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Lodge Based Treks
Itineraries:

* Classics
* Banff & Jasper
* Ridges and Passes
* Multi-Activity Trip
* Wonder of Water
* Hidden Treasures
* Family Lodge Trip

Backpacking

Unique Birding Tours

Mountain Hut Treks

AWARD WINNING Family Adventures

Custom Trips

Corporate Programs

** What is included in this price?

** All transportation: From Calgary to Canmore and return, all transportation to lodges and trailheads .
** All meals at the lodges and trail food and snacks from breakfast on the first day of the tour to breakfast on the last day of the tour.
** Six nights accommodation
** All Park Fees.
** 2 guides/ naturalists per party of 8
** All pre-trip planning information
** Accommodation and restaurant gratuities.

Prices do NOT include:

** Personal equipment such as clothing, boots, toiletries
** Gratuities - your guides diligent efforts need to be considered and appropriately rewarded
** Alcoholic Beverages
** 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

The Wonder of Water
New!

Enjoy stunning day hikes with fascinating departures along the Continental Divide. We will hike varied trails through forests and alpine meadows in Banff, Lake Louise, and Yoho. Continuing beyond the vegatation we will walk valleys filled with ice and fly to the glacier-covered apex of the continent! These trips will give you a complete perspective of the hydrology of the mountains.

Your guide on this special trip is glaciology and climatology expert, Dan Clark. With a decade of guiding experience, he is the perfect reference for your investigation of the phenomenon of water in the headwaters of the Canadian Rockies. You will be delighted with his relaxed pace, knowledgeable interpretation and local expertise.

Photographers take note! Pursue your passion in the magic hours of sunrise and sunset on customized dawn and dusk shoots. As a professional photographer, Dan will share his local secrets by taking you to the best locations in Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho. Don't miss this opportunity to capture your own unforgettable images.

ITINERARY:

Pre-trip - Saturday

Orientation to meet group, discuss trails and available options, issue daypacks, rain gear, etc. Accommodation Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff.

Day 1 - Sunday

Dusk Photography Shoot: Cascade Meadows

Day Hike to Sunshine Meadows.

Your introduction to the Canadian Rockies and the Wonder of Water will take you to the most extensive alpine meadows in the range. This trip is an excellent start to your adventure because we start hiking near treeline by using a special bus service for access. Following well built trails, we will explore the floral meadows of the Continental Divide where winter snow lingers even in summer.

Distant vistas of the pyramidal massif of Mt. Assiniboine, the "Matterhorn of the Rockies," make this area especially memorable. We will discuss the importance of the Continental Divide. We will also investigate the nature, availability and state of water in Canada and in the watersheds surrounding the Divide. Our accommodation is at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff.

Distance 5 - 10 km. (3 - 6 miles)
Elevation - 2225 metres (7430 feet)

Dusk Photography Shoot: Vermillion Lakes.

Day 2 - Monday

Dawn Photography Shoot: Vermillion Lakes

Half-Day Hike on Cory Pass Trail

This walk starts in montane forests of trembling aspen before climbing up open, sunny slopes that have long been a favored home to First Nations People. The panoramic views from this grassy valley side extend from Banff to the peaks near Sunshine Meadows. From our lofty perspective, we will see the oxbow bends of the ancient, Bow River and discuss the force of moving water in landscape change. You will learn about the Wonder of Water: the nature of water as a substance; mist, cloud, rain and ice.

After lunch, we will drive north on the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefields. We will make numerous stops for photos, short walks and detailed interpretation. At Saskatchewan River Crossing, we will discuss our historical ties to watershed and waterways with stories of David Thompson, an explorer and fur trader who traversed this region in the early 1800’s. As we near our hotel at the Columbia Icefields, glaciers and high peaks overwhelm the landscape. Our accommodation is at the Columbia Icefields Chalet.

Distance 4 km. (2.5 miles)
Elevation - 1800 metres (5900 feet)

Dusk Photography Shoot: Mts. Athabasca and Andromeda from Sunwapta Meadows.

Day 3 - Tuesday

Dawn Photography Shoot: Mt. Athabasca from Hilda Creek.

Athabasca Glacier Icewalk and Half-Day Hike to Wilcox Pass.

The Athabasca Glacier Icewalk! In the morning, we will enjoy a walk on the snout of the Athabasca Glacier with a mountain guide. Properly equipped for our adventurous journey over a sea of ice, we will peer into millwells and crevasses, gaze at seracs and savour stunning alpine vistas. Walking on the melting area, or Ablation zone of the glacier, we will discuss how the icefields were formed during the last ice age, how they continue to move even under our feet, and what the future has in store.

After lunch, we will enjoy a half day hike to historic Wilcox Pass. This short climb affords us unparalleled views across the valley to the Athabasca Glacier, the location of our morning Icewalk. We will gaze at nearby summits such as Mt. Snowdome, the Hydrologic Apex of North America. We will talk about the Columbia Icefields, the importance of mountains as sources of water and where that water goes. Finally, we might witness majestic Bighorn Sheep that reside in these meadows.

We will end our day with a drive back down the Icefields Parkway to the west side of the Continental Divide. We will dine at the Kicking Horse Lodge before an exciting slide presentation. Our accommodation is in the quiet town of Field, B.C. at the Alpenglow Bed and Breakfast.

Distance 11 km. (6.5 miles)
Elevation - 2350 metres (7700 feet)

Evening Slide Presentation: The Great Divide -- Journeys Along the Spine of the Rockies.

Day 4 - Wednesday

Dawn Photography Shoot: Lake Louise.

Day Hike to Paget Lookout.

Situated above Kicking Horse Pass near the Continental Divide, the hike to Paget Lookout offers a dramatic panorama of rugged mountains above deep valleys. We hike through quiet forests and colorful avalanche slopes looking at the unique habitats of local wildlife according to regional water supplies. When we climb above the treeline, our unique view will include the wide pass below, as well as rivers on both sides of the Continental Divide.

During lunch, we will discuss climate change and how this affects water distribution in the Rockies and beyond. On our return, we have the option of visiting Sherbrooke Lake, a secluded glacial lake the color of Lake Louise. We will dine at the Emerald Lake Lodge this evening. Our accommodation is at the Alpenglow Bed and Breakfast in Field B.C.

Distance 7 - 9 km. (4.5 miles)
Elevation - 2150 metres (6890 feet)

Dusk Photography Shoot: Emerald Lake.

Day 5 - Thursday

Dawn Photography Shoot: Emerald Lake.

Day Hike at Lake O'Hara

Lake O’Hara is an idyllic region of serrated peaks, brilliant lakes and open meadows. Many people regard this as their favorite destination in the Rockies. Delightful trails and 27 named lakes, make this region a much sought after destination with strict limitations designed to preserve this fragile region.

We will enjoy a circuit across high ledges, joining two magnificent side-valleys. Amid lakes, rivers and ponds, we will discuss the nature and fragility of aquatic ecosystems. We will also talk about water pollutants that threaten this pristine mountain wilderness. Our accommodation is at the Alpenglow Bed and Breakfast in Field B.C.

Distance 9 km. (5.5 miles)
Elevation - 2300 metres (7500 feet)

Dusk Photography Shoot: Takakkaw Falls.

Day 6 - Friday

Columbia Icefields Flight.

In a ski-equipped plane, we will fly along the Continental Divide to the Columbia Icefields and the Geohydro apex of North America. We will land at an elevation of 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) above sea level on this vast expanse of ice and snow. We will have the opportunity to walk on the surface to learn more about the accumulation zone of glaciers and to appreciate their immense size. We will also discuss the water cycle as it pertains to these massive glaciers.

Leaving the airplane, we breathe the cold, thin air typical of this high altitude environment while walking on several meters of snow on top of several hundred meters of solid glacial ice! When we look around, we are surrounded by the highest and most remote peaks in the Canadian Rockies. As far as the eye can see, ice and snow dominate the scene. The scale of the landscape and sense of space is overpowering.

After our flight, we will drive back to Banff with a stop at Moraine Lake enroute. Our accommodation is in at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff.

Distance 1 km. (0.6 miles)
Elevation - 3000 metres (10000 feet) ... by aircraft!

Dusk Photography Shoot: Moraine Lake.

Day 6 - Saturday

Breakfast this morning will be at the Buffalo Mountain and mementoes for the week will be shared as well as recollections of the weeks adventures. Your shuttle will leave for Calgary Airport or if you are staying longer we will help you to start the next phase of your vacation.

Please Note:

Changes in this itinerary may be necessary due to snow or weather conditions, trail safety or closures.

2005 TRIP DATES & PRICES

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