 High Ridges and Lofty Passes
New!
The lodging is first rate; the meals in gourmet restaurants. This trip comes complete with a massage and spa treatment. The guides will not only see to your safety on the trail, but teach you methods of climbing long hills and see that you're ready for the challenges through a proper warm up program.
ITINERARY:
Pre-trip - Saturday
Orientation to meet group, discuss trails and options available, issue daypacks, rain gear, etc. Overnight in the Lodge at Kananaskis, where the G8 summit was held in June, 2002.
Day 1 - Sunday
Picklejar Lakes and hills is our destination today. We will first visit the Picklejar Lakes by proceeding up Lantern Creek where we reach the divide between Lantern and the Picklejar drainages. After visiting each of the lakes we will proceed down Picklejar Creek until we start ascending the ridge that leads to the summit of the Picklejar Hills a vertical climb of almost 350 metres (1500 feet) in little over 1.5 kilometres. After this first test our route follows the summit ridge and decsends to Picklejar Creek where we soon rejoin highway forty and the end of our first days adventure.
Our accommodations are once again at the Delta Lodge in Kananaskis.
Distance 12 Kilometres (8 miles)
Elevation 2460 metres (8070 feet)
Day 2 - Monday
After yesterday's warm up hike we will work the kinks out and probably invent a few new kinks by doing a high ridge circuit of Mount Allen and Mount Collemboa. Route allows us to summit two mountains and experience kilometres of high wide ridges and wonderous views to the north and south, to the west to Mount Sparrowhawk and Mount Lougheed and to the east where you can gaze out to the praires and the City of Calgary. There is no technical climbing on this route. The day is rated as an advanced hike due to the distance travelled and the 1334 metre, (4380 feet) gained in elevation.
This is our last night at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis.
Distance 15 Kilometres (9 miles)
Elevation 2820 metres (9250 feet)
Day 3 - Tuesday
 An easier outing for the third day to give you a chance to bounce back. We move from the Delta Lodge at Kananaksis today and will explore the Smith Dorian Road and do a hike referred to as Tent Ridge. This ridge is a favourite for cross country skiers but also offers an excellent experience for those of us who are on foot. We will start by hiking to Tryst Lake and from there to a col just north of the lake. From this col we will make our way to the tent like ridge line of the ridge and hike north along the ridge untill we start the descent back to the road not far from the trail head. Excellent views are experienced of this valley that include the Spray Lakes to the North and Mounts Birdwood, Smuts, Sir Douglas, Robertson, French and Commonwealth to the South. To attain these fantastic views we will have gained a modest 670 metres (2200 feet).
Our accommodations for the next three nights are at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff. The jetted bath tubs this property offers will be a particularly welcome feature for our group.
Distance 9 Kilometres (5.5 miles)
Elevation 2550 metres (8356 feet)
Day 4 - Wednesday
Our hike today on trails that take us through an expansive net work of high meadows, passes, and ridges that offer not only a wealth of stunning scenery but a veritable smorgasboard of beautiful alpine flowers. We will start by taking a bus to the Sunshine Meadows from here we will head north to the Col on Wawa Ridge to Simpson Pass and Range over to Healy Pass under a ridge known as the Ramparts. From Healy Pass we can see the beauty of Egypt Lake and Talc Lake and of the mountains known as the Egyptian group, Hadiuk and Pharoh and Mummy Peaks. In the north we see Mount Ball which has the highest vertical rampart in the Canadian Rockies. On the hike today you will have experienced only minor elevation gains but after leaving Healy Pass we lose 638 metres (2100 feet) on our sojourn back to the trail head.
Distance 19 kilometres (10 miles)
Elevation 2330 metres ( 7648 feet)
Day 5 - Thursday
 Today, our last major walk, will follow a ridgeline west of Helen Lake. The views from this vantage point are stunning. To the west you gaze on the spine of the continent and from the elevation you will have gained, 840 metres, ( 2755 feet) are able to see most of the Wapta Icefield. On a clear day you will be able to see from Sunwapta peak to the north to Mount Assinboine, in the south a distance of almost 200 kilometres. You will see the tops of all of the major peaks within this span. This view will exceed any expectations and the majesty of it, will be with you forever. While there is no technical climbing or scrambling on this day your guide will have the assistance of a guide from the Association of Canadain Mountain Guides.
This will be our last night at Buffalo Mountain Lodge and dinner will be in their renowned restaurant where we will reminisce the week.
Distance 11 Kilometres (7 miles)
Elevation 2820 metres (9250 feet)
Please Note:
Changes in this itinerary may be necessary due to snow or weather conditions, trail safety or closures.
2005 TRIP DATES & PRICE
Dates: |
2005 Dates available
October 15
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Price:
Single Supplement
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2005 Prices available
October 15
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Owners/Operators: Bud Ettinger and Genia Luchka
Address:
2010 3rd Avenue
Canmore, Alberta CANADA
T1W 2J8
Tel: (403) 678-6606
Fax: (403) 678-0910
info@backofbeyond.ca
Toll-Free Inquiries:
1-800-732-7251
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