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Kananaskis Alpine Traverse
Yamnuska Mountain
Adventures is the leading mountaineering guiding company in the
Canadian Rockies with many, many summits and glaciers under our belt.
In guiding both backpackers and mountaineers we have realized that by
combining both disciplines we can offer some truly unique mountain
adventures!
Join us for an adventure
that combines hiking and mountaineering: The Kananaskis Alpine
Traverse. The objective: a traverse of the peaks and glaciers of the
Main Divide from Aster Lake to North Kananaskis Pass.
Located just south of Banff
National Park, the Kananaskis region continues with the best
of the alpine and sub-alpine worlds of the Canadian Rockies: peaks,
glaciers, lakes, meadows and forest, all superlative! The experience of this
traverse, too,
encompasses the best of both: traversing glaciers in the early morning light,
peaks stretching in every direction, cool, shady forest trails and
wildflowers everywhere!
This traverse is designed for
very fit hikers and beginner mountaineers (no previous mountaineering
experience required). We go early in the summer when there's
still plenty of snow and climbing conditions are not too difficult.
Printer
friendly gear and clothing checklist
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2008
Dates
July 7 - 11 with
Mike Stuart
Cost
$1195.00 Canadian includes guiding
and instruction, camp fees,
out-trip meals, Park Permits,
and use of specialized group climbing gear.
Not included: Canmore
accommodation, Gratuities & 5% Goods and Service Tax (GST)*.
Cancellation insurance available for $69.
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.
* a 50% rebate of the GST is available to
non-residents of Canada.
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Meeting
Place and Time
The program begins at the Yamnuska
office at 8:00am
on the first day.
The Yamnuska office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park. See this
map for location.
For
your greater convenience we offer a pre-meeting shuttle service within
Canmore. Please let us know in advance where you will be staying if
needing this service. Pickup will occur between 7.30 and 7.50am.
Please ensure that you have your hiking equipment with you.
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Traverse Itinerary
This is an ambitious and strenuous program that encompasses both
superlative experience and scenery. In writing this agenda it has been
hard to do it justice as every single day features fabulous scenery!
Day 1: Meet in Canmore at 8:00 am. After issuing food and
gear we pack up then drive south into the Rockies to Kananaskis Lakes which will take just
over an hour.
We enjoy a leisurely hike around the Upper Lake for 5.5 km before striking
into the forest towards Hidden Lake and much more physical exertion.
Working around Hidden Lake we reach the trail that climbs high above Foch
Creek to take us into the high alpine basins above. We camp by Aster Lake,
one of the prettiest alpine lakes in the region.
Distance: 11 km, total elevation gain: 575 meters.
Day 2: Weather and conditions permitting our objective today will
be Mount Joffre. At 3450 m. this glaciated peak dominates this southern
region of the Rockies. In early July with lots of snow on the glacier it
is a suitable climb for beginner mountaineers giving a taste of glacier
travel plus use of ice axe and crampons. In the event of poor weather or
conditions there are several alternative lesser peaks we can climb.
Distance: 10km, total elevation gain and loss: 1150m.
Mount Joffre, Kananaskis Alpine Traverse
Day 3: We maintain the alpine tempo today with a traverse of the
exposed Northover Ridge with the potential of climbing 3003m Mount
Northover on the way. The views are fantastic including back towards
Joffre, the previous day's adventure. From the end of the ridge we drop
down to Three Isle Lake where we camp back near tree line. Distance
11.3km, total elevation gain and loss: 700m.
Day 4: British Columbia is just over South Kananaskis Pass just
beyond the Lake. We cross the Main Divide here and travel a further couple
of km to Beatty Lake. From here it's back into the alpine, to Beatty Col
which we cross to reach Leroy Creek and North Kananaskis Pass bringing us
past Maude Lake to the Turbine Canyon campground. Distance 12.9km,
total elevation gain: 975m, loss 950m.
Day 5: Looking into the deeply-gauged canyon by the campground to
see the water raging far below, you'll immediately understand Turbine
Canyon's name. From here we head south across the meadows to Lawson Lake
and with its expansive views. We then drop into the Upper Kananaskis River
valley which we follow downstream to Upper Kananaskis Lake, our starting
point 5 days before. Then we
drive back to Canmore and the end of the trip. Distance 15km, total
elevation gain: 575m, loss: 400m.
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How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?
This is the most challenging of our backpacking programs. Participants must have a
very high level of aerobic fitness.
Prior mountaineering experience is not essential but must be compensated
by the pre-requisite fitness level. Beginner mountaineers will be taught the necessary
basic skills by our guides during the trip. Previous backpacking
experience is required.
Much of the travel will be over steep and broken ground and involves
significant elevation gain and loss. In addition to regular backpacking gear we will be
carrying some mountaineering gear.
By keeping personal gear light, pack weights need not exceed 20kg
(44lbs) on the 1st day, thereafter weights drop day by day. There are
no food drops. Please read our
Travelling Light & Making Backpacking More Fun
for information and suggestions for clothing and equipment.
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Guides and Group Size
This
trip will be guided by our mountaineering guides who
are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. 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.
There will be a maximum of eight guests and a minimum of two.
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Accommodation
and Meals
On the trail you
will be staying in modern, lightweight 2- and 1-person weather-proof
tents.
The first and last
night's 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 1 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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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. Once in Canmore we will supply all transport needed for the trip.
Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. Greyhound Bus
Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada
Highway. Call 609 8790, 609 0300, 609 1490 or 609 8505 for taxis in Canmore.
We supply transportation from Canmore to the hiking trails.
Hidden Lake on the
Kananaskis Traverse
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Clothing and Equipment
We
supply personal mountaineering gear, 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)
In particular it is important that you have good, waterproof hiking
or mountaineering boots for this trip. Please contact us for advice if
you are unsure whether your boots are adequate or if you have any
other questions or concerns.
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Gear and Clothing Sales
Yamnuska Mountain
Adventures now has a range of backpacking equipment
and clothing for sale including recommended light-weight packs, sleeping bags, sleeping mats and
clothing. Clients signed up for a
Yamnuska Program receive 5% off retail items, with
larger discounts available on our package deals.
Details on packing light & recommended items.
Catalogue and purchase information. |
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Insurance
In this
area there is no charge for rescue. Ensure that you have adequate travel insurance or that your health plan will cover you
for medical costs whilst here.
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To Book
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A deposit of $440CDN
(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
medical cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $69, this
can only be purchased at the time of booking.
For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click
here.
Please note that you will be required
to sign our waiver before commencing the trip.
Click here for waiver
copy.
Please don't hesitate to contact
us if you need to know anything else about this hike.
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