trip Leader(s)
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Member Cost:$1,460.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:1
Minimum Group Size:10
Number Registered So Far: 9 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Join me on an epic adventure in the Canadian Rockies. We will be exploring Yoho and Kootenay National Parks as well as Peter Lougheed and Spray Valley Provencial Parks. There are so many beautiful trails in the Banff region, on this adventure we will be steering clear of the crowds and staying above the treeline. We will be staying in Canmore which boasts a central location and a wide variety of restaurants to choose from.

The Parks

The Banff region is literally surronded by national and provincial parks containing thousands of miles of trails. The most popular of the parks is Banff NP with great highway access and some of the most popular trails. We will be spending our time west and south of Banff NP... The trails are better, the views spectacular and the crowds much, much lower. There will be no Lake Louise or Jasper NP on this trip.

 

The Hikes

Sunday: Iceline Trail Loop (13 miles/3k, D5). A day in Yoho National Park will be long remembered and the Iceline trail is our ticket to adventure! This trail has a steep climb and quick access to mind blowing views of glaciers, waterfalls and alpine fields. Yoho NP is known for its' concentration of jagged peaks and glacial moraines and the Iceline trail is the best way to take it all in. The max altitude of this hike is about 7300 feet ASL and is a great start to our trip. The trailhead parking lot is quite large and about 90 minutes from Canmore.

Iceline Trail Map

Directions to Iceline Trailhead

 

 

Monday: Sarrail Ridge (7.1 miles/3.5k D5). Located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park about an hour south of Canmore, and maxing out at 7900 feet ASL, this hike packs in some big views of mountains and lakes in a short trek. Don't be fooled by the distance, we still have some big climbs to get to the top!

Sarrail Ridge Map

Directions to Sarrail Ridge Trailhead

 

 

Tuesday: Mount Niles and Niles Meadow(14 miles/5k D6) 
Another visit to Yoho will bring us to a huge ampitheater and a scramble to the top... The views are EPIC! Our hardest and highest hike of the week, with a day off the next day lets head to the top! Topping out at 9500 feet ASL you will be glad we acclimated slowly. For those that are too tired, stopping at the ampitheater will still make for an awesome day.

Mount Niles Map

Directions to Mount Niles Trailhead

 

 

Wednesday: A well deserved easy day. Today will be a day for an easy stroll and a little sight seeing as we rest our legs for the rest of our adventure.

 

Thursday: Kindersley-Sinclair Loop(11.5 miles/4.3k D6). 
Our day finds us in Kootenay National Park. 90 minutes from Canmore along a scenic highway to the land of fire and ice. Kootenay is off the beaten path and is full of sharp peaks, glaciers and beautiful valleys. We take it all in on this awesome loop trail. With a max elevation of 8155 feet ASL we should cruise through this trek.

Kindersley Loop Map

Directions to Kindersley Loop Trailhead

 

Friday: Mount Smutwood(11 miles/3k D5).  We will head to Spray Valley Provincial Park for our last day of hiking. Plenty of time above the treeline with scree and big views, this hike will be a perfect end to our Canadian adventure. Today we will max out at 8641 feet ASL and we will love every foot of it!

Mount Smutwood Map

Directions to Mount Smutwood Trailhead

 

This is an aggressive hiking schedule, I have a list of shorter trails we can use if heavy legs or bad weather get in our way.

High Altitude Hiking 

Maybe you are lucky and hiking at altitude doesn't bother you. I am not. If altitude bothers you or you are concerned it might, a quick visit to the MD before the trip to get some prescription meds should take care of you. Either way, the hikes have been arranged so that we gain our altitude slowly. 70% of people will have minor symptoms of altitude sickness at or above 10k feet.

Training 

Preparation is the key to a trip like this. You must prepare yourself to the point of doing difficult hikes on consecutive days. I will be scheduling weekly D6 training hikes leading up to our trip. Each individual is responsible to show up ready to hike, don't let yourself be the one holding up the group.

I am normally a fast hiker, but when surronded by mountain peaks, I slow down. And if I don't, you can remind me to and I will. Promise.

 

Lodging


Our Condo has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 10 beds a large kitchen and more! This condo is in the same complex I stayed in last time I was in Canmore. Very nice, indeed.

Click here for lodging info

Click here for condo location

 

I will be making room assignments based on club status, time of sign up, volunteer activities and gender mix. Sorry you must choose a gender before room assignments can be made.

 

Flights

There are plenty of flights between Atlanta and Calgary. There is a Delta Flight arriving at 1:15p on Saturday and a flight leaving at 10:15a the next Saturday. Canmore is a 75 minute drive from the airport and lodging accomodations have been made based on these or similar flights. For those who adhere to this flight schedule, we will be easily move between Calgary and Canmore. If your flights vary greatly from these times, shuttles are available between Calgary and Canmore and won't be included in the trip cost. Late arrivers and early departers are responsible for finding there own shuttle from Canmore to Calgary.

  

Transportation

Each hiker is responsible for air travel to the Calgary Airport by 3 o'clock on Saturday. Two SUVs will be included to support our adventures and will whisk you away from the airport to our luxury accommodations. Car rental and gas are included expenses.

Food

Food is not included in the price. After we check in to our condo, we will take a ride to Safeway for a food run. Please buy enough breakfast and lunch supplies to last the week and assume we will be eating out for dinner every night.

 

Who should sign up

 

I am looking for fellow adventure seekers that are STRONG hikers with low-drama personalities. A total of 10 people will be allowed on the trip. All AOC members are welcome to sign up, I will be selecting the group based on the following criteria:

 

  • Time of sign up
  • Strength of hiking experience
  • Activity in the club
  • Low drama personality 
  • Fit within the group dynamic

 

At signup time you will initially be placed on the waiting list. The group will be selected based on the above criteria and you will be added to the active roster and be given a link with which to pay. Once the attendee roster is published, we will give a time frame for attendees to pay.

 

Failure to pay within the given timeframe will result in your removal from the active roster.

 

You can help:

 

This is group living and the whole group will need to help out to ensure the best outcome. You will be given several choices on how you can help including: be a driver, pick restaurants, backup navigation, king of the kitchen (and many more)... more on this as the time gets closer...

 

 

 


Required Items to Bring:

Casual clothing

Clothing for snow hiking

Clothing for rain hiking

Clothing for windy peaks

Water shoes

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Poles

Camera

Binoculars


Notes:

You may ask, "Why are we signing up and paying so early?". That is a good question, accomodations fill up quickly, I was able to grab this premier location by signing up and paying in June. Once all participants have paid, I will get reimbursed for the accomodations.

You may also ask, "What happens if I cannot make the trip?". Another good question, assuming there is a wait list (there will be) and you drop before July 1,2024, you will be reimbursed all but $35 if/when your replacement pays.


Important information for paid events in which payment is managed through the AOC:

     - Payment must be received by the payment due date and prior to participation in the event.

     - Some paid events require a minimum number of registered participants. If that number is not met, the event will be canceled and refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.

     - Third-party vendors often require damage deposits. Each registrant agrees to be liable for and required to reimburse the Atlanta Outdoor Club for any withheld deposits due to the actions of or damages caused by that registrant.

     - No partial payments. All registrants must pay the posted Member Cost regardless of any agreement you may have with any party involved in the event.

     - Read the event description carefully for additional information, and contact the trip leader(s) with any questions.

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost & Payment:
Member Cost:$1,460.00/Person
Cost Includes:

Lodging

Ground Transportation

Gas

Bear spray

Park Passes

Some food to share (Condiments)

Not Included

Food

Air transportation

Shuttle between Calgary and Canmore for those with late arrival or early departure.

Payment Cut Off:Payment must be received by the AOC on Sat, Jul 6 2024.
Make a Payment:Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.