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Canadian Rockies Family Backpack
Did your parents take you into the
mountains as a child? Don't you wish they had? The mountains of the
Canadian Rockies are a wonderful area in which to expose your children
to the great outdoors. A trip into the backcountry with your children
will leave you all with memories that will last forever.
Imagine hiking along a forest trail
looking at flowers and berries, fishing by a mountain lake,
roasting
marshmallows over an open fire!
That's the way a
family vacation should be, and how we design this trip. It's important to choose the right
itinerary, one that your children would enjoy and it's also crucial to
have a guide who makes it as much fun as possible.
It's not
about the distance hiked, it's about the
adventure and indulging in
simple pleasures. That's how we offer the
Canadian Rockies Family Backpack!
There are many places we can take you
and your family. We'll suggest
trips that match the ages and interests
of the kids and yet also have something for the
parents to enjoy.
We offer this
program on demand which means you will have your own guide who can then concentrate on the needs of your family and no one else.
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Dates
This three-day program is available on demand
during the months of June, July, August and September. Duration can
also be increased to 4 or more days if requested.
Cost
For a three-day
trip for up to two adults plus up to three children the price is $1945.00 Canadian.
Prices will change for longer trips and in cases where helicopter
access is used.
This price includes professional hiking guide,
park
and camp fees, out-trip meals and group camping gear (tents, cooking gear).
Not included:
Transportation to trailhead, Canmore
accommodation, Gratuities & 5%
Goods and Service Tax (GST)*.
Cancellation insurance available for $103.
This program must be booked directly with our office. Online booking is not available for this program due to the need to coordinate dates and other aspects of the program with you.
Optional pre and post trip
accommodation
packages are available from $80 per person per night for
shared room lodging ($160 for single occupancy). Purchase
with booking. Subject to availability.
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* a 50% rebate of the GST is available to
non-residents of Canada.
Inquisitive marmot,
Canadian Rockies
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Meeting Place and Time
We
will meet you at our Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office at an agreed
time on the morning of Day 1.
Our office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore. See this map
for location.
Please ensure that you have your hiking equipment with you.
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Program Itinerararies
We can offer several
itineraries of varying difficulty and challenge in our immediate
region of the Canadian Rockies. We can also add extra days if
requested. We will suggest the one we feel most appropriate for your
family allowing for the ages and fitness levels of your children and
your past experience. We can be very flexible and you are encouraged
to talk with our office to discuss your specific goals and objectives
so that we choose the option you'd enjoy the most.
Itineraries include
an amended version of the Rockwall Highline in Kootenay National Park,
Elbow Lake or The Forks in Kananaskis and Mount Assiniboine Park
(extra helicopter charges apply).
Here is a sample
itinerary of a hike to The Forks in Kananaskis:
Day 1:
Hike to The Forks Campground
We welcome you in the morning at our office in Canmore. We'll go over the trip with you and check to see that everyone is properly outfitted. We then travel to Upper Kananaskis Lakes where we begin our hike to the Forks Campground, our base for the next three days. If there's time and energy left we can explore around the area. The evening campfire will be
a nice end to the day. Distance 7km.
Elevation gain 100m.
Catching fish on a
family adventure
Day 2: Day hike with light packs
There's lots to do today. We'll plan a day trip that allows for the age, fitness level and experience of the group. We can explore to Three Isle Lake and South Kananaskis Pass, or for those with lots of energy we can head to Turbine Canyon, and possibly beyond, to Maude Lake, and North Kananaskis Pass. All options offer great views of the surrounding peaks, alpine lakes, and wildflowers. Back at Forks Campground everyone will be ready for a good nights sleep after a tasty hikers' meal and another campfire session.
Distances and elevation gains vary with chosen option (6 - 20km,
400 - 550m).
Day 3: Return to
Kananaskis Lakes
After breakfast it's time to return to civilization. We'll hike back to
the trailhead along the Kananaskis Creek and Upper Kananaskis Lake. By late afternoon we'll be back in Canmore.
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How difficult is it? How fit & experienced need you be?
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Adventure for kids |
Itineraries range from easy to moderate. Backpack weights
range up to moderate. Backpack weights will be adjusted to suit the
ages of the children. A porter service is available on the 1st day.
By keeping personal
gear light, pack weights can be reduced. Please read our
Travelling Light & Making Backpacking More Fun
for information and suggestions for clothing and equipment.
No prior hiking experience is
needed for this program. Everyone needs to be fit enough to walk with
a backpack for 3 - 4 hours.
The trails are generally
good. We will hike at a regular and steady
pace that with the children in mind. Prior training pays great dividends in enjoyment. We
suggest you train by walking and/or cycling and/or hiking (ideally in
hilly terrain).
Visit our Trip Difficulty Comparison Chart.
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Accommodation and Meals
On the trail you
will be staying in modern, lightweight 3, 2- and 1-person weather-proof
tents.
Accommodation in Canmore is NOT included. For your
convenience we can arrange bed
and breakfast hotel rooms for these and other nights at $160
per night. These will be at the recommended
Westridge Country Inn. Double or single occupancy, the cost is the
same. For those wishing to defray this cost we will try to pair them
with other participants. This accommodation can be booked with the trip
online or by calling us. Subject to availability.
You can also make
your own arrangements. Check our
links page for a range
of Canmore accommodations.
Excess luggage can be left at
your hotel or our office.
We supply all meals and trail snacks from
lunch on Day 2 to lunch on Day 5. Groups generally go out for dinner
in Canmore with the guide on the final evening (own cost).
Trail cuisine is constructed from lightweight ingredients including
our Yamnuska custom-made dehydrated dinners. Please specify any special dietary requirements you have on
booking so we can incorporate them into our menus.
In case of more complicated diets a surcharge may apply.
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Guides and Group Size
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Fossil in limestone
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Yamnuska Mountain Adventure guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
Guides selected for your program will be professionals, who in
addition to having extensive experience in the Canadian Rockies are
family oriented. Guides also have advanced wilderness first aid training and heritage interpretation accreditation. Guides carry emergency equipment including
a first aid kit, bear spray and radio.
This program is designed for 2 adults and up to 3 children. Please contact us to discuss alternate group sizes.
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Getting to Canmore and Transportation
Canmore is situated 100km (65miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is well served by scheduled bus lines both from Calgary (airport and downtown), Banff (20km west) and points further west. Calgary International Airport is well connected to major cities throughout North America and Europe.
Transportation to and from the trailhead is not included in the this package. If you do not have transportation this can be arranged for an extra charge.
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Clothing and Equipment
We
supply group camping and cooking equipment plus a full emergency and first-aid kit. You will need to bring personal equipment (backpack, sleeping bag etc) and clothing. Yamnuska
Mountain Adventures does have rental and
retail equipment such as sleeping bags, mats,
and backpacks.
Rental Gear List. Contact us in advance to reserve.
What you bring will have a big impact on the quality of your experience,
we especially urge you to read our
notes on lightweight
gear and clothing.
Please download the list below and make sure
that you will have the items listed.
Clothing and Equipment List (pdf)
Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
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Fishing
Several of our itineraries include mountain lakes with good trout
fishing. You are welcome to bring lightweight fishing gear. Fishing
licenses are required for those over 16. Regulations vary from park to
park so check with us before we head out.
Insurance
There is no charge for rescue in this area. However you should ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra travel insurance if necessary.
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To Book
To book this program you must contact our office directly. Online booking is not available for this program as we do need to confirm dates and other aspects of the program with you directly. Call 1 866 678 4164 if in N. America or +1 403 678 4164 if overseas. You can also email us.
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A deposit of $555CDN
(including GST) is required at time of booking. Final payment is due eight
weeks before the start of the trip. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest
you take our cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $103, this
can only be purchased at the time of booking.
Booking Instructions and Conditions
Please note that parents will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the trip. Click here for waiver copy.
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