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Kananaskis Country, which was given protected status in 1977, is located in the Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies immediately to the south of Banff National Park. It consists of over 4000 square km of foothills, valleys and mountains. In 1858, John Palliser named the area after a native Cree warrior called "Koominakoos".
Often referred to by locals as "K-Country", it is a region of tightly folded limestone peaks and alpine lakes. The gunmetal grey of the mountains contrasts sharply with the blue of its lakes and the conifer green of the forests cloaking the lower elevations.
The area offers a multitude of landscapes and trails. It is also home to a large variety of wildlife including wolves, grizzly and black bears, elk, moose, deer and big horn sheep.
This five-day trip across the South and North Kananaskis Passes offers varied scenery with lots of lakes, glaciers and spectacular canyons gouged through the rock.
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2008 Dates
July 13 - 18, September 14 - 19
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Cost
$1065.00 Canadian includes guides, Park 'Wilderness Pass',
out-trip meals, group camping gear and local transfers.
Not included: Canmore
accommodation, Gratuities & 5% Goods and Service Tax (GST)*.
Cancellation insurance available for $57.
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.
Currency Exchange Calculator
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Meeting Place and Time
We
will meet you at our Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office at 7.30pm the
evening of Day 1.
Our office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore. 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 7.00 and 7.20pm.
Please ensure that you have your hiking equipment with you.
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Program Itinerary
Day 1:
At 7.30pm we meet at the
Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office in Canmore. We'll go over the trip with you and check to see that you are properly outfitted.
Day 2:
Kananaskis Lakes - Three Isle Lake
We will pick you up after breakfast, deal with last minute gear issues
and food packing then drive to the trailhead (1hour) along the
spectacular Smith-Dorrien highway to the south of Canmore. The trail
leads us first around the Upper Kananaskis Lake then into the forests following
the Kananaskis River. After reaching the Forks, we continue to hike up the Three Isle headwall
to camp for the night at Three Isle Lake (2175m.). Distance 10km.
Elevation gain 300m.
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On Northover Ridge |
Day 3: Day hike
to Northover Ridge
We are never far from treeline now and the scenery begins to
expand exponentially as we rapidly gain height above the Lake
carrying only light packs. From Northover Ridge (2800m.) and west into
the Royal Group and beyond. Distance 10km. Elevation gain 600m,
loss 600m.
Day 4:
Three Isle - Turbine Canyon
Today is pass crossing day! After breakfast we make our way to the
Continental Divide at South Kananaskis Pass (2306m)
and cross into British Columbia.
Passing Beatty Lake we contour into Leroy Creek on rough trails to re-cross the continental divide at North Kananaskis Pass
(2368m) where we can stop to enjoy the views surrounding Maude Lake.
Another 2km and we arrive at Turbine Canyon, our base for the
next 2 nights. Distance 14.2km. Elevation gain 730m., loss 650m.
Day 5: Turbine Canyon - Forks
Campground
Turbine Canyon Camp (2200m) sits on a bench near treeline above the
confluence of Maude Brook and the Upper Kananaskis River, it is named
after the impressive and narrow canyon just downstream from the
campsite. The views are tremendous and it's also a great place to do a
side trip. After a leisurely morning spent exploring this fascinating
area we hike across the meadows to Lawson Lake and then
it's all downhill as we descend to the Upper Kananaskis River valley
bottom
and Forks campground. Distance 7.8km. Elevation loss 400m.
View from Haig Glacier back to Turbine Canyon and Lawson Lake
Day 6: Forks Campground to Kananaskis
Lakes
After breakfast we pack up
and start our return to civilization. From Forks Campground we follow the
Upper Kananaskis River valley to the Upper Kananaskis Lake by early
afternoon.
Then we retrace our way back to Canmore for hot showers and and a
final group dinner in town. Distance 7km. Elevation loss
100m.
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How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?
This
trip is rated moderate. Backpack weights are mostly moderate
though participants will be carrying personal clothing and gear plus a fair
share of food and group gear (tents, stoves etc) for the entire trip. By leaving a night's food at Forks campground we
reduce our weight for the most challenging section on Day 4. As food and fuel are used on preceding days the backpacks
become lighter by the day. By keeping personal
gear light, pack weights need not exceed 18kg (40lbs) on the 1st day. Please read our
Travelling Light & Making Backpacking More Fun
for information and suggestions for clothing and equipment.
Prior hiking experience is
not a prerequisite but is recommended. Participants must be in good physical
condition and able to carry a backpack over hilly terrain for a succession
of days.
The trails are
mostly
good though rough in places. We will hike a regular and steady
pace that conserves energy but you must be in as good
as possible hiking shape before you come. We cannot
emphasize enough that 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 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 2 to lunch on Day 6. 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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On the trail to Beatty Lake |
Yamnuska Mountain Adventure guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Our professional guides have extensive experience in the Canadian Rockies. 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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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.
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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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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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Fishing
Both Three Isle and Maude Lakes contain cutthroat trout with Maude
fishing particularly well.
Participants are welcome to bring lightweight fishing gear. Alberta
Provincial fishing license is required (purchase in Canmore). Fishing regulations apply.
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
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment.
A deposit of $392CDN (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 $57, 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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