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* Kananaskis
*
Northover Ridge
* Brazeau
Loop
*
Clearwater River
* Purcell Wilderness
* West Coast Trail
What is included in this price?
** All transportation from Canmore/ Return,
including: Canmore to Trailhead, all shuttles and luggage shuttles from trail's
end to Canmore
** All Park Fees, including: Park entrance fees and
backcountry user fees
** All food and trail snacks from the first day's
lunch on the trail, to the last day's lunch.
** 2 guides/naturalists per
party of 8
** All pre-trip planning information
** Complete camping gear: tents, sleeping bag, sleeping
pad, backpack, rain gear (rudimentary), utensils etc.
All-Inclusive packages include:
Deluxe Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Banff
or Canmore before and after your Rocky Mountain adventure.
This package does not include:
** Personal equipment such as clothing, boots,
toiletries
** Gratuities - your guides diligent efforts need to be
considered and appropriately rewarded
** Alcoholic Beverages
** As you
will not need a vehicle on this holiday we can arrange a pick up and drop off
at the Calgary airport, for an additional fee.
** Accommodation in Canmore for the night before and after the hike for the Basic package.
** 7% Goods & Services Tax
Terms:
Deposit 50% - Balance due 45 days before departure
date. Cancellation: $100.00 processing fee. If written notice is
received 45 days prior to departure, we can provide a full refund less
processing fee. No refund is possible on notice less than 45 days, unless the
space can be resold. Cancellation insurance is available.
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 Backpacking Series: BC
Kootenay National Park: 6 days
The Rockwall
©
Dan Clark
Over the hike's route will take you from valley to pass, beneath towering peaks, awe-inspiring glaciers, thundering waterfalls and across raging torrents and ancient glacial moraines. Rambles along high ridges will offer you vistas of Rocky Mountain splendour only seen by the most intrepid hikers.
On clear days, peaks over 70 km distant are plainly visible. Your photos will tell a story of your adventurous spirit for years to come. One night you will camp on the slopes facing the exquisite Floe Lake, surely one of the most beautiful backcountry camps anywhere. Another night's camp is below a crashing glacier where you will fall asleep listening to the oddly comforting noisy descent of rocks and ice blocks tumbling down to the glacier's tortured surface.
Mountain sheep, mountain goats, deer, elk, beaver, golden eagles, bears, cougars and wolves have all been sighted on this trek. This is an uncommon adventure for vacationers who seek the extraordinary!
An optional sidetrip on our Rockwall trips is a short hike to
this rocky promontory overlooking the province of British Columbia. You can see
over 75 kilometres to the north and south!
Read about a
first-hand experience on the Rockwall Trip, written by outdoors columnist Tim
Madigan for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
ITINERARY:
Pre-trip
Orientation to meet fellow trekkers, check equipment, and review
trip details. This meeting is usually the evening before Day 1.
Day 1
From the trailhead, we hike through an extremely lush sub-alpine
forest up to Floe Lake. This is a stiff climb but your efforts are well
rewarded, as the campground here is one of the most beautiful in the Rockies.
Distance 10 km (6 miles)
Maximum Elevation 2370 m (7775 feet)
 Day 2
From Floe Lake we climb to Numa Pass, the high point of this
trail, where we get our first glimpse of the true extent of the Rockwall. We
will then leave our packs for a ridge walk towards the summit of Numa Mountain
where the views to the north, south and west are exceptional. After a very long
and steep descent to Numa Creek we will camp, resting our weary knees and
quadriceps.
Distance 10 km (6 miles)
Maximum Elevation 2250m (7400
feet)
Day 3
Another short day as far as distance travelled, but another
strenuous climb. The trail takes us to Tumbling Pass up an extensive avalanche
slope. Because of the high winter snowfalls here, the summer shrubs and
elderberry are very tall and dense. This, coupled with rushing water of the
creeks, make this section of trail somewhat hazardous as wildlife abounds, and
the animals have difficulty hearing our approach. The meadows before the pass
are among the most picturesque on this trip and provide a marvelous backdrop
for lunch. On reaching Tumbling Pass, time will allow us another ridge ramble
without packs, before descending to our camp at the Tumbling Creek campground.
Our camp this night is below Tumbling Glacier. As you listen to ice blocks
breaking free, you will understand how this massive ice field received its
name.
Distance 9 Km (5 miles)
Maximum Elevation 2250 m (7380 feet)
Day 4
After what will, by now, seem like a short climb, we reach the
extensive meadows below Wolverine Pass. This pass is the only real break in the
53-km of the Rockwall. The meadows are alive with flowers, and hummingbirds
like to visit. A short side trip through Wolverine Pass takes us out of
Kootenay National Park and demonstrates the stark reality of leaving forest
lands unprotected. A long but gradual descent will take us past Helmet Falls,
the highest waterfall in the Rockies. Our camp tonight will be 1 km lower, on
Helmet Creek.
Distance 16 Km (10 miles)
Maximum Elevation 2190 m (7200
feet)
Day 5
On this day, we will leave our camp set up, and day hike into
Goodsir Pass to explore a low pass and ridge separating the adjacent Ottertail
Pass. Fabulous views of one of the most magnificent mountains in the Rockies,
the North and South Goodsir Towers, are gained from these isolated and little
travelled meadows. We will return to Helmet Creek for our last night on the
trail, gather around the campfire, and reflect on everything we will have seen
and experienced during this tour.
Distance 10km to 15km (6 to 9 miles)
Maximum Elevation 2200m
(7200 feet)
Day 6
The route we hike out from Helmet Falls will take us down the
Helmut drainage to the Tumbling Creek drainage, the Paint Pots, and finally,
the trail-end parking lot. We will return to Banff or Canmore a little weary,
but well satisfied with our accomplishment and perhaps feeling a bit changed by
the rugged beauty we have witnessed on this journey.
Distance 18km (12 miles)
Please Note:
Changes in this itinerary may be necessary due to snow or weather conditions, trail safety or closures, and availability of backcountry camping spots.
2005 TRIP DATES & PRICES
Dates Basic: |
2005 Dates available
October 15
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Dates All Inclusive: |
2005 Dates available
October 15
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Price Basic
All Inclusive
Single Supplement *
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2005 Prices available
October 15
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* Applies to all inclusive package only.
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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