Canadian Rocky Mountain
Hiking Series
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Canadian Rocky Mountain Hiking Series |
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ROAD BIKING
MOUNTAIN BIKE
HIKING
TIMBERLINE
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Date: (6 days, 5 nights; Sun-Fri) July 18-23; Aug 15-20 Assembly Point: Lake Louise (airline, rail and bus service to Calgary; bus service or Timberline van shuttle between Calgary and Lake Louise prior to, and following tour) Tour Cost: $1,395 (includes all lodging, all meals, van shuttles, leaders, trail maps & narratives) Banff Park/Kananaskis Country assembles in Lake Louise mid-afternoon at Deer Lodge, perched high atop the village near the lake, and we'll hike leisurely to Agnes Teahouse before dinner. Our next day's hike begins at nearby Moraine Lake trailhead and we'll trek through the flowering meadows of beautiful Larch Valley surrounded by the spectacular spires of the Ten Peaks that hover above the valley, to the awesome switchbacks leading to majestic Sentinel Pass. We'll then descend through Paradise Valley to conclude this 11-mile loop. Our hike for Day 3 is a backcountry adventure you won't soon forget. We'll van shuttle to the summit of Vermillion Pass near the Continental Divide and beyond to the Vista Lake trailhead. An immediate descent to Vista Lake is followed, as you might guess, with an ascent to beautiful Arnica Lake, named for the abundant yellow blooms that surround its shores. Our trail leads to the picturesque Twin Lakes and then climbs to the tundra at timberline astride Gibbons Pass. A rapid descent and we're at magnificent Shadow Lake Lodge, a backcountry jewel in the heart of Banff National Park (9 miles). Painful though it may sound, an incredible reward awaits those hardy souls willing to leave the delicious warmth of down-quilted beds at sunrise and hike the 1/2 mile back to Shadow Lake. As the sun rises and illuminates the crown of rugged Ball Mountain, its reflection in the glassy, still waters of Shadow Lake are a photographer's fantasy. We'll return to the lodge for the usual hearty breakfast that is a Shadow Lake tradition and then hike leisurely along Red Earth Creek to the trailhead (8 miles). We're off to Kananaskis Country for the next segment of our program. We'll spend our first of two overnights at the Kananaskis Inn and then begin to explore the magnificent trail network characteristic of Kananaskis. On Day 5, we'll cross the Kananaskis River and trace the downward plunge of Galatea Creek as we hike to Lillian Lake. We'll then continue above Lillian to timberline and beyond to the beautiful Upper Galatea Lakes, nestled in a cirque with the awesome Tower as a backdrop (8 miles). On our final day, we'll return to the Galatea Creek trailhead and hike leisurely along the Kananaskis River to Ribbon Creek and follow Ribbon back to the village (6 miles).
Date: (6 days, 5 nights; Sun-Fri) Aug. 1-6 Assembly Point: Lake Louise (airline and rail service to Calgary; bus or Timberline van shuttle between Calgary and Lake Louise prior to tour and from Jasper to Calgary following tour) Tour Cost: $1,395 (includes all lodging, all meals, van shuttles, leaders, trail maps & narratives) Lake Louise, et. al., assembles in Lake Louise mid-afternoon of Day 1 with time for a leisurely hike to Agnes Tea House above the lake before our orientation dinner. Early-morning of Day 2, we'll shuttle north to the Crowfoot Glacier and then hike above the Glacier to a lovely open meadow with an incredible view of the surrounding snowclad peaks, including Crowfoot Mountain, Bow Peak and Mt. Hector. We'll continue on to Helen Lake and then switchback beyond timberline to a high ridge overlooking Katherine Lake and Dolomite Pass (9 miles). We'll spend our second evening at the Saskatchewan Crossing Lodge and head toward Sunwapta Pass the following morning for our next hike, a relatively moderate 9-mile round-trip journey to Nigel Pass on the Banff-Jasper park boundary. As we approach the pass, the trail opens into a beautiful meadow with spectacular views of Mt. Saskatchewan, Parker Ridge and the Saskatchewan Glacier. Following another overnight at The Crossing, we'll begin to explore Jasper Park. Our hike planned for Day 4 is a remarkable high alpine adventure. We'll begin at the Continental Divide atop Sunwapta Pass near the foot of Athabasca Glacier and climb gently beyond timberline into an alpine world of astonishing beauty at the crest of Wilcox Pass. Hope for a clear day because you won't believe the views that are a part of the Wilcox experience (7 miles). We'll visit the Icefields Interpretive Center on our way to Sunwapta Falls and an evening at the Sunwapta Falls Resort. On Day 5, we'll shuttle to Jasper and visit beautiful Maligne Lake and climb above the lake among the Opal Hills (6 miles). We'll spend our final evening at the Tonquin Lodge in Jasper and explore awesome Maligne Canyon, perhaps the most spectacular of the many limestone river canyons for which the Canadian Mountain Parks are famous. We'll picnic at the top of the canyon and return to the trailhead for our shuttle to Calgary (5 miles).
Assembly Point: Lake Louise (airline service to Calgary; bus or Timberline van shuttle between Calgary and Lake Louise prior to and following tour) Tour Cost: $1,395 (includes all lodging, all meals, van shuttles between Calgary and Lake Louise, leaders, trail maps & narratives) "Yoho" is a Cree word that translates roughly as "how magnificent" and, if anything, the Cree perhaps understated the utter magnificence of this Canadian Rocky Mountain region. Second smallest of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Yoho is a land of glacial lakes and towering, snowclad mountains whose steepness explains the park's many spectacular waterfalls. And not lost upon us is Yoho's 252-mile network of trails; without a doubt, Yoho is exciting as a new hiking destination for Timberline in the season ahead. Yoho assembles in Lake Louise mid-afternoon of Day 1 (we'll provide a van shuttle from Calgary earlier in the day) with ample opportunity to hike to either of the famous teahouses above the Lake before dinner. We'll spend our first two overnights at beautiful Deer Lodge, adjacent to the lake. A word of warning about our hike planned for Day 2-you won't believe what you will see on that day. Tucked away in the remote reaches above the Great Divide is some of the most amazing high alpine scenery that you will ever experience. We'll begin to hike from Lake O'Hara Lodge along the lake and then climb significantly above the lake to Wiwaxy Gap. The views from the gap are stunning as we stand atop the windy saddle between Wiwaxy and Huber Peaks. In the distance are awesome Balfour and Daly high above the Yoho Valley, as well as Cathedral and Mt. Victoria. Behind us are Lakes Oesa and O'Hara, the Opabin Plateau and McArthur Pass, one of the many highlights of our next day's hike (7 miles). We'll hike from O'Hara again on Day 3, initially along the Big Larches Trail to Schaffer Lake, and then to timberline and the startling blue waters of Lake McArthur. From the lake, we'll climb to McArthur Pass with its breathtaking view of the twin towers of Goodsirs, and continue on to the Odaray Plateau. Those eager for a steep scramble to Odaray Grandview will be rewarded with a glorious view of all the major lakes of the area-O'Hara, Oesa, Mary, Linda and McArthur (8 miles). Late afternoon of Day 3, we'll shuttle to the Cathedral Mountain Lodge where we'll spend our next overnight. We're headed for a true Yoho backcountry adventure on Day 4. Beginning at magnificent Takakkaw Falls, which vies with Vancouver Island's Della Falls as Canada's highest waterfall, we'll hike the fascinating Iceline Trail as it climbs toward Emerald Glacier. We'll leave the Iceline and walk to Celeste and Marpole Lakes. The crashing waters of Twin Falls announce our approach to the Twin Falls Chalet, where we'll spend the night (12 miles). Breakfast at the chalet is incredible and we suspect that we'll need to drag you kicking and screaming from the dining room table back onto the trail. The enticement to move on down the trail? Encounters with Yoho's three most spectacular waterfalls-Laughing Falls, Angel's Staircase and Takakkaw. We'll also consider an optional walk to Yoho Glacier along the way (12 miles). For better or worse, it's back to civilization and a final overnight at Cathedral Mountain. On our final day, we'll again hike from Takakkaw to Yoho Lake and beyond to Yoho Pass, and then descend to beautiful Emerald Lake (6 miles). Following a grand farewell lunch at the Emerald Lake Lodge, we'll return to Lake Louise and Calgary where our program concludes.
7975 E. Harvard Suite #J Denver, Co. 80231 Telephone: (800)417-2453; or (303)759-3804 Fax: (303)368-1651 E-Mail: timber@boulder.earthnet.net
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Creating a Canadian Rocky Mountain hiking program
poses a challenge of enormous proportions-a challenge because of the overwhelming
number of backcountry opportunities from which to choose. Our solution-the
Canadian Rocky Mountain Hiking Series-comprised of three separate and
distinct programs, each with its distinct focus.
Date: (6 days, 5 nights; Sun-Fri) Aug. 29-Sept.
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